Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-30
The Discriminating Veto.

We return thanks to Hon. j. X.
TUCKER for . copy Of his report as
chairman Of the Committee on the Ju-
dietary on the proposition to amend the
Constitution Of tho United States so as
TO give authority to the President when
bill containing moro than one appro'
prist,on has passed both houses, to
veto any Of said appropriations and ap-
prove the others.
This report ought to be the end OF
controversy upon the proposition which
Il discusses. 1t is short, sharp, and
conclusive. 1t touches with skilful
hand the weak points in the PROPOSE
ton. at is obvious" says the first
sentence, "that the same result may be
attained by requiring Congress to put
into no bill more than one object OF ap-
propriation." But who would advo-
cate this latter propositions Who
would seriously propose that Congress
should pass ten thousand appropriation
hills at each Of its sessions THAT
4 separate bill should be pre-
pared for each Of the rivers and
harbors in the United States
which need to be improved9 How
much better would it be to confer upon
the President of the United States the
power to divide an appropriation bill
into as many parts as he might choose
to make Of it? And yet, says Mr..
TUCKER, the mandate Of the proposed
amendment is that Congress shall not
make dependent appropriations, or
that il it does the President may by his
veto sever the nexus Of dependence,
and defeat any appropriation bills that
displesse him, and make the others
imdependent Of those defeated, though
Congress had made them DEPENDENT
We add to the objections which we
have heretofore urged against this mcs-
sure, and to those urged by Mr..
TUCKER, the additional one that the
President would be tempted to approve
appropriation bills passed in the inter-
est of States which had voted against
him, and to veto, If any were to be
vetoed, appropriation bills in which
States opposing him were interested.
More He would be much more likely
20 weld to the solicitations Of his party
associates and friends than to those ofhis
opponents and adyersaries. This would
have tendency to make congressman
crook the pregnant hinges Of tho knee
where thrift might follow fawning,"
and dance attendance upon President
that could make or mar their fortunes by
approving, or refusing to approve, bills
in which their constituents had large
pecuniary interest. Thus congressman
would gradually become the tools of
the Executive. Mr.. fuckers report
concludes as follows:
"He knsws but little Of human af-
fairs, and has but little experience OF
the unseen and invisible consequences
Of political empiricism, who does not
shrink from trying this experiment.
which once adopted cannot be recalled
and the operation Of which, in the ma
chinery Of the Government, Is conceal
cd from our knowledge, especially
when the proposition disturbs tas
balance between executive and leg'sla'
tive power over money, and vests IT
the former controlling authority over
the action Of the latter unknown IN ou'
constitutional history and dangerous t.
the equality Of right and privilege o
burden and benefit Of tho members o
our Union"
Lot the discriminating veto be con
sirped to the tomb Of the CApuLETs.