The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-08-03


an act making appropriations for construo
lifk, repairing and the preservation OF Ger
tain wOrks on rivers and harbOrs, and lol
otherpurposes, and having since IL was re-
ceiyed carefully examined IL, after
ture consideration 1 am constrained Ia
return 10 herewith 10 the house bi
representatives In which IL originated, with
out my signature, and with my objections
10 its passage. Much Of the appropriations
in the bill are clearly for the general wei
fare and most benehcent In their character.
Two OF the objects for which provision is
made were by me considered so important
that felt it my duty 10
direct to them the attention of congress.
In my annual message in December
last, urged the vital Importance of legis-
ton for the reclamation of the marshes and
for the establishment of harbor lines along
the Potomac front of Washington. In
April last, by special message, / recom-
mended an appropriation for the improve
ment of the Mississippi river. 1t is not
necessary that | say when my signature
would make the bill appropriatng for these
ana other valuable national objects law,
it is with great reluctance and only under a
sense of duty that withhold it. NV princi-
pal objection to the bill is that it contains
appropriations not for the common defense
or general welfare and which do not pro-
mote commerce among the states. These
provision on the contrary are entirely for
the benefit of particular localities in which
II proposed TO make improvements. re-
gard such appropriation of .puOlic money
as beyond the power oiven by the constf
tuition to congress and the president / feel
more bound to withhold my signature
from the bill because of peculiar
evils which manifestly result
from this infraction of the constitution.
Appropriations OF this nature, to. be de-
voted purely to local objects, tend to in
crease in mum ber and in amount as the
C tizens of one state find that money to be
raised which they in common with the
whole country are taxed is to
be expended for local improvements
in another state, they demand similar bene-
fits for themselves, and it is not unnatural
that they should seek to indemnify them
selves for such use of the public funds by
securing appropriations for similar improve
ments in their own neighborhood. Thus, as
the bill becomes more Objectionable
1T secures more supporters The result
is invariable and necessarily follows the
neglect to observe the constitutional limi-
tation upon the. law-making power APP
for river and harbor improve
ments haye under, the influence to
winch L have alluded, increased year
by year out of proportion to
tile progress of the country, great as that
has bee1. In 1870 the aggregate appropria-
tion was S3975, 800; in 1875, S6,64S, 5l7 so in
1852 SS,916,5Oo; and in 1881. $l1 ,451 ,3o),
while by the present act there is an appro-
oriation of Sls,743,S75. While feel
ing every disposition to leave to
legislative branches the responsibility
OF determining what amount should be ap-
for the purposes of the bill, so
long as the appropriations are confined to
lhe object indicated by the grant of power,
cannot escape the conclusion that as part
Of the law.making part of the government
The duty deyolvess upon me to withhold my
pliations, 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 TOR those pur-
poses by annual appropriation bills, the
president is in effect directed TO eXpend so
arge an amount ofmoney within SO brief
period that the expenditure cannot be made
and advantageously. Ex-
.ravagant expenditure of public money is
IN evil not to be measured by the
value OF that money to the people
who are taxed for it. They sustain
greater injury in the demoralizing effect
produced upon those who are entrusted
With that official duty through the rami-
lcatlons OF the government. Those OBJ
ections could not be removed, and every
purpose readily obtained
hOuld congress enact that one
lalf only of the aggregate amount
If the appropriation for the bill
,e appropriated for expenditure during the
iscal year, and that the sum so appro-
,riated be expended only for such objects
named in the bill, as the secretary of war
lnder the direction of the president shall
letermine, provided that in no case shall
for any one purpose
Exceed the sum now designated
33y the bill for that purpose.
feel authorized to make the suggestion
because of the duty imposed on the presi- =.
lent tr the constitution to recommend 10,
he consideration of congress such measures
Is shall be judged necessary and expedient,
md because it is my earliest desire that
public works which are in proyress shall
suffer no injury. Congress will also be con-
reDed again in about four months, when
his whole subject will be open for their
THE sTAR-RoUTERs.
In the star-route trial to-day Senator
MaXey, of Texas, was placed on the stand
by the defense, but an objection being
'aised that he could only testify as to the
general policy Of the defendant in extend
ng the star routes, that he could offer no
evidence bearing upon the ofieuse charged
n the indictment, he was not permitted
however, to testify. EX-POstmaster.Ge Gen
sral Key was then called, but as he was also
unable TO testify to any knowledge OF sp'-
'ifc rules upon which the indictment rs
based, and he could only affirm that the
general policy OF the department had been
)ne of extension his evidence was ruled
,ut. General Sherman then took the stand,
md to his evidence the objection was raiaed
IS in the case of Key and Maxey. He how
'ver, recognized his signature on the recon-
for increase and expedition upon
)ne of the routes named in the Indictment,
md in explaining this said he signed the re-
aWNNl "A
personally of the route, which was in
.olorGdo. He said the Indian agent at
White river agency had been murdered,
ais family carried Off and fight had taken
place between Major ThoTnburg and In
iians. The entire community between
Rawlins and White river agency were over
'un with hostile bandits, and it was re-
,arded as a measure OF national impor-
ance TO keep open every possible COM
with the rear. Com
the establishment Of daily
itage service IN that section had been rec
He was asked what was the
fleet OF frequent mails on the maintenance
,f peaceful relations Of Indians. He said
nothing better enables an officer to keep
posted than frequent Communication with
hilerent sections OF the Indian
country. At least one-fourth Of the ap-
made for the support Of the
igency as.expended for courier service and
~ guard lines Of Communication. The
lost-otiice department was also pressed to
establish and increase quick communica-
Jon. Intelligence was thus secured, and
he commanding officers were thus able
. anticipate the movements OF
he hostile Indians Of Colorado. General
sherman said that there were 900
iuache Indians Of peculiar character
They entertained an ever lasting hatred to-
yard the Spanish race and were kept cor,
q I'd by the the military and prevented
rom making depredafiDns up0n "a
lers in that country. -1mctines tha
Irr'-e suET f-um their corral aner IA
ash iOl % an mails. In a recent caan
Alsaches Lad broken Ouf and Killed fot
eftlers, had escaped into Old Meri/
-Lnrn they had narn uiual M L. N