The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-12-05

ton to the fact that an embarrass-
ment exists growing out Of the re-
cent act Of Congress making the re-
tiIement of officers Of the army
compulsory at the age of GA.
The act of 1878 is still in force
which limits to 400 the'number of
those, who can be retired for dis
ability or upon their own application.
The two acts, when construed to-
gether. seem to forbid the relieving
even for absolute incapacity of
officers who do not fall within the
purview of the latter statute, save
at such times as there chance to be
less than 400 names on the retired
list. There are now APO. 1t is not
likely that Congress intended this
result, and I concur with the secre-
tary that the law ought to be
amended.
RIYRRs AND HARBoRs.
The ground that induced me to
withhold my signature from the
bill entitled San act making appro-
priations for the construction, repair,
and preservation of certain works on
rivers and harbors," which became a
law near the close of your last ses-
sion. prompt me to express the
hope that no similar measure will
be deemed necessary during the
present session of Congress. Indeed,
such measures would now be open
to serious objection, in addition to
that which was lately urged upon
your attention. / am informed by
the secretary of war that a portion
of the sum appropriated for the va
rious items specified in that act re-
mains unexpended. Of the new
works which it authorized, the ex-
penses have been incurred on two
oAly for which the the total appro-
prlation was $4,000. The present
available balance is declared
by the following table:
Amount of appropriation by the act
of August End, 1882, SIS, 73S, S75 !;
amount of appropriation by act of
June 10Th, 1882, $4,000; amount of
appropriation for payments to J. B.
Eads, $3,039,304; expended balance
of former appropriations, 81, 73S, 263 !;
total $23, 791, 1888; less amount drawn
from the treasury between July 1st,
1882, and November 30th, 1882 !;
$7,056, 1874 total, $17,738,944.
1t is apparent from this exhibit
that so far as the most of the items
to which the act of August End,
1888, relates, there can be noneed of
further appropriations until after
the close of the present session. If,
however. any action shall seem to
be necessary in respect to particular
objects it will be entirely feasible to
provide for those objects by appro-
pirate legislation. 1t is probable, for
example, that delay until the as
sembling of the next Congress, to
make additional provision for the
Mississippi river Improvement might
be attended with serious
consequences. If such should APP
pear to be the case, a just bill re-
lating to that subject would COM
mand my approval. This leaves
me to offer suggestion which 1
trust will commend itself to the
wisdom of Congress, Is it not ad-
viSable that grants of considerable
sums of money for diverse and indie
pendent schemes of internal i'm
proYement should be made subjects
of separate and distinct legislative
enactments? 1t will scarcely be
gainsaid even by those who favor
the most liberal expenditure for
such purposes as are sought to.
be accomplished by what is COM
monty called the river and harbor
bill, that the practice of grouping in
such bill appropriations for
great diversity of objects widely
separated either in their natures or
the locality with which they are
concerned, or in both, is one which
is much to be deprecated, unless it
is irremediable, as inevitably tend
ing to secure the success of the bill
as a whole, though many of the
items, if separately considered, could
scarcely fail of rejection. BY the
adoption Of the course | have rec
commended every member of
Congress when the oppor-
tunity should arise for giving
his influence and vote for meritori-
Gus appropriations, would be unable
so to do without being called upon
to sanction others underserving his
approval; so also would the eXecu-
tive be afforded thereby a full OPP
portunity to exercise his constitu-
tional prerogatiYe, of opposing
whatever appropriations seemed to
him Objectionable, without imperil-
ing the success of others which
commended themselves to his iudg-
ment. 1t may be urged in opposi-
ton to these suggestions, that the
number of works Of internal
improvement which are Justly
entitled to governmental material
aid, and so great as to rem
der impracticable separate appro-
priation bills therefor or even
such comparatively limited mum
BEL as made disposition of large
sums of money. This objection
may be well founded and whether
1t be or not the advantages which
would be likely to ensue from the
adoption of the course l have recon-
mended may perhaps be more effect
ually obtained by another which |
respectfully submit to Congress, as
an alternative proposition.
1t is provided by the constitutions
of fourteen of our states, that the
executive may disapproVe any item
or items of q bill annrnnriatin