Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-02
The Veto Message.
THE PRESIDENTS OBJECTIONS 10 rnu RfvRn Al
HARBoR BirI.

fHB PRESIDENTS OBJECTIONS 10 IN kIvx8 ~
HARBoR BIII.
The following Is the full text OF the PrexideneD
message vetoing the river and harbor bill:
To the House or Representatives
Having watched with much interest the peo.
gress OF House bill No. 6e4a, entitled s.an 90
pair and preservation OF certain works on rivers
and harbors and for other purposes" and HAVING
mature consideration. / am constrained 10 ref1ra
II herewith TO the House OF Representatives, n
when IL originates, without my signature. and
Many or the appropriations In the bin are clearly
for the general welfare and most beneficial IN thcir
| vision is made were by me considered so import-
ant that felt II my duty 10 direct 90 them The
attention OF congress In my annual message In
legislation for the reclamation or the marshes ana
for the establishment or the harbor lines along the
Potomac front In April last by special message I
recommended an appropriation for the Improve
ment or the Mississippi river. IL Is not necessary
that say that when my signature would make the
bill appropr1atng for these and other valuable ma
tonal objects law, II is with great reluctance
and only under a sense OF duty that withhold
It. My principal objection 20 the bill is that ft
contains appropriations for purposes not for the
common defense or general welfare, and which
do not promote commerce among the states
These provisions on the contrary entirely for
the benefit OF the particular localities In which a
is proposed TO make the Improvements. regard
such appropriation OF the public money as beyond
the powers given by the constitution 10 Congress
and the President
feel the more bound to withhold my signature
from the OH because OF the peculiar evils which
manifestly result from this nfraction OF the con.
stitution Appropriations OF this nature 20 be de-
voted purely 10 local objects tend To an increase
In number and in amount As the citizens OF one
state md that money-to raise which they In COM
mon with the whole country are taXed-is 20 be
expended for local improvements In another state
they demand similar benefits for themselves and
IL is not unnatural that they should seek 60 indem-
by securing appropriations for similar imnrnve.
ments IN their own neighborhood. Thus as the
Dill becomes more objectionable IL secures more
support This result Is tnyariable, and necessarily
follows neglect 10 observe the constitut ionai
limitations imposed upon the law-making power
The appropriations for river and harbor i'm.
proyements have, under the Influences 20 which
have alluded, increased, year 10y year. out of pro.
portion TO the progress OF the country. great as
that has been. In 1870 the aggregate appropria-
ton was $S,s15,SO0 in 1875, s664ss i7 80; In lSsQ
H,916,5Oo; and in 1881 Sll,45l 800: while by the
present act there is appropriated slS,1s3,s73
While feeling every disposition 20 leave TO the
legislature the responsibility OF determining what
amount should be appropriated for the purposes
OF the bill. so long as the appropriations
fined 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
devolyeS upon me TO withhold my signature from
the Dill, containing appropriations which IA my
opinion greatly exceed in amount the needs OF the
country for the present fiscal year. IL being the
usage to provide money for those purposes by
annual appropriation bills, the President IS, in
enec., directed 10 expend SO large an amount Of
money Within so brief q period that the expendf.
ture cannot be made economically and advan-
taCeOuSly.
The extravagant expenditure OF public money n
an evil not To be measured by the value OF that
money to the people who are taxed for It. They
sustain greater injury in the demoralizing effect
produced upon those who are entrusted with OF.
ncial duty through all the qualifications OF gov
eminent 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 an
proprlated for expenditure during the fiscal year,
ana mat the sum SO appropriated be expended
only Tor such objects named I'm the bill as the
Secretary OF War. under the direction OF the Pres
ident, Shall determine; provided that In no case
shall the expenditure for any one purpose exceed
the sum now designated by the bill for that pur.
pose. 1 feel authorized TO make this suggestion
because OF the duty imposed upon the President
by the constitution TO recommend To the consid.
Grafton or Congress such measures as shall be
Judged necessary and eXpedient, and because IL u
my earnest desire that the public works which
are In progress shall suffer no injury. Congress
VIII also convene again I'm about four months,
when This whole subject Will be open for theft
consideration
(Signed) CHESTER A. ARTHUR
EXECUTIvK MANSION, Aug. 1, 1881.