Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-24
Notwithstanding "a, l8S
The Discriminating Veto.

II afforded us real pleasure to learn
what was stated in our columns yes
terdsy-that Mr.. TUCKER, from the
Committee on tho Judiciary, had re-
ported adversely upon the proposition
to submit to the people constitutional
amendment giving to the President of
the United States the discriminating
yeto-that is, the power to take an
appropriation bill sent to him by Con-
gress. and erase all such items as dis
please him and make laws Of all such
as commend themselves to his judy
ment.
We do not exaggerate, we think,
when we say that nine tenths Of the pa
pers in the Union have advocated the
discriminating veto. If one single pa
per in New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
or any other northern city, ever OPP
posed it, the fact escaped our notice.
And yet the scheme has not even one
redeeming feature. The one fact which
dictated every word Of all the articles
we ever read upon the subject was that
the President might by the use Of the
discriminating veto save to the country
. good many thousand dollars which
would otherwise be expended in i'm.
proving rivers and creeks not worthy
of being improved.
We have not seen Mr.. fuckers
report, and do not know what reasons
he assigns for opposing the adoption of
the discriminating veto; but we sup
pose that some Of them at least may bs
guessed.
First, the discriminating veto would
make the President despot. lie
would held in his hands the power to
cause the defeat Of congressman by
ve!oing appropriations which they had
induced Congress to make. The
result would be that every con-
gresham would dance attendance
upon the President, and become
his obsequious tool. 1t is claimed to-
day that Mr.. CLEVELAND can force a
tariff bill through the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes by the exercise of the infu-
ence which attaches to him as n dis
penser Of patronage. If this be true
his influence would be absolutely ire
sistible if he had, in addition, the
power to say to every member of the
House Of Representatives, not in
words, but in ways that would
be understood, "You shall not
have q dollar for building in your
district custom-house, or post-oflice,
or courthouse, ner for improving
river, or creek, or harbor, unless
you support the measures which I have
recommended to Congress-"
Secondly, the discriminating veto
would, fer the reasons already stated,
make the Executive in fact the sole
legislative department Of the Govern
ment so far as the appropriation bills
were concerned. He would indeed
carry the sword IN one hand and the
purse in the other. Mr.. CLEVELAND,
for example, being New Yorker,
would regard bill exactly as the New
York members of the House Of Repre-
seniatives had regarded it, and would
probably approve of all the items APP
propriatipg money to rivers and harbors
and custom-houses and post-otlices in
the Empire State. But he would know
nothing as to New river in Virginia, or
hundred rivers in Texas, or Oregon,
or California, or Florida, and SO he
would strike out all items for improving
them.
Therefore, thirdly, the discriminating
veto would epgender sectional feelings
and sectional strife. 1t would induce
the delegates to National Conventions to
advocate the nomination Of candidates
residing in their own sections. 1t would
render it a matter Of duty on the part
Of the southern and western delegates
not TO support any man governed by the
provincial and narrow-minded views
which are always taken by the press Of
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, &C.,
and which it would be fair to presume
were the views Of the so-called states
men Of New York, Pennsylvania, Massa-
chusetts, &c.
Fourthly, after the candidates for
President had been nominated, sec.
iiopsl considerations would cause thou.
sands Of voters to vote for the cand-
date residing nearest them, most "a
miliar with their wants and interests,
and most likely 10 see merit in the
items Of an appropriation bill in which
<items) they were most concerned. 1t
Is not in human nature to do otherwise.
10 word, the discriminating veto is
Q frozen horse.
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The Danvills Register, 10 discussing
the tariff question, makes two charges