Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-06-23
CHE Mprkrille Gnqnirer.
~YORKVILLE, $. e. :
WEDNESDAY, JUNE %, 1886.
4 LESSON IN PUBLIC ECONOMY.

A LESSON IN PUBLIC ECONOMY.
On Monday last the President sent to Con-
gress fifteen veto messages, six of which
were sent to the Senate and nine to the
House. In his message vetoing the bill
granting a pension to Elizabeth Il. De-
Kraft, the President says his objection is
that it is of no possible advantage to the
beneficiary that the present pension laws
give her all the advantages which she
would receive under a special law. The
President adds:
81 am so thoroughly tired of disapprov-
ing the gifts of public money to individu-
ais who, in my view, have no right or claim
to the same, Notwithstanding the apparent
Congressional sanction, that l interpose
with feelings of relief in the case where 1
find it unnecessary to determine the mer-
it's of application. In speaking of promls-
cuous and ill advised grants of pensions
which have lately been presented to me for
approval, l have spoken of their apparent
Congressional sanction, in recognition OF
the fact that a large proportion of these
bills have never been submitted to the
majority of either branch of Congress, Blu
are the result of nominal sessions, held tor
the express purpose of their consideration,
and attended by a small minority of the
members of the respective houses OF the
government. Thus, in considering these
bills, 1 have not felt that I was aided by
the deliberated judgment of Congress, and
when I have deemed it my duty to dlsap-
prove many of the bills presented, l have
hardly regarded my action AS a dissent
from the conclusions of the peoples rep
resentatives. l have not been insensible
to suggestions which should influence ev-
erv citizen, either in private standing. or
official place, to exhibit not only a just, but
a generous appreciation of our country's
defenders.
I'm reviewing the pension legislation pre-:
sented to me many bills have been approved
upon the theory that every doubt should be
in favor of, the proposed beneficial
ry. I have not, however, been able to en-
tirely divest myself of the idea that public
money appropriated for pensions is the
soldiers which should be devoted to in
Identification of those who, in the defence
of the Union, in the nations service, have
worthily deserved, and who in the day OF
their dependence, resulting from such suf-
fering, are entitled to the benefactiOns OF
their government. This reflection lends
to the bestowal of pensions a kind of sacred
ness which invites the adoption of u
principles and regulations as will exclude a
perversiou as we'll as inure to the liberal
and generous application of grateful and be.
.neyoient designs. The heedlessness and
disregard of principles which underlies the
granting of pensions is unfair to the wound
ed, crippled soldier who is honored in a
lust recognition of his government. Such
a maj should never find himself side by
side on the pension bill roll with those who
have been tempted to attribute their natu-
raj ills to which humanity is heir to service
in the army.
every relaxation of principle in the
granting of pensions invites application
without merit and encourages those who
for gain urge honest men to become dlshon-
est. This is a demoraliZing lesson taught
the people, that as against the public treas
ury most questionable eXpedients are allow
able. During the present session OF Congress
1913 special pension bills have been submitted
to me and I am advised that Ill more have
favorable action Of both houses of
Congress and will be presented within a
day or two, making over GOO of these bills
up to this time during the present
Nearly three times the number
passed at n entire session since 1861.
With the pension bureau fully equipped
tIu q ulQlC ny WV - Na>N 80
operation supplemented in its work
by constant and special legislation, 1t GER
tainly is not unreasonable to suppose in all
the years that have elapsed since the close
of the war, the majority of merltorlous
for pensions have been presented
and determined.
81 have now more than 100 of these bills
before me, awaiting executive action. 1T
will be impossible to bestow upon all of
them the examination they deserve, and
many will probably become operative which
should be rejected. In the meantime, |
to suggest the significance of the
increase in this kind of legislation
and the consequence involved in its contin-
The bills providing for the erection ofpub-
lie buildings at GAINESVILLE, Ohio, and Sioux
City, Iowa, were vetoed for reasons that no
officers were located at either place
except postmasters, and the postal business
ofthese places does not warrant the erection
of buildings by the government for the spe-
:ial accommodation of the post Office. The
President says:
"Public buildings now in process Of con-
struction, numbering so, involving constant
supervision, are all the building projects
which the government ought to have on
hand at one time, unless very ~palpable ne
exists for increasing the number.
The multiplication of these structures in
wolves not only the appropriation made for
their completion, but a great expense IN
their care and preservation thereafter.
While a fine government building is a de-
ornament to any town or city, and
while the securing of an appropriation
therefor is often considered as an illustra-
ton of zeal and activity in the interest OF
constituency, l am of the opinion that the
expenditure of public money for such pur.
poses should depend upon the necessity of
such building for public uses"
WILL TOBACCO AS 4 CROP PAY?-The
Laurens correspondent of the Nelcs dnd
Courier gives the following unsatisfactory
experience of a Laurens farmer in market
ing his tobacco crop:
"Mr. C.. Darlington, of this town, raised
a small quantity Of tobacco last year. The
had every appearance of being a
good grade. Mr.. Darlington shipped to
Danville five hundred and twenty pounds
of leaf tobacco, for which he has the state
ment it appears that the tobacco was CLASH
fed into eight classes, and upon being sold
the five hundred and twenty pounds of
brought nine dollars and eight cents
(s9.OS.) The warehouse charges, auction
fees, commissions, freight and drayage
amounted to 1919, and thus Mr.. Darlington
is brought out eleven cents in the debt of
the warehouse. l state these facts in the
hope that those who are now engaged in
tobacco growing will investigate these mat
tiers and find out whether the fault is in the
of the tobacco or in the warehouses.
it is that Mr.. Darlington has not re-
allied a cent on more than five hundred
pounds of tobacco, which, according to the
testimony of men here who have used it,
was of a good quality.