Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-02

the country, great as that has been. In 1870
me aggregate appropriations were So, 975,-
goo, In 1875 $6,64S,517, in 1880,
Sc, ,&6, 800, and In 1881, $11 As, 300,
while BY the present act there is approprI-
ated SIS, ,743, ,S75. While feeling every die
position to leave to the Legislature the
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 power, | cannot
escape the conclusion that, as a part of the
law making power of the government only,
1t devolves upon me to withhold nv sigma
ture from this bill, containing appropria-
tons which, In my opinion, greatly exceed
IN amount the needs Of the country for the
present fiscal year.
1t being usage to provide money for those
purposes by an annual appropriation bill,
the President is in effect directed to expend
so large an amount of money within so
brief q period that the expendi-
ture cannot be made economically and
advantageOuslY. Extravagant expenditure
Of public money is an evil not to be meas
ured by the value Of that money to the
people who are taxed for 1t. They sustain
greater injury In the demoralizing effect
produced upon those who are entrusted
with the official duty through all the rami-
These objections could be removed and
every constitutional purpose readily OBJ
tanned, should Congress enact that one half
only OF the aggregate amount provided for
in the bill be appropriated for expenditures
during the fiscal year, and that the sum so ap-
propristed 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
l4r,, g.
the sum now designated by the bill for that
purpose. feel authorized to make
this suggestion because of the duty
imposed upon the President,
by the Constitution to recommend to the
consideration of Congress such measures as
shall be judged necessary and expedfent,
and because it is my earnest desire that
public works which are in progress shall
suffer no injury.
four months, when this whole subject will
be open for their consideration.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
THE STAR ROUTE TRIALS.
In the star route trial to-day Senator
MaxeY, Of Texas, was placed on the stand
by the defense, but, upon objection being
raised that he could only testify as to the
general policy of the department in extend
ing the star route service, and that he could
offer no evidence bearing upon the offenses
charged In the indictment. he was not per-
mitted to testify.
EX Postmaster General Key was then
called, but as he was unable to testify to
any knowledge of the specific routes upon
which the indictment is based, and he could
only affirm that the general policy of the
department had been, one of extension his
evidence was ruled out.
Gen. Sherman then took the stand, and
to his evidence the same objection was
raised as in the cases of Messrs. Key and
Maxey. He, however, recognized his sig
nature on a recommendation for an increase
and expedition upon one OF the routes
named in the indictment, and in explaining
how he came to sign the recommendation,
although knowing nothing personally
OF the route, which was in Colorado,
he said that the Indian Agent of the White
River agency had been murdered, his family
carried off and fight had taken place be-
tween Major Thornburg and the Indians.
The entire community, between the RaWlins
aud the White River agency was overrun by
hOstiles, and It was regarded as a measure
OF national importance to keep open every
possible communication with the rear, con-
sequently the establishment of a daily stage
service in that section had been recon-
mended. He was asked what was the effect
Of frequent mails upon the maintenance of
peaceful relations with the Indians. He
said that nothing better enables an officer
to keep the peace than frequent communi-
cation with the different sections of the
Indian country. At least one-fourth of the
appropriations made for the support of the
agencies was expended for courier service
and to guard the lines Of cOmmunicatiOn.T The
Post Office Department was also pressed to
establish and increase their service. Quick
-
cured and commanding officers were
enabled to anticipate the movements Of hos
tile Indians.
Speaking of the Arizona routes, Gen. Sher-
man said that In that Territory there were
As, 900 Apache Indians of peculiar character.
They entertain an everlasting hatred to the
Spanish race, and were kept corrslled
by the military and were prevented
from making depredations upon settlers
in that country. Sometimes they broke
away from their corrals after the fashion of
animals. In recent case 100 Apaches had
broken out, killed 40 settlers, and had
escaped into old Mexico, where they had
been wiped out by Mexican troops. Ere
quent mails gave warning OF such outbreaks
and gave the settlers an opportunity to
make defense.
CONGRESS AND THE VETO.
me citing of the House Committee on
Commerce was held tonight, at which the
mes, age of the President vetoing the river
and harbor appropriation bill was the topic
Of discussion. The members are very reti
cent as to the result of the meeting, but
enough has been gathered to warrant the
statement that the sentiment of the mem
bers present was decidedly in favor of re-
commenting the passage of the vetoed bill
Notwithstanding the disapproval OF the
Executive. a member of Congress, who is
familiar with the proceedings
Of the meeting, goes so far as to say that
there will be no attempt made to draft an
other bill, and that unless the original bill
be passed by a two-thirds vote in both
houses, no appropriations will be made for
rivers and harbOrs during the present ses-