Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-03

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money paid to the Government to assist in
putting down the Rebellion, The President
says the measure is unconstitutional; that it
discriminates unjustly, and that it is not
necessary for the general welfare of the
country. He further intimates that the
actual taxpayers did not complain at pay
ing the taxes and are content with matters
as they now stand The Senate passed it
over the veto, but the measure has yet to go
before the House.
| WASHINGTON, March 2-The President
in his message vetoing the direct tax bill,
after describing the bill in detail and giving
a full history OF the matter, says:
| The conceded effect of this bill Is to take
from the money now In the treasury the sum
of more than ST., ,000, 900, or if the pc rcentage
allowed is not included, more than $4,000 900,
! and pay back to the respective States and Ter
ritories the sums they or their citizens paid
more than 25 years ago upon direct tax levied
! by the Government of the United States for
] its defense and safety.
| 1t is my belief that this appropriation of the
public funds is not within the constitutional
power of Congress. Under the limited and
| delegated authority conferred by the Constitu-
ton upon the General Government the state
ment of the purposes for which money may be
lawfully raised by taxation in any form de-
elares also the limit of the object for which it
| may be expended.
A LAWFUL TAX.
All must agree that the direct tax was law
fully and constitutionally laid, and that it was
rightfully and correctly collected. 1t cannot
be claimed, therefore, nor is it pretended, that
\ any debt arose against the Government and in
favor of any State or individual by the exaction
Of this tax. Surely, then. the appropriation
directed by this bill cannot be justified as
payment of adebt Of the United States.
The disbursement Eof this money clearly has
| no relation to the common defense. On the
| contrary, 1t is the payment of money raised
and long ago expended BY the Government to
The expenditure cannot properly be advo-
Gated on the ground that the general welfare
of the United States is thereby provided for
United States,' as used in the Constitution,
| can only justify appropriations for national
objects and for purposes which have to do
the peace and dignity Of the nation. | '--O- y
A sheer, bald gratuity bestowed either upon
States or individuals, based upon no better
reason than supports the gift proposed in this
| for the general welfare. But if the constitu-
| tional question involved in the consideration
of this bill should be determined in its favor.
| there are other objections remaining which
prevent my assent to its provisions.
A DEFECTIVE BILL.
The President here enumerates number
| OF defects in the bill, among them the fol-
| lowing:
The fact that the entire tax was not paid
| furnishes no reason that would not apply to
nearly every case where taxes are laid. There
are always delinquents, and while the more
thorough and complete collection of taxes is
|. Troublesome problem of government the fail
ure to solve the problem has never been held
30 call for the return of taxes actually col
lected.
The deficiency in the collection of this tax is
found almost entirely in the insurrectionary
States, while the quotas apportioned to the
other States were, as a general rule, fully paid;
and three-fourths or four-ffths of the money
which it is proposed in this bill to return would
! be paid into the treasury Of the local States.
But no valid reason for such payment is found
in the fact taht the Government at first could
not, and afterward. for reasons probably per-
other States.
|, There were many Federal taxes which were
not paid by the people in the rebellious States;
and If the non-payment by them of this direct
tax entities the other States to donation of
the share of said taxes paid by their citizens,
why should not the income tax and many other
internal taxes paid entirely by the citizens of
loyal States be also paid into the treasures of
these States?
TAXPAYERS CONTENT.
Considerations which recognize sectional
divisions or the loyalty of the different States at
the time this tax was laid should not enter into
the discussion of the merits of this measure.
The loyal States should not be paid the large
sums of money promised them by this bill be-
cause they were loyal and other States were
not nor should the States which rebelled
%ba Ia
sum promised them because they were in re-
bellion and thus prevented the collection of
their entire quotas, nor because this concession
to them is necessary to justify the proposed
larger gifts to the other States. The people of
the loyal States paid this direct tax as they
bore other burdens in support of the Govern
ment and believe the taxpayers themselves
are content
In the light OF these considerations, / am op-
posed to the payment of money from the Fed
eral Treasury to enrich the treasures of the
States.
The baneful effect of surplus in the Treas
ury of the General Government is seen and
felt. do not think, however, that this surplus
should be reduced, or its coatagion spread
throughout the States by methods such as are
provided in this bill.
UNJUST AND UNFAIR,
Another objection to the bill, SAYS the
President, is its unfairness and unjust dis
CEtm1ndL1Ou IL OpCIdIIOu VI buo pldu VI
reimbursement. He continues:
The existence of a surplus in the Treasury is
NO answer to these objections. 1t is still the
peoples money, and better use can be found
for it than the distribution of it upon the plea of
the reimbursement of ancient taxation. A more
desirable plan to reduce and prevent the recur-
renee of large surplus can easily be adopted
one that, instead of creating injustice and
inequality promotes justice and equality by
leaving in the hands of the people and for their
use the money not needed by the Government
ITO pay the debts and provide for the common
defense and general welfare of the United
States" The, difficulties in the way of making
a just reimbursement of this direct tax, instead
of exctising the imperfections of the bill under
consideration, furnish reasons why the scheme
it proposes should not be entered upon
am constrained upon the considerations
herein presented to withhold my consent from
to be without constitutional warrant, because
1 am of the opinion that there exists no ade-
-quate reasons either in right or equity for the
return of the tax in said bill mentioned and be-
cause believe its execution would cause actual
injustice and unfairness.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
The Presidents veto was presented to the
Senate and read, and after a short debate
the bill was passed over the Presidents
veto. Yeas a., nays9. The negative votes
were given by Senators Blair, Call, Coke,
Edmunds, Jones, of Arkansas, Pascoe,
Reagan, Salisbury and Vest.