New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-03
THE DIRECT TAX BILL VETOED,
OBJECTED TO AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND
INEQUITABLE.
ABSTRACT or THE REASONS GIVEN By THE
PRESIDENT ron REFUSING HIS SIGNATURE
THE BILL PASSED. AGAIN By THE SEN.

| <AEsIDENT Fol- fsfUSlNO Hlb Sl6HATUHE
THE BILL PASSED. AGAIN By THE SEN.
ATE WITH A HEAv9 MAJORITY.
! Washington March 2.-rhe President sent message
10 tho Senate this afternoon vetong tho Direct Tax
| Dill 1t Is as follows;
I herewith return without approval Senate bill No.
lss entitled An act to credit and pay tho several
States and Territories and the District Coumbis s
moneys collected under tho direct ayied By the
Of Congress approved August g. 1851" Ths object Of
this bill Is quite clearly indicated In Its ttlo pro-
visions have much discussed in both branches Of
Congress- and havo received emphatic legislative sanction
fully appreciate interest which 1t has excited and
have BY faed 10 recognize the persuasve
enston made In Its favor. know. too that the inter-
son Of Executive disapprova In this likely
sreuse irritation and compliant and earnest criticism
Since however JUDGMENT win not permit TO assent
NE legislation proposed. can find no way Of turning
psds from what appears be the plain Of ocial
dsu.
After rcciting the history and purpose Of the act Of
August 1861, the President, turning to the bill sub
mttef TO him, remarks:
Ths conceded eject Of this bill s TO from the
money now in the Treasury the sum Of more than
si7oooo0o IL the percentage allowed is not included
more than $4,000 900, and pay back to the respective
States Territories the they their citizens,
paid more than twenty-five years ago upon direct tax
levied by the Government of the United States for is
defence aud safety.
is my belief that this appropriation Of the public
under the limited and delegated authority conferred by
the Constitution upon the General Government the state
ment Of the purposes for which money may be lawfully
raised by any form declares also the Limit Of
the objects for which It may be expended
sheer. bald gratuity bestowed either upon satcs
individuals based upon better reasons than supports
tho Gift proposed In is b has mover been claimed TO
he provision for tho general welfare More than hfty
surplus public money In the Treasury was
distributed among States; but the unconstutonality
NJ \ OF
pears to have been conceded for It was put into the State
treasures under the guse OF depodt loan subject
10 the demand Of the Government II It was proposed TO
fass BY upon the people the sum necessary
70 refund the money collected upon this direct tax.
sure many who silent would insist upon tho
limitations Of the Constitution In opposition 70 such
scheme. large surplus In tho Treasury Is tho parent
Of many ils and among them is found tendency 70 an
extremely liberal not loose construction OF the Cons
tuition. IL also attracts the gaze OF States and ind
yduals with kind of fascination gives rise plans
and that uncengcsed treasury never could
excite
But the constitutional question involved in the
sdnrAton Of this bill should be determined in Its favor
there other objections remaining which prevent my
10 IT. provisions There should be certainty and
stability about enforcement taxation which should
teach the citizen that the Government Will only use the
10 tax IN where It's necessity and justice are
doubtful and which should also discourage the dis
rbng idea that tho exercise Of this may be revoked
BY reimbursement Of taxes once collected Tho
direct tax levied In 1851 Is not even suspected
Of nyslidlty; there tax levied which was
more needed end is justice cannot be questioned Why
then should ft be rcturnodt There Federal taxes
which were not paid by the people rcbeous States
and non-payment Of them OF this direct tax entities
the other States donation Of tho share Of said taxes
paid By eir citizens, why should not the income taa
and many other paid entirely By the citizens
Of loyal States be paid in the treasures Of the sates
Considerations which recognise sectional divisions.
loyalty Of the different States at the time this tax waa
s should not enter into the discussion Of the merits
of this MEASURE The loyal States shoun not be paid
ths large OF money prcuisef tfrr ~ .a blu. BE-
eann they were loyal ana othsr stssss ware nc.
shoud ths states which febcsd against The Government
b paid the smaller promised them. heeeuss they
were rebellion and thus prevented no collection OF
their quotas this concession 70 them neees
sary TO justify proposed larger gifts TO the other
EtatcA
Those IL sun another objection TO the b arising from
what be its unnirness and uQs discrimination
In the case Of proposed Legislation OF at least doubtful
conaututionny, and based upon no legal right the
which recommend t should always be dannite and
The money appropriated By this bi is 10 be paid
the Governors Of the respective States and Territories
IN which u collected. whether the Same was de-
rived through sad States and Territories or directly rom
any Of tho citizens or inhabitants thereof other per-
sons and IL is further povided that such sums as were
collected IN payment Of this Federal tax through the In
strurnentaly OF the State Territorial ocals, and
accounted for 70 the General Government by such States
crnors while the collected In payment Of said tax
by the United States in other words by the Federal
machinery created for that purpose arc TO DO held In
By said States Territories for the bonet OF those
paying the same am unable to understand how this
in favor those who have made payment
OF this tax directly tho officers Of the Federal Govern
ment and against those who made such payments
through State or Territorial agencies can DO defended
IMAM fair and equitable principles It the General
I'm eyory case which cxscod this tax from
s citizens and people In the different States and Terri
tories and provide for reimbursement TO part OF Its
citizens by the OF trust for their oeneht while
the money exsetsd in payment Of this tax from far
greater number is paid uneonduonaly into the state
ana Territoral treasures Ia unjust and unfair
eceding in which the Government should not Do In
plicated-
Another dineulty in tho way OF doing perfect justice
in the operaton Of this plan Of reimbursement Is found
IN the fact that tho money DO appropriated therefor
was buted 10 the Federal Treasury for entirely
different purposes By generation many OF whom were
not born when the direct tax was levied ana paa ha'e
no relation 10 sad tax and cannot share In Its distribution
while thew stand BY and the money they have hecn
Obliged TO pay public treasury professedy TO meet
present necessities expended reimburse taxation long
aso fairly legally and Justly collected from Others they
cannot sf 10 SEQ tho unairness OF tho transaction
Tho exisence OF surplus IN the Treasury Is no answer
N the.s affections II Is still the peoples money and
better U.S. can be found for II than the distribution OF IL
upon tho rsa OF reimbursement OF ancient taxation
more dersble plan reduce end prevent tbs recurrence
Of creating Injustice inequality promotes justice and
equality BY leaving hands OF the people and for their
use the money needed by the Government to pay the
debs ana proyde for the defence and general welfare OF
,ha rn,oa states The difficulties In the way OF making
jus. reimbursement of this direct tax instead Of oxcusng
tho Imn,f,etIons OF tho bill under consideration furnish
reasons why tho scheme proposed should not De entered
upon. ., -,
am constrained upJn the eonsideraaons herein pre-
sented 70 withhold ray assent from the bill herewith
returned because believe It 70 be without constitutional
aeoua roaxoas either In right equity for tho return
Of the tax IN said menuoped, and because believe
lt execution would cause actual injustice and unaness
The Senate in evening session, by vote OF 40 10 v
passed the Direct Tax bill over inc veto OF tno fres
dent
NO RUsH FOR CENTENNIAL BAIL TICKETS.
The expected rush for tickets TO the washington
Centennial ball at tho Msropon.an opors house, on
Aprl % dd mot occur yesterday, the first day OF
tho sale rbe Madison Square Bank was not bcsiogcd