The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-08-10
The Veto of the River and Harbor Bill

To the House Of Representatives: s,.. t
Having watched with much interest the progress
Of the House bill No. 6,242, entitled can act making
appropriations for the construction repair and pre-
servation Of certain works on rivers and harbors
and for other purposes and having since it was
received carefully examined 1t, after mature con-
stderatton, am constrained to return 1t herewith
to the House Of Representatives, In which 1t orig
mated, without my signature, and with my objec
lions to its passage
Many of the appropriations in the bill are clearly
for the general welfare and most bene1cent In theil
character. Two Of the objects for which provision
is made were by me considered SO important that
felt 1t my duty to direct to them the attention OF
Congress. In my annual message in December last
urged the vital Importance of legislation for the
reclamation Of the marshes and for the establish
ment of the harbor lines along the Potomac front
In April last by special message, recommended an
appropriation for the improvement Of the Missis
stppt river.
It is not necessary that say that .when my sig.
and other valuable national objects law it is with
great reluctance, .aEd only under sense OF duty,
that | withhold It. MY principal objection to the
bill Is that 1t contains appropriations for purposes
not for the common defence or general welfare, and
which do not promote commerce among the states.
These provisions on the contrary, are entirely for
the benefit of the particular localities in which 1t Is
proposed to make the improvements. 1regard such
appropriation Of the public money as 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 manfestly result from this 1nfraction
Of the Constitution. Appropriations of this nature
to be devoted purely to local objects, tends
crease in number and in amount as the citizens of
one state find that money-to raise which they, in
common with the whole country, are taxed-is to
be expended for local Improvements in another
state, they demand similar benefits for themselves
and it Ia not unnatural that they should seek to In
demnify themselves for such 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
support This result is 1nvarable, and necessarily
follows neglect to observe the constitutional imi-
tations, imposed upon law-mak1ng power. The ap-
preparations 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 appropriation was $3,9759OO; in
1875, ia $780, $8979 800, and in 1881, ST.
ted S1&743S75, While feeling every disposition to
leave to the Legislature the responsibility OF deter
mining what amount should be appropriated for
the purposes Of the bill, long as the appropria
lions confined to objects indicated by the grant
Of power, cannot escape the concl I5 that as
the duty devolves upon me to withhold my sigma
ture from the bill containing appropriations which,
In my opinion, greatly exceeds 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 President Is In effect
directed to expend SO large an amount of money
within so brief period that the expenditure can
not be made economically and advantageously.
The extravegant expenditure Of public money Is
an evil not to be measured by the value Of that
ney to the people who are taxed for it. They sus-
tain greater injury in the demoral1zng effect pro
duced up N those who are entrusted with official
duty through all the ramf1cat1Ons OF government.
These obligations could be removed and every con-
stitutional purpose readily obtained should Con-
gress enact that one half only Of the aggregate
amount provided for in the bill be appropriated for
expenditure during the fiscal year, and that the
sum appropriated be expended only for such Oh
jects named In the bill as the Secretary Of War,
der 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
tho bill for that purpose. feel authorized to make
this suggestion 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 because
1t is my earnest desire that the 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.
~ Atf X {. CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Executive Mansion. August 1St. 1882.