Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-02
Che Presidents Pct1.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The following is
the full text of the presidents message veto
ing the river and harbor bill
To the House Of Representatives: have watched
with much interest the progress of house bill No.
GAP. entitled On act making ali appropriation for
the construction repair and preservation of certa in
works rivers and hsrbor5 and for other purposes
aud having since it received carefully examin ed
ii, after mature consideration l am constrained to
return 1t 10 the house of representatives. in which it
originated, without my signature and with my oblec-
tons to its passage. Many appropriations in the
bill clearly for the general welfare and mos. ben
ehcial in their character Two of the objects for
which provision is had by considered so
important felt it my duty TO direct them TO the
attention of congress. In my annual message In
December last urged the vital importance of legls
ation for the reclamation of the marshes and for the
establishment of harbor lines along ths Potomac's
front. In April last by special message recommended
an appropriation for the improvement of the Bisss-
sippi river. 1t is necessary that L say that when
my signature would make the bill, appropriating
for these and other valuable national objects, law
IL is with great reluctance and under a of
duty thht withhold it. My principal object
Ion to the bull is that it contains ap
preparations not for the purpose of COM
iron defense or geaeral welfare and which do
not promote Interstate commerce. These provisions
Un the contrary, are entirely for the benefit of the
particular localities in which it is appropriated to
make improvements regard such appropriation
of public money as beyond the powers given by the
constitution to congress and the president L feel
more bound to withhold my signature from the bill
because of the peculiar evils which manifesuy re-
suit from this infraction of the constitution APP
preparations of this nature, to be devoted purely
numoer and amount AS the citi-
zen of ono state find that money
10 raise which they, IN common with the whole
country are taxed, is to be expended for local in
provements in another state, They demand similar
benefits for themselves, and ii is not unnatural they
should seek Indemnity themselves for such of the
public funds by securing appropriations for similar
improvements in their own neishborbood. Thus,
as the bill becomes moro Objectionable. it
secures more support This result is invar ,ble and
necessarily folloWs neglect to observe the con-
suutcnal lima itation imposed npon the lawm making
power. The appropriations for river and harbor
improvements have, under the influences to which :
have alluded, increased year by year out CT proper
ton to the progress OF the country, great that
has been; In 1870 the aggregate approp riatons
were S3g76 900; In 1875 S66i8577: in 1880. $685.,
so and in 1881, ST., 45I,3J0; while by the present
act there is appropriated S18 rag $50; While feeling
every disposition to leave to the Legislature the
sponslbility of determining what amount
should be appropriated for the purposes of the bill,
so long as the appropriations confined to the OBJ
Iects indicated by the grant of powers, 1 cannot
escape tho conclusion thst part of the law max
ing power Of the government, the duty devolves up
on me to withhold my signature from the bill con-
tanning the appropriations which, in my opinion,
greatly exceed in amount the needs of tho country
Tor the present fiscal year. it being the usage to pro-
vide the money for these by animal apprn-
eratioi bills, and the president is in effect directed
to spend so largo an amount of money within 30
brief period, that expenditure can not
Do made economically aud ad
VantaSeously Inc eKtraYagant expenditure
of public money is evil not to be measured by
inv value of that money to the people who are taxed
for it, They sustain greater iojury in the democrat
lztDg effect produced upon those who entrusted
with official duty through all the ramifcations of
The government. These objections could be removed
aud every constitutional purpose readily obtained
should congress enact that one-half only CT the ag
gregae amount provided for in the bill be appro-
lriated for expenditure during the fiscal year, and
that the sum so appropriated DO expended only for
such object named in the bill as the secretary of
war, under the direction of the president,
shall determine; provided that in 40
case shall the expenditure for any purpose
exceed the sum now designated by the bill for that
purpose. feel authorized to mako this suggestion
because of the duty imposed upon The president by
the constitution to recommend to the consideration
OF congress such measures he shall Judge neces-
sary and expedient, and because 1t is my earnest
desire that the public works, which in progress
shall suffer no injury Congress will also convene
again in four months when this whole subject will
he open for their consideration.
lSigned] CHESTER A ARTHUR