Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-08-10
KILLED..
The Infamous River and Harbor
Bill Vetoed
Congress Indignant and Pass it Over
the Veto.
Sl9, 600, 900 of the Peoples Money
Squandered.


bill, that appropriated nineteen mil.
hons of the peoples money for use
less purposes, was vetoed by President
Arthur. While the presidents private
secretary stood waiting to return the
bill and number crowded around him,
there was a general re8tlessness in ali
parts of the chamber. The speaker
quickly glanced over the first few lines
as soon as the clerk had opened the
huge envelope, and, seeing that it was
a veto, Immediately laid the message
before the house. 1t was read by clerk
Mcpherson, slowly and with emphasis,
While members preserved absolute ST.
lence until he read the remark that as
the bill became the more obiectional
the more support it received in con-
gress. This
AsPERSION OF THE MOTIVES
OF the supporters of the bill was re-
ceived with general laughter and indi-
cations of displeasure on the part OF
some. When the message had been
read through the republican leaders
made haste to adjourn the house. and
Chairman Page called meeting of the
commerce committee to consider.
For time it locke ed as if the house
had resolved itself into
AN INDIGNATION MEETING.
Expressions of dissatisfaction were
almost universal, and were especially
frank and extreme among the republi-
cans. That which gave particular
Otfense was the presidents assumption
of superior honesty CT purpose and
greater wisdom than congress as to
what works for the Improvement of
navigation should be undertaken. His
intlmatiOn that congress had engaged
IN general scramble for part of the
plunder, without regard to the public
Interests, was vigorously resented bv
some and excused by a few. Some
members who had voted against the
bill voluntarily pledged themselves TO
vote to pass the bill over the veto, and
the general sentiment was undoubtedly
IN favor of that course; but the cooler
heads advised consultation before do
ing anything with the bill, or before
any individual should commit himself
to any line of action.
Following is the full text of the pres
ident's message:
10 THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,: Having
watched with much interest the progress of house
bill NO az, entitled An act making apprOpri-
tions Tor the construction, repair. and preserva-
tlon or certain works on rivers and harbors and
for other purposes" and having since it was re-
celved, carefully examined it, after mature con-
slderatlon L am constrained to return it herewith
to the house of representatives in which it origi-
mated, without my signature and with my OBJ
Jectlons to Its passage. Many appropriations in
the bill are clearly for the general welfare and
most benefcient in their character. Two of the
objects tor which provision is made were by me
considered so important that [ felt it my duty to
direct to them the attention of congress- In nv
annual message in December last I urged the
vital Importance of legislation for recla-
nation Of the marshes and for the establish
ment OF harbor lines along the Potomac front.
In April last, by special message, l recommended
an appropriation for Improvement of the Missis-
sppl river 1t Is not necessary that I say that
when my signature would make the bill appro-
priating for these and other valuable national
objects law it is with great reluctance and
only under sense of duty, that I withhold it.
My principal objection to the bill is that it con-
talns appropriations for purposes not for common
defense or general welfare and which do not pro-
mote commerce among the states. These pro-
visions, on the contrary entirely for the bene-
fit OF the particular localities in which it is pro
appropriation of public money as
BEYOND THE POWERS GIVEN BY THE CONsTITU-
TIoN
to congress and the president. 1 feel more bound
to withhold my signature from the bill because
of peculiar evils which manifeStly result
from this infracton of the constitution
Appropriations of this nature to be de-
voted purely to local objects tend to increase
in number and amount. AS citizens of one
state find that money, to raise which in common
with the whole country, they are taxed is to be
EXPENDED for local improvements III another
state, they demand similar benefits to themselves;
and 1t is not unnatural that they should seek to
indemnify themselves for such of the public funds
by securing appropriations for similar improve
ments in their own neigAbOrhOod. Thus as the
bill becomes more Objectionable, it secures more
support. This result Is Inevitable and necessarily
follows neglect to observe the constitutional lini-
tations imposed upon the law making power.
Appropriations for river and harbor improve
mentS 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
S3,Ol59UO; IN 1919, S5684 ,5l1.50; in 1880, So :
976 500, and in 1881, $1l 45l 800. while by the
present act there is appropriated SIS ,743 875.
While feeling every disposition to leave to the
legislature the responsibility of determining what
amount should be appropriated for the purposes
of the bill, so long as appropriations are confined
TO the objects indicated by the grant of congress
l can not escape the fact that, part Of tn law
making power of the government the duty DE-
wolves upon me to
WITHHOLD NY SIGNATURE
from a bill containing appropriations which, in
my opinion, greatly exceed in amount the needs
Of the country for the present fiscal year. 1t be-
ing the usage to provide money for these pur-
poses by annual appropriation bill, the president
*
OF money within so brief period that expendi-
ture can not be made economically and advan-
tageOusly. EXtravagant expenditure of public
mOney.is an evil not to be measured by the value
o. that money to the people who are taxed for it.
They sustain greater injury in the dsm0ralizing
effects produced upon those who are intrusted
with official duty through all the ramihcations of
government. These objections could be removed
and every constitutional purpose readily obtained
should congress enact that one-half only of the
aggregate amount provided for in the bill be ex-
pended during the fiscal year, and that the sum
so appropriated be expended only for such object
named in the bill as the secretary Of war, under
direction of the president shall determine; pro-
vided that in no case shall expenditure for any
one purpose exceed the sum now des gnated by
bill for that purpose. l feel authorized to make
this suggestion, because of the duty imposed up
on the president by the constitution to recon-
mend to the consideration of congress such meas
ures as he shall Judge necessary and expedient,
and because it is my earnest desire that the pub
lie 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.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Executive Mansion, Aug. l, 1882.
In the afternoon both houses met
in a perfect storm of Indignation and