Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-08-14


and just and brave thing" These
extracts are made alike from leading
republican and Democratic papers,
and show that there is nothing parti-
san in the almost unanimous APPROX
al of the presidents course. In his
message to congress, returning the
bill without his signature, after ex-
pressing his approval of some of the
appropriations made by it, two of
which he had previously recommend
ed, he says:
''It is not necessary that | say that
when my signature would make the bill
appropriating for these and other valua-
BILE national objects a law, it is with great
reluctance and only under sense of duty
that 1 withhold it. My principal objec-
ton to the bill is that it contains appro-
priations for purposes not for the COM
mon defence or general welfare and which
do not promote commerce among the
states. These provisions, on the contra
ry, are entirely for the benefit of the par
ticular localities in which it is proposed
to make the improvements. l regard
such appropriation of the public money
as beyond the powers given by the con-
stitution to congress and the president.
feel more bound to withhold my sigma
ture from the bill, because of the peculi-
ar evils which manifestly result from this
infraction of the constitution. Appropri-
ations of this nature, to be devoted pure
ly to local objects tend to an increase 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 is it not natural that they should seek
to indemnify themselves for such use of
the public funds by securing appropria-
tions for similar improvements in their
own neighborhood. Thus, as the bill
becomes more Objectionable it secures
more support. This result is invariable,
and necessarily follows neglect to OBJ
serve the constitutional limitations i'm
posed upon the lawmaking power.
The appropriations for river and har-
Dor improvements have, under the infiu-
ences 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 appro-
priation was $3,975, 900; in 1875, Sc, 64S,-
$3.50; in 1880, $S,976, 500; and in 1881,
$11 ,451 ,300 while by the present act
there is appropriated $18, 743,9 75. While
feeling every disposition to leave to the
legislature the responsibility of determin-
ing what amount should be appropriated
for the purposes Of the bill, so long as
the appropriations are confined to objects
indicated by the grant of power, cannot
escape the conclusion that, as a part of
the law-making power of the government
the duty devolves upon me to withhold
my signature from the bill containing ap-
propriations which, in my opinion, great
ly exceed in amount the needs of the
country for the present fiscal year.
1t being the usage to provide money
for these purposes by annual appropria-
ton bills, the president is, in effect, di-
rected to expend so large an amount of
money within SO brief a period that the
expenditure cannot be made economically
and advantageously. The extravagant
expenditure of public money is an evil
not to be measured by the values of that
| money to the people who are taxed for it.
They sustain a greater injury in the de-
moralizing effect produced upon those
who are entrusted with official duty
| through all the qualifications of govern
ment''
1t is perfectly well understood that
this extravagant expenditure of the
public money, greatly in advance of
any previous appropriations, was the
result of a system of log-rolling
among various members of both
houses of congress. There is proba-
bly, not single senator or represent
ative who would have given his vote
for the several items of the bill taken
separately; but each member wished
to stand well with his constituents.
and so agreed to what others demand.
ed, provided they would sustain what
would benefit his locality. This dis
regard of the public good, of what is
| just and right, when it conflicts will
the personal and local interests Of
politicians, is the great bane of oul
legislation, and is destructive to al
official morality.
Not only has the public press utter
ed its voice in approval of Mr.. Ar
thurs course in regard to this meas
ure, but men in different parts of tn,
country, notably in this city, withou
: regard to party, having united il
sending to the president their com
mendation of his act and of the rea
sons he assigned. Leading demo
Gratis and republicans have hearth,
and publicly endorsed his veto mes
sage.
But all this is of no avail. We re
greet to record the fact that the bill
has been passed over the veto by
} two-thirds vote in both houses of con
| gress, and has become a law. Eigh
teen millions and more of the publ
; money is to be spent during the com
: ing year, much of it squandered 70
: purposes which have no constitution
al sanction, and much of it merely t
, prepare the way for the re-electio
t of politicians to congress.-Ne1
= York Observer.
THE BEST CROPS KNOWN.
R EAU CLAIR, Wis, Aug. 10. Th
: harvesting has begun in earnest, an