The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-08-04
VETO OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR
BILL,


Following is the full text of the Presidents
message vetoing the River and Harbor bill
To the House of Representatives,
Having watched with much interest the pro
gross Of House bill No. G, 242 eutilled g An act
making appru priations for the construction re-
pair and preservation Of certain works on rivers
and harbors, and for other purposes. y
and having, since it was received, carefuiq
examined it, after mature consideration l am
constrained to return itherewth to the House OF
Representatives. in which it originated, without
my signature and with my objections to its
passage. Many appropriations in tue bill are
clearly for the general welfare and most benefi
cent III their character. Two of the objects for
which provision is made were by me considered
so important that felt it my duty to direct to
them the attention of Congress- In my annual
message in December last l urged the vital I'M
portance of legislation for reclamation of the
marshes and for the establishment of harbor
lines along the Potomac front. In April last,
by special message, [ recommended an appro-
priation for the improvement of the Miss
lssippi river. 1t is not necessary that
l say thft when my signature would
make the bill approprating for these aud
other valuable national objects law it is
with great reluctance, and only under a sense
of duty, that | withhold it. My principal OBJ
lection to the bill is that it contains apprOpria-
lions Tor purposes not for common defense or
general welfare, and which do not promote
commerce among the States. These provisions.
on the contrary, are entirely for the benefit Of
the particular localities in which it is proposed
to make the improvements. | regard such ap-
preparation of public money as beyond the
powers given by the constitution to Congress
and the President ] feel more bound to with
hold my signature from the bill because of pecul-
lar evils which manifestIy result from this in
fraction of the constitution. Appropriations
of this nature, to be devoted purely 10 local OBJ
jects, tend to increase in number and amount.
As citizens of one State find that money. to
raise which, in common with the whole country.
they are taxed, is to be expended for local inn
provements IN another State, they demand
similar benefits for themselves and it is not
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 Thus, as the
bill becomes more Objectionable, it secures
more support. This result is inevitable. and
necessarily follows neglect to observe the CON
stitutional limitations imposed on the law
making power
Appropriations for river and harbor i'm
provements have, under the influences to which
have alluded, increased year by year out of
proportion to the progress of the country,
great as that has been. III 1879 the aggregate
..
5l7, so i'll 1880, IS, 976, 5U0 and in 1881, ST.
451, 300, while ty the present act there is ap-
propriaed $l8, 1885. WLie feeling every
disposition to leave to the legislature the re-
sponsil iltty of determining what amount should
be appropriated for the purposes of the bill
so long as appropriat ons are confined to the
objects indicated by the grant of Congress.
/ cannot escape the fact that, as part Of
the law-making power of the Government,
tle deVOlV6S with NV
nature from bill containing appropriations
which, IN my opinion, greatly exceed il. amount
the 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 President is Ill effect directed to expend so
large an amount of money within so brief a
period that expenditure can not be made econ
omically and adyantageously. Extravagant ex-
pendlture OF public money is an evil not to be
measured by the value Of that money to the
people who are taxed for it. They
sustain greater injury i'll the demorallzinr
effects produced upon those who are intrusted
With official duty, through all the ramifcatIons
OF, government. These Objections could be
removed and every cons ituuonal purpose
readily obtained should Coagess enact that
one-half only OF the aggregate amount pro-
vided for IN the bill be app. opri ted for ex-
penditure during the fiscal wear, and that the
sum so appropriated be expended only for such
object named III 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
the sum now designated by bill for that pur-
pose | fesl authorized to make this suggestion
because 0. the duty imposed upon the President
by Tie = uilstil ut.on To recommend 10 the COLI
siderat1n of Congress such measures as he
shall ] dge necessary ana eXpedlent and be-
cause il Is 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 l. 1882