The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-07

Il
sanction Others by his approvals. Sc
also would the executive be afforded q
| fuller opportunity to exercise his con.
stitutional prerogative of opposing
whatever appropriation seemed to
him Objectionable without imperilline
TIC SUCCESS oI oLners which commend
themselves to his Judgment. 1t NAV
be urged in opposition to these sug-
| geStionS that the number of works OF
internal Improvement which are just
| ly entitled to government aid is SO
| great as to render impracticable sep
arate appropriation bills therefor, even
| for such comparatively limited num-
Der as to make disposition of large
sums of money. This objection NAV
be well founded in respect to particn-
lar objects. 1t will be entirely posi-
BILE to provide for those objects by spe-
cial legislation. 1t is possible, for eX-
ample, that delay until the assem-
bling of the next congress to make
additional appropriations for the Mis-
SlSSlppl river improvements might be
attended by serious consequences.
Should such be the case a just bill re-
my approval.
1lllS 1celOlo ulc W Ou6T
suggestion which, l trust, will
commend itself to the wisdom
of congress. Is it not advisable that
grants of considerable sums of money
for diverse and independent schemes
of internal improvements should be
made?
If any action seems to arise for Civ
ing his vote for merited or meritorious
appropriations, he would be enabled so
to do without being called upon to
sanction others. His approvals also
would be executive, and he would be
afforded a fuller opportunity to exer-
else his constitutional prerogative of
opposing whatever appropriation SEEM
ed to him Objectionable without i'm
periling the success of others which
commend themselves to his Judgment.
1t may be urged in opposition to these
suggestions that the number of works
of internal improvement which are
Justly entitled to government aid is SO
great as to render impracticable sepa-
rate appropriation bills therefor, or
even for such comparatively
limited number as make disposition of
large sums of money. This objection
may be well founded and distinct
legislative enactments, 1t will be
scarcely gainsaid, even by those who
favor the most liberal expenditures
for such purposes as are sought to be
accomplished by what is commonly
called the river and harbor bill, that
the practice of grouping in such bill
appropriations for great diversity of
objects, widely separated either in
their nature or in the locality with
which they are concerned, or in both,
as one which is much to be deprecated,
Unless it is irremediable, it inevitably
tends to secure the success of the bill
as a whole, though many of the items
if separately considered could scarcely
fail of rejection. By the adoption of
the course have recommended, every
member of congress whenever oppor-
tuity should offer, and whether or not
the advantages which would likely
ensue from the adoption of the course
| have recommended, and may perhaps
which respectfully submit to congress
as an alternative proposition. 1t is
provided by the constitutions of four
teen of our states that the executive
may disapprove any item or items of
bill appropriating money, where
upon the part of the bill approved
shall be law and the partly disap-
proved shall fail to become law un-
less repassed according to the provi-
sions prescribed for the passage of
bills over the veto of the executive.
The states wherein some such pro-
visions as the foregoing is part of the
fundamental law are Alabama, Cali
fornia, Colorado, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ne
braska, New York, New Jersey, Penn
sylyania, Texas and West Virginia.
l commend to your careful considera-
ton the question whether an amend
ment of the federal constitution in
the particular indicated would not
afford the best remedy for what is
often a grave embarrassment to men,
bers of congress and the executive
and is sometimes a serious public
mischief.
RETIREMENT OF OFFICERS.
On the subject of inconsistency of
the recent act of congress making the
retirement of the officers of the army
compulsory at the age of sixty-four.
The recent act of 1878 is still in force
which limits to 400 the number of
those who can be retired for disability
or upon their own application. The
two acts when construed together
seem to forbid the retiring even for
the absolute incapacity of officers who
do not fall within the purvieW of the
latter statute, save at such times as
there is a chance to be less than 400
names on the retired list. There are
now 450. 1t is not likely that congress
intended this result, and concur with
the secretary that the law ought to be
amended.
NO RIVER BILL,
The grounds that impelled me to
withhold my signature from the bill
entitled, IAN act making appropriation
on certain works on rivers and har-
bors," which became law near the
close of your last session, prompt me
to express the hope that no similar
measure will be deemed necessary dur
ing the present session of congress.
Indeed, such a measure would now be
open to serious objection in addition
to that which was lately urged upon
your attention. 1 am informed by the
secretary of war that the greater por-
ton of the sum appropriated for the
mains unexpended. Of the new works
authorized, expenses have been
incurred upon two only for which the
total appropriation are $4,000. The
present available advance is disclosed
by the following Amount of appropria-
ton by the act of August 2, 1882, $751;
738, 875; amount of appropriation by
act of June 10, 1882, $4,000; amount
of appropriation for payment to j. B.
Eads, $304, 900; unexpended by balance
of former appropriation, 81, 49,, 1853.
Total $23, 791, 1888; less amount drawn
from the treasury July l,
ton leaves little doubt that all
the members persisted at sea. As a
slight tribute to their heroism / give
in this communication the names of
the gallant men who sacrificed their
lives in this expedition: Lieutenant
Commander George w. L. belong,
Surgeon Joseph NJ. Amber, j. c. Col
Inns, Hans Holman, Erickson, Helm
rich III. Roach, George w. Boyd, Wal
ter Lee, Adolph Dressler, Carl A.
GartZ, Nelse Iverson, the cook, A. H.
Sam, and the Indian Alexes. The
officers and men in the missing boat
were Lieut.. Charles w. Chip, COM
handing; William Dunbar, Alfred
Sweetman, Walter Shovel, Albert G.
Kuhn, Ed. Star, Henry ID. Warren
and Peter E. johnson. Lieut.. Giles
B. Barber and Master William II.
Scheutze are now bringing home the
remains of Lieut.. belong and his
comrades, in pursuance of the direc-
lions of congress. The Rogers, fitted
out for the relief of the Jeanette, in
accordance with the act of congress of
1882, and Nov. 80, 1882, Sc, 156, 194; total.
81, ,944. 1t appears by this exhibit