The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-08-10

mon with the whole country are taxed
is to be expended for local improve
ments in another State, they demand
sirailar benefits for thethselves, and 1t
is not unnatural that they should seek
to indemnify themselves for such use
of the public funds by securing sppro-
priations for similar improvements in
their own neighborhood. Thus, as the
bill becomes more Objectionable, it
secures more support. This result is
iDvariaJle, and necessarily follows a
neglect to observe the constitutional
limitations Imposed upon the law
making power.
The appropriations for river and
harbor improvements have, under the
influences to which 1 have alluded,
increased year by year out of proportion
to the progress of the country, great az
that has been. In 1876 the aggregate
appropriation was SO, ,975, 800 in 1876.
$6,64s, ,5l7 so; in 1880, IS, 976, 500; and in
1881, $ll ,45l 300; while by the present
act there is appropriated $1S, ,743,s75.
While feeling every disposition to
leave to the Legislature the RESPONSE
bility of determining what amount
should DE appropriated for the pur-
poses of the bill, 80 long as the appro-
priations are confined to objects indi-
Gated, by the grant of power cannot
escape the conclusion that, as a part of
the law-naking power Of the Govern
! ment, the duty devolves upon me to
withhold my signature from the bill
containing appropriations which in
my opinion, greatly exceed in amount
the needs of the country for the
present fiscal year. 1t being the usage
to provide money for these purposes
by annual appropriation bills, the
President is in effect directed to ex-
| pend so large amount of Hroney with
in so brief period that the expendi-
ture cannot be made economically and
advantageously.
The extravagant expenditure 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 great injury in the de-
moralizing effect produced upon those
who are intrusted with official duty
through oil the ramilications ofgovern-
ment.
These objects could be removed, and
every constitutional purpose readily
obtained, should Congress enact that
one half of the aggregate amount pro-
vided for in the bill be appropriated
for expenditure during the fiscal year,
and that the sum so appropriated be
expended only for such objects named
in the bill as the Secretary of War un-
der the direction OF the President.
shall determine, provided that i'm no
case shall the expenditure for any one
purpose exceed the sum now designa-
ted by the bill for that purpose.
1 feel authorized to make this sug-
gestion because of the duty imposed
upon the President by the Constitution
to recommend to the consideration of
Congress such measures as he shall
judge necessary and expedient, and be-
cause it is my earnest desire that he
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. /, 1882.
There has been long discussion in
the Cabinet about it, and the message
was not sent to the House until quite
late. Members had been expecting
message Of some sort all day, and as
the time passed and none came those
who were respondent plucked up
hope. The humorous Horr, who has
been in the dumps for three days over
the prospect, began to hope that the
President would sign the bill. He
thought that if there were to be veto
it would have been sent to the House
early to-day. The big Chairman of the
Commerce Committee of the House,
Page of California ,oscillated dnervOusly
between the Senate and House. In
the Senate he held long and whispered
consultations with the anxious Nc
MILAN, Chairman of the Seuate Com.
merce Committee.
The President had kept them al
absolutely in the dark respecting his
intention. Que member who haG
talked with Gen. Arthur was certain
from Presidential look that the bill
would be signed, while another would
come away cast down with apprehen
sion. Members discussed the proba'
bilities in groups IN the cloak rooms
aud all admitted that the Presidents
designs were mystery. AT last about
A o'clock, Page came into the House
and sat down gloomfly ard petulantly
in his seat. His manner was sufficient
Members did not have need of asking
him what the matter was. Nor die
he feel disposed TO talk. The cause o
this gloom was telephonic message
from the other end of the avenue, t
the effect that the Cabinet had quittet
the White House, and that a vet'
message was on its way to the Capitol
What was done at the session of the
, Cabinet to-day s,of course, not known
in detail, but it is understood that tn,
President informed his advisers q,