The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-30
" uASIIINGT0N.
About the River and Harbor Bill.
Effect OF the Presidents Absence
Upon the Measure.
Can a Bill be Delivered to Him
Whom He's Awayp
A Question Now Being Keenly Dis
oussed by Statesmen.
What tho Next Legislative Week May
Bring Forth-The Bills that
WIN Probably bo
Takcn Up.

special Dispatch 10 The Appeal
WAsuINGroN, July 2S.-As has already
been stated in these dispatches the Prcsi.
dent left on yachting trip Thursday, and
the understanding is that he will not DO
back for somc time after Monday. An
Important question is raised by the Prcsi-
dents absence at this time. The constitu-
ton provides that II the President has not
approved or vetoed hill within ten days
after Il is delivered 10 him 1t becomes
law without his signature. II Congress
should continue TO pass bills at the rate Of
two aud hall per minute, as the senate
did on Wednesday, aud send them all
directly 10 the Whitc.housc. there would
be- very little time for Mr. Cleveland 10 act
on large number OF bills when he re-
turned 10 Washington. There is the river
aud harbor bill. That alone generally re-
quires nearly the whole Of the ten days
provided 10y the constitution for its thor
ough examination 10y the President II
might have been delivered To him several
days ago, but there was some delay in the
cngrusmcnt oi IL and the parchment was
WIS postponed hcCau-c u was found that
lhc President had lett town. One might
have supposed that the supporters oi tho
Hvcr aud haibor bill would have been glad
oi any happy accident that promised to
curnil the time that would hc askahlc for
the President a. lny the foundation Of a
veto, hut apparently they are not going 10
take advantage oi circumstances. Instead
OF delivering II nt the executive mansion
nov, they are going 10 await until the
President returns, thus allowing him full
ten days in pfitics' aud dis-oCt H. Tho
idea prevails With some members that tho
bill cannot be- delivered tu the President
when hc is not hrr, tn receive II, hut Mr.
Springer and many other close students ui
thc constitution aud lnw snv delivery at
the Presidents regular place oi business,
| the White house, would hv delivery to thc
! pr.sidcn, under the constitution, Just as
| such delivery OF summons ON a private
citizen would be good In Law; otherwise
to render Congress poWcrlc,s aud all its
! legislation, the President would only re-
! quip' 10 SO of on q prolonged cruise or
! lock himself up In his rpnm and refuse 10
receive any bills from Congress These
/ gentlemen say that il the river aud hafhor
| bill wcrr delivered ut the Whltc-housr
now llttt Nuull Nr luUtl fHH tiiAiiir Ni
veto, and much greater chance oi ~
becoming n law without the Presidents
signature, because suppusing hc STAYS five
days hc would only have live dn,s instead
I oi ten In which tn hui it unworthy Of up.
/ prpyal I'm approving a hill short tmc
| ago. the President took the ground
| that delivery W the Senate cham.
her wns delivery IN the senate. Tho
| Senate had been on recess from Thursday
| until Monday In the meantime the ten
day term IN regard a. q particular bill
/ elapsed. On Monday the bill would have
! become law without the Presidents sig.
nature, and point was maic that Il WIS
| too late then a. receive the veto bat tho
! President answered that objection by say.
! ing that hc had scut his message Ia tho
senate chamber on the previous Saturday.
which was within the ten days term. IL
WIS not his fault II the Senate was not
thcrc a. receive IT, The Presidents point
was regarded ns we'll iakrn. and the veto
was received IN computing the ten DAYS,
the day ON which the bill D. delivered 10
the President h. not counted. sundays
nrr not counted, hut uhc hay ON which tho
President approves or yvtD,s is counted.
The situation created hy the Presidents
absence at this time. is being krruly lis
cusscd by constitutional ,.suisb At tho
capitol.