The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-08-03
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL
PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES OF CON
GRRSS OVER THE VETO.
Messrs. Reed and Dingley Vote in
Negative.
Especial to the Boston Journal.l

Especial to the Boston Journal.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-The House, after a
long wrangle and good deal of feeling, passed
the river and harbor bill over the Presidents
more than two-thirds. The following New
England members voted to pass the bill: Can
dler, Bowman, Crapo, Harris and Rice. Ihe
following voted nay: Dingley, Robinson, Ty-
Ter, Norcross and Reed.
The announcement was made that If Mr..
Russell had been present he would have voted
for the bill
When the announcement of the vote was
made is was received with applause,
On the last reading of the names it appeared
that change of one vote would have prevent
ed the passage.
At quarter before 2 the veto message was
brought into the Senate and read A number
OF Representatives came over and were inter-
ested spectators. The vote was taken Ia accor-
dance with the rules, without debate, and the
result was Al ayes against 16 nays. So the bill
is enacted.
The Message.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.--Following is the full
text of President Arthur's veto message sent
to the House,
To the House of Representatives:
Having watched with much interest the pro-
gress of the House bill No. 6,424, entitled an
act making appropriation for the construction,
repair and preservation OF certain works on
rivers and harbors and for other purposes, and
having since it was received carefully examiD-
ed it after mature consideration, am con-
strained to return it herewith to the House OF
Representatives, in which it originated, with
out my signature and with my objections to Its
passage. Many of the appropriations in the
bill are clearly for the general welfare and
most beneficent in their character; two of the
objects for which provision is made were by
me considered SO important that telt 1t my
duty to direct them to the attel ton OF Congress
in my annual message in December last. L
urged the vital importance OF Legislation for
the reclamation of the marshes and for the es-
tabishment of the harbor lines along the Po-
tomac f .ont. In April last, by special mes
sage, recommended an appropriation for the
Improvement of the Mississippi river. 1t is
not necessary that say that, when my sigma
ture would make the bill appropriating for
these and other valuable national objects
law, it is with great reluctance and only under
a sense of duty that withhold 1t.
NY principal objection to the bill is that it
contains appropriations for purposes not for the
common defence or general welfare, and Whlch
do not promote commerce among tne states.
These provisions, on the contrary, are entlre-
ly for the benefit of thu particular localities in
which it is proposed to make hte improve
ments. regard such appropriation OF the
public money as beyond the powers given by
the constitution to Congress and the PRESIDENT.
I feel the more bound to withhold my sigma
ture from the bill because OF the peculiar evils
which manifestly result from this infraction OF
the constitution. Appropriations of this na-
ture to be devoted purely 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 coun-
try, are taxed, is to be expended for local Inn
proyements in anather state, they demand
similar benefits for themselves; and it is not
unnatural that they should seek to indemnify
themselves for such of the public funds by Sc
curing appropriations for similar improve
ments in their own neighborhood. Thus as the
bill becomes more objectionable IT secures
more support. This result is invariable, and
necessarily follows neglect to observe the
constitutional limitations imposed npon the
law-making power
The appropriations for river and harbor inn
provements have, under the influences to
which have alluded, increased year BY year,
out of proportion to the progress of the coun-
try, great as that has been. In 1870 the aggre-
gate appropriation was SO 1856, 800; in 1875,
$6,64S, BIT; in 1880, $8,976,500, and in 1851,
$11 ,45l 300, while by the present act there is
appropriated $18,743,875. While feeling every
disposition to leave to the legislature the re,
sponsibility of determining what amounts should
be appropriated for the purposes OF the bill, SO
long as the appropriations are confined to OBJ
jects indicated by the grant of powers L cannot
escape the conclusion that, as part OF the
law-makiDg power of the government, the du-
from the bill containing appropriations which
in my opinion greatly 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 appropriation bllls, the
President is in effect directed to expend SO large
an amount of money within so brief period
that the expenditure cannot be made econoni-
cally and advantageously.
The extravagant expenditure OF public
money is an evil not to be measured by the
vaus of that money to the people who are
taxed for it, they sustain greater injury in
the demoraliziug effect produced upon those
who are intrpsted wich official duty through
all the ramifcations of government
These objections could be removed anG every
constitutional purpose readily obtained shonld
Congress enact that one-half only of the aggre-
gate amount provided for in the bill be appro-
priated for expenditure during the fiscal year,
and that the sum so appropriated be expended
only for such objects named in the bill as The
Secretary of War, under the direction of the
President, shall determine, provided, that in
no case shall the expenditure for any one pur-
pose exceed the SUM now designated by the
bill for that purpose.
feel authorized to make this suggestion be-
cause of the duty imposed upon the President
by the constitution, to recommend to the con-
sideration of Congress such measures as he
shall Judge necessary and expedient, and be-
cause it is my earnest desire that the public
works which are in progress shall suffer no in
Jury Congress will also convene again in four
months, when tie whole subject will be open
for their consideration.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Executive Mansion, Aug. l, 1882.