Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-08-04
The river and RarIor NH.

Some weeks ego the House of Representa-
tives passed the River and Harbor bill by a
vote of l19 TO AZ. The Senate added about
s., 1000, 900, conference committees were ap-
pointed and last week the House passed the
bill by vote of Ill to 50, and tie Senate by
a vote of 80 to 30. On Tuesday of this week
President Arthur vetoed the bill in a message
which is elsewhere published in full. That
there is no installing the meaning of the
message, and that his action in refusing to
sanction this huge log rolling steal does credit
to his integrity, independence and straight
forwardness, needs not to be said. My
principal objection to the bill, says the Pres.
ident sis that it contains appropriations for
purposes not for the common defense or gen.
eral welfare and which do not promote COM
merce among the states. 1 regard such ap-
preparation of the public money as beyond
the powers given by the constitution TO Con-
gress and the President" No wonder that
Congressman WINGED and felt angry when the
Executive added, after pointing out the means
used to secure support for the bill, "thus as
the bill becomes more Objectionable it secures
more support"
The country applauded when it became
known that the President had vetoed the
measure, but this rejoicing was changed to a
feeling very like one of dismay when on the
following day both houses of Congress made
indecent haste to pass the bill over the veto.
The friends of the grab promptly summon
ed their forces on Wednesday, the Speaker
refused to recognize motion to refer the
veto, and the bill was passed over the Presi.
dents head by a vote of 1913 ayes to 60 nays,
or three more than the necessary two-thirds.
In the Senate the vote stood Al ayes to IL
nays. In the House the friends of the meas
ure were very belligerent in their talk about
the President before the final passage of the
bill, and professed to feel that their dignity
had been insulted by the plain words of the
message. OF the members of that body CT
Republicans, 81 Democrats, and Greenback
ers and other Independents voted for the
steal, and 80 Republicans, 81 Democrats, ant
Independents voted against it. or the New
England members Gambler, Bowman, Grape
Harris and Rice of Massachusetts voted aye
and Dingley and Reed of Maine, Robinson
and Norcross of Massachusetts, and Tyler o.
Vermont voted nay. or the Al affirmative,
votes in the Senate Is were those of Republi
cans and 90 those of Democrats. OF the neg
alive votes ~ were Republican, Democratic
and ! Independent. An analysis of the yot
shows that &C per cent of the Republican
members present stood by the bill, and G.
per cent of the Democratic members present
while 81 per cent. of the Republican member
present voted to sustain the veto, and only 81
per cent of the Democrats did the same.
But while it is easily shown that the Demo
Gratis were equally responsible with the Re
publicans for the passage of the obnoxiou
measure, the fact cannot be wiped out that
is Republican Congress which will be helt
responsible for this piece Of legislation. TIL
Democrats were as anxious as the Republi
cans to make this grab at the public funds
but, the thing being done, their first eHor
will be to turn it into ammunition against tn
Republicans in the coming elections. In Vel
mont no harm will be done, but in too man
other states the case is entirely different. ]
is too true that the New York Times is quit
right when it says ''The Republican part
cannot fail to suffer for this piece of reckless
ness. 1t controlled the committees and
had majority in both houses. 1t had tn
power to insist upon honesty and deceney i
the appropriation bills and failed to do il
Moreover the veto was that of a Republica
President and should at least have command
ed the respect of Republicans. They eannC
escape the responsibility on account of III
division of both parties by the line that SCI
arates thieves from honest men. This act wi
cost the Republican party many a ConRrei
sional district at the coming election and it
likely to destroy their hope of controlling tn
next Congress- But the people should dii