The National tribune., 1882-08-05

3 ~ - Of Representatives,:
watched with much interest the
House bin No. 62l2, entitled can
appropriations for the construction,
H preservation of certain works on
Ha harbors, and for other purposes;
,.4 u- ~, since it was received, carefully
!, after mature consideration | am
ru to return it herewith to the House
5epr. natives, in which it originated,
u5 nlr signature and with my objections
PASS &c.
aUy the appropriations in the bill are
tt he general welfare and most benef-
-. fa character. Two of the objects for
s prs ision is made We're by me considered
ea that / felt it my duty to direct to
teniion of Congress. In my annual
December last / ur-sea the vital i'm
s,EjGuce legislation for the reclamation of
-s marshes and for the establishment of the
.tfsHr iia along the Potomac front. In April
$50 5E nal message, | recommended an APP
le0UFia. sa for the improvement OF the Mis-
.,.uFs er. 1t is not necessary that ] say
fAt. W"ra my signature would make the bill
t'.fE.pr ng for these and other valuable
II -a 81 ects law, it is with great reluc-
giEss only under n sense of duty, that L
aae.a- Is. My principal objection to the bill
81 4t intains appropriations for purposes
arrBlr t.a common defense or general wei
Iare, ana which do not promote commerce
among the States. These provisions, on the
contrary, arc entirely for the benefit of the
particular localities III which it is proposed TO
make the Improvements. | regard such ap
preparation OF the public money rs beyond the
powers given by the Constitution to Congress
and the President | feel the more bound to
withhold my signature from the bill because
of the peculiar evils which mauifestly result
from this iutraction of the Constitution.
Appropriations of this nature, to be devoted
L.
number and in amount. As the citizens of one
state find that money Ito raise which they, in
common with the whole country, are taxed is
to be expended for local improvements in an
other State they demand similar benefits for
themselves and 1t is not unnatural that they
should seek to indemnify themselves for such
use OF the public funds by securing apprOprIa
tions for similar Improvements i'll their own
neighbOrhOOd. THUS, as the bill becomes more
Objectionable it secures more support. This
result is invarable, and necessarily follows a
neglect to observe the constitutional limitations
imposed upon the laW-makiug power. The
appropriations for river and h&rbOr improve
jacntS 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. In 1870 the aggregate apprO-
priaton was s.! !915, 800; in 1870, S6,6IS, ,517.j0;
IN 1850, - ,916500 and in 1851, $ll, ,f51 800 !;
while by the present act there is appropriated
$l0,.i3,S15. While feeling every disposition
TO leave TO the legislature the responsibility of
determining what amount should be appropri-
ated for the purposes of the BILL so long as the
appropriations are confined to objects indicated
by the grant of power | cannot escape
the conclusion that us q part of the law
making power OF the Government the duty
deyolVcS upon me to withhold my signature
from tho bill containing appropriations
which, i'll my opinion, greatly exceed i'll
amount the needs Of the country for the
present fiscal year. It being the usage to pro-
vide money for those purposes by annual APP
preparation bills the President is in effect
directed to eXpend so large an amount of
money within SO brief period that the ex-
penditurc cannot be made economically and
adyantageously. The eXtravagant expcndi-
ture 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 d
greater injury in the dcmOralizing effect pro-
duced upon those who are entrusted with
Official duty through all the ramifiCatiOns of
government These objections could be re-
moved and every constitutional purpose readily
obtained should Congress enact that one
half only of the aggregate amount provided
Tor IN the bill be appropriated for expenditure
during the fiscal year, and that the sum SO
appropriated be expended only for such objects
named III the bill as the Secretary of War,
under the direction of the President, shall
determine; provided that in no case shall the
expenditure for any one purpose exceed the
sum now designated by the bill for that pur-
pose. | feel authorized to make this sugges-
tlon because of the duty imposed upon the
resident by the Constitution to recommend to
the consideration of Congress such measures
as shall be judged necessary and expedient,
and because il is my earnest desire that the
pnbllc works which are in progress shall suffer
no injury. Congress will also convene again
III about four months, when this whole subject
will be open for their consideration.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Aug. l, 1882.
On Wednesday the House passed the bill
over the veto by a vote of yeas 1913, nays So
more than the necessary two-thirds vote. The
bill was subsequently sent to the Senate
where it was also passed over the veto by yeas
A1 navs 16. So the bill becomes law at once,
uespit residents objection.
The lent has approved the act appro-