Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-08-09
pETO MESSAGE.
Following is the full text Of the Preddenti
message yctoine the River and Harbor hin

Following IL the full text OF the Preddent's
message vctoins the River and Harbor bin
To the House Of Representatives:
Having watched with much interest the pro-
gress Of House bill No. 6.242, entitled "An act
making appr. .priations for the construction, 10
pair and preservation OF certain works on rivers
and harbors, aud for other purposes"
and having, since 1t was received, carefully
examined it. after mature consideration am
constrained TO return 10 herewith TO the House OF
Representatives. in which il originated, without
my signature and with my objections TO its
passage. Many appropriations in the bill arc
clearly for the general welfare and most bened.
cent in their character. Two OF the objects for
which provision is made were by me considered
30 important that felt II my duty to direct 10
them the attention OF Congress. In my annual
message in December last urged the vital Inn
portAnce OF legislation for reclamation OF the
marshes and for the establishment Of harbor
lines along the Potomac front In April last,
ey special message, recommended an appro-
priatlon for the improvement OF the Miss
issippi river. II Is not necessary that
say that when my signature would
make, the bill sppropriating fog thesc and
other valuable national objects . Law Il 10
with great reluctance, and only under . sense
Of duty, t.at withhold IL Ny principal OBJ
lection to the bill Is that it contains sppropra-
tons for purposes mot for cclIl.ca i~fenso or
general welfare. and which do not promote
commerce among the States. These provisions,
on the contrary, arc entirely for the benefit Of
the particular localities in which il Ia proposed
to mako the improvements. regard such ap-
preparation Of pubic money ~ beyond the
powers given BY tho constitution to Congress
and the President feel MON bound tn with
.oa my signature from the BIN bocausc OF pecui-
lar evils which manifestfy result from this In
fraction Of tho constitution. Appropriations
Of this nature, TO be devoted purely 70 local OBJ
jects, tend 70 increase In numbsr and amount
raise which, In common with the whole country,
they are taxed, 10 TO be expended for local Inn
provements in another state, they demand
similar benefits for themselvess aud Il is mot
unnatural that they should seek TO indemnify
themselves for such Of the public funds By
securing appropriations for similar improve
ments in their own neighborhood. Thua as the
bill becomes more Objectionable, IL secures
more support This result II inevitable and
necessarily follows neglect TO observe tho con-
stitutional limitations imposed on the law
making power.
Appropriations for river and harbor i'm
provements have, under the influences 10 which
i have alluded. increased year BY year cut Of
pro portion to the progress OF the country,
great as that has been. In 1870 the aggregate
appropriation was e3,075, 800 in 1875, t6, 64S,-
$3.50; in 1880, ts,976, SO, and in 1881, til,-
45l, 800, while BY the present act there Is ap-
disposition to leave to the Legislature the re-
sponsibilty Of determining what amount should
be appropriated for the purposes of the bill,
90 long a. appropriations are confined TO tho
objects indicated by the grant OF Congress,
l cannot escape the fact that, as part Of
the law-making power Of the Government,
the duty devolves upon me to withhold my sig-
nature from bill containing appropriations
which, In my opinion, greatly exceed Ia amount
tbs needs OF the country for the present fiscal
year. 1t being the usage TO provide money for
these purposes by an annual appropriation bill,
the Presidsnt Ia In effect directed to expend 90
large an amount OF money within no brief q
period that expenditure can not be made econ
omically and advantageously. Extravagant ex-
penditure OF public money Ia an evil not 10 bo
measured by the value OF that money to the
people who are taxed for It. Thcy
sustain greater injury in the demorahxing
effects produced upon those who are intrusted
with Official duty, through oil the ramifcatsons
OF government These objections could bs
removed and every constitutional purpose
readily obtained should Congress enact that
one-half only OF the aggregate amount pro-
vidcd for IN the bull be appropriated for ex-
penditure during the fiscal year, and that tho
sum so appropriated be expended only for snch
object named IN the bill as the Secretary of
War. under direction OF the President shall
determine provided that In no case
shall expenditure for any one purpose exceed
tho rum now designated by bill for that pur-
pose. feel authorized to make this suggestion
cause OF the dutyimposed upon the President
by The constitution 10 recommend 10 the con-
sideration Of Congress such measures a. he
sbaIl ju !ge necessary and expediont and be-
cause 1t rs my earnest desire that the public
works which are In progress shall suffer no
injury Congress will also convene again In
four months, when this whole subject will be
open for their consideration.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Aug. 1, 1881.