Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-25
SENATOR HOAR on THE RIVER AND HAIR
BOR BILL.

)f Massachusetts-an abstract of which
mas been given in these colums-is IA
strong one. 1t will fail to convince many
people that an appropriation of nineteen mil
lions for internal improvements, is not alto
gethcr too large; hut it will go far towards |
the candid reader that the bill
was not the conglomcration Of "jobs' and
swindles that it has been popularity supposed
to he; and that it could he supported by IN
honest man. Mr. lIoar is able to say that
not II single item in the bill had been pointed
out TO the Senate rs wrong. He says
"Mucl general dcnuncation there was out
side, and little in Congress But no man,
to the best of my belief, and in this | am
confirmed by my associates, and especially
by the members of the committee, ever
pointed his finger to one single item, and
said this is local this is job, this is for in
diyidual and not public benefit" This is
not saying that there are no jobs in the bill.
Mr.. Hears declaration that he knew OF
none can no, offset the statement of Presi-
dent Arthur in his veto message, that the bill
docs contain improper appropriations, for
local and indcfcnsible objects. But if the
bill were the aggregation of swndles that it
has been declared 10 be, it is certainly singu-
lar that none of its opponents pointed any of
them out, in detail.
As the general effect OF the measure, there
is force to lis in considerations such as
these
There are many Western communities
whose wheat, or bacon, or beef can be taken
TO foreign market ut Il profit by the re-
moval for few thousand dollars OF n sand
| bank or rock in some river. There are many
rich Southern cotton districts into which conf
mcrcc can thrust its arms by the clearing
| from mud some creek which runs up from
| the ntighboring harbor These men see that
when their wheat, or bacon, or cotton goes
| to Europe ii is exchanged for products on
which the Government lcvics 100 millions OF
| duty. These duties, and those from tobacco
and whiskey, the product of their fields, are
hcnccfor,h to pay the whole expenses of
| Government, including those levied for CON-
merce. They are also made to believe that
these duties enhance to them the price of ell
| the nccessarics of their lie for your benefit.
| Their Representatives will find II hard tovote
| two millions more for Hell Gate, and count
less millions for light houses and harbors
on the coast, unless their rivers and harbors
also are fairly considered.
There is one respect in which this River
and lIatbor money is the best spent
Of all public appropriations, save only
| the pensions. There are vast spaces in this
country where the United States Government
has been known for a generation only in the
| character of conqucror or a taX-gatherer.
I, a
bcncicent power in its character of bcnefac-
tor Almost all the forces there are centrif.
ugal. The United States is represented by
a dozen Congressman and Senators, by q
district Judge and marshal, and by the local
postmaster, aud that is all. The State has
its governor, its judges, its executive depart
mcut its numerous Legislature, its State,
| county and town officers, welding every i'm
portant nsrumentality of government. All
these are interested in supporting the dignity
and enhancing the authority OF the State,
This is well. 1t is the peculiar glory and
security OF American institutions. But 1t IL
also well that the people in those sections OF
the country who have been educated for hall
"A century TO look on the National Govern
ment with jealousy and dislike, and who
have felt its terrible power in war, in wastet
fields and desolate homes, should learn tC
associate its image with the bcncficcnt works
which Join them with the great system q
National commerce, and on which Their
prosperity and wealth are hereafter to de
lpend.
The weakest point in the defence is MIR
gotes cere guinea for the BILL by the intro
ducton of appropriations for improvements
which varions members had special interests
1t is one of the main objections to the bill
of distinct and separate matters that shoulC
be considered separately upon their merits
: and should succeed or fail without depend
ence upon others and nothing is plaine
: than that the combination Of interests in tn
whole was so strong that the fear of losin
certain items acted to prevent the adoption
Of amendments which otherwise might hay
been approved and therefore members too
what they did not approve to save what the
considered necessary.
Another point made by Mr.. Hoar, strike
us as open TO question. lie says:
p The public is perfectly protected. Tn
paltmcnt, subordinate to the President.
D there he an unconstitutional provision init, III
e not only in his power, but ii will be his duty
not TO carry that provision into effect, Til
bill is not like the ordinary appropriate
bills, under which the money is to be spei
n within the year. There is no limit or cnac
Il men, AS to the time within which the work sha
!, be done. If the President shall be satisfied O
y full enquiry in regard to any single item TIN
) it is unconstitutional or not of public N,
tioual importance, he can direct the Seer
tary OF war to postpone the work until !
can communicate the facts to Congress fC
further consideration
n This suggestion sccGls TO have little fore
f in view Of President Arthurs declaration tn,
/. long usage practically compcls the expend
= turc of the entire appropriation within Il
v year, The President asked Congress to r
:. duce the total by half and to give him discr
C ton in its expenditure, because usage if N
Y law left him practically no discretion. Co
r. grcss having refused to do this, there is, v
If fear, little reason to expect that the Pres
s dent will feel justified in curtailing any pc
C ton of the enormous expenditure cOntel
, plated aud authorized by the bill.
!, While Mr.. Hoar's argument thus contai
Ii some special pleading, it is, as Who'll
= a forcible and apparently candid production
i and will satisfy most readers that there a
\ two honest sides to the question of lar
1t OUTLAWS for internal improvements.
mr <nxr pIrp TpI STNt nRTly Nry 4