Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-08-10
The President Calls a Halt on
Squandering the Peo-
pies Money!
But Congress Tramples His
Words under Foot
in Scorn,
They Pass the Biggest Steal of the
Age Over the Presidents
Veto

war fastened ON congress TO day. Inc
occasion was the Presidents veto of the
river and harbor BILL This bill is an
acknowledged steal and appropriates
nineteen millions OF dollars OF the people
money for work that does not need to
be done. In fact it is freely asserted
by both parties that it is simply fund
for electioneering purposes and de-
signed to aid In returning the present
members back to congress. They
operate in this way ten. twenty-five
or forty thousand dollars is gotten for
improvements in certain congress
mans district. He is in the ring and
says to the leading contractors OF his
district, Here 10 the money now, d.
vide it among yourselves, be sure you
make some money for yourselves and
do what work for the government you
can, bit Whoteuer you do, If let you
hare these big contracts l shall expect to be
returned 10 congress-" Of course they
agree, 20 to work, each make thou
sand or two thousand dollars clear, and
all of them, democrats and republi-
cans are found working for the return
of this member to congress This
business has been going on so long that
it is gradually being discovered by the
people. The President thought to put
stop to it, but they tiampled upon
his veto like mess of angry cattle
The full text of his veto is as follows :
To the Houseof Representatives:
have watched with much interest the progress
of house bill, No. 62i2, entitled an act making
appropriation for the construction repair and
preservation Of certain works on rivers and har.
bors, and for other purposes" And having, since
it was received carefully examined il, after an.
ture consideration | am constrained to return it
herewith to the house of representatives in which
it originated, without my signature, and with my
objections to its passage. Many appropriations
in the bill are clearly for general welfare and most
beneficial in their character Two Of the objects
for which provision is made, were by me, consid-
cred so important, / fe.t it my duty to direct them
to the attention of congress. In my
annual message in December last, | urged
the vital Importance of legislation for
reclamation of marshes and to establish harbor
lines along the Potomac 'front.' In April last, by
special message, ! recommended an appropria-
ton for the improvement of the Mississippi river.
1t is not necessary to say that when my sigma
ture, which would make the bill appropriating
money for these and other valuable national OBJ
jects law, it is with great reluctance and from a
sense of duty that withhold my signature.
MY PRINCIPAL OBJECTION
to the bill is that 1t contains appropriations fer
purposes not for common defense or general wei
ihre, and which do not promote commerce among
the states. These provisions, on the contrary,
are entirely for the benefit of particular localities
in which tbs proposed to MAKE improvements.
regard such appropriation of public money as
beyond the powers given by the con-
Stitution to congress and the president. | feel
more bound to withhold my signature from the
bill because of the evils which manifestly result
from this infractiOn on the constitution. APP
4 . .,l Ia a,,l
to local objects tend to increase in number and
amount. As the citizens of one state find that
the money to raise which they in common with
the whole country is taxed, is expended for local
improvement in another state they demand
similar benefits for themselves and it is not I'M
natural they should seek to indemnify themselves
for such public funds by securing appropriations
for similar improvements in their own neghbor-
hood. Thus, as the bill becomes more objection
able, it secures some support. This result is in
yariably and necessarily followed by neglect to
observe the constitutional limitations imposed on
the lawmakiyg power.
APPROPRIATIONS
for river and harbor improvements 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 appropriations was 1897 D 800; in
1875, Sc, CAS-, 5lT; 1850 $3.50, 500; 1881, Sill
ISL 800; while by the present act there is appro-
priated SIS ,73S $50. While feeling every dspo-
siton to leave to the legislature the responsibility
of determining what amount should be appro-
priated for the purposes of the bill so long as the
appropriations confined 70 objects indicated
\ by the grant of power, | cannot escape the con-
clusion that a part Of the law making power of
the government, the duty deyolves On me to with
hold my signature from the bill &C itaining appro-
priations, which in my opinion, greatly exceed in
amount and the needs of the country for the
nresent fiscal year. 1t being the usage to pro-
vide money for these purposes by the annual ap-
preparation bills, the president is, in effect, di-
rected to expeud so large an amount of money
within so brief period, that the expenditure
cannot be made economically and advantageous
ly. Extrayagant expenditure of public money
is an evil not to be measured by the value of that
money to the people who are taxed for Il. They
sustain greater injury in the demoralizing effect
produced in those who are intrused with official
duty through all the ramifcatiOns OF govern
,nent. These objections could be removed and
every constitutional purpose readily obtained
should congress enact that one-halt only OF tht
aggregate amount provided for in the bill be ap.
propriated for expenditure during the fiscal year
and that the sum SO appropriated be expended
only for such object named in the bill as the
secretary of war, under direction Of the pres
dent shall determine, provided that in no cas-
shall the expenditure for any purpose exceed tn
sum now designated by the bill for tina, purpose
FEEL Authorised
10 make this suggestion because OF the duty i'm
posed upon the president by the constitution T.
recommend to the consideration Of congress su cl
measures as be shall judge necessary and expedi
u ent, and because it is my earnest desire that tn
Il public works which in progress shall suffer q
injury. Congress will also convene again in fou
months, when this whole subject will be open 70
# their consideration.
7 Signed CprsrER A. Arthur
Executive Mansion, Aug. /, 1882.
The veto has caused a great deal 0
4 comment Representative Thomas
chairman of the committee on levee
and the Mississippi improvements, sail
to your correspondent that he woulC
call up his bill appropriating So 600, OO
for the Mississippi the first thing to
morrow. He will argue that the Mis-
sissippi is the great national highway
and that the president has alresd
committed himself in its behalf W
r. Morrison, of Illinois, believed tina
the president anticipated what woul
come and knew what he would do
long time ago. He was acouainte
with his republican speaker, and wa