The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-03
THE LAST VETO.
President Cleyeland's Reasons for Refusing
to Sign the Direct-Tax Bill.

President Cleyeland's Reasons for Refusing
to Sign the Direct-Tax Bill.
WASHINGTON, March 2.-The President,
in his message vetoing the direct-tax bill.
after describing the bill in detail and Civ
ing 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 $17 900 900, or, il the percentage allowed
is not included, more than $16,0o0,O00, and pay
back to the respective States and Territories the
sums they or their citizens paid more than twen-
ty-five years ago. upon a direct tax levied by the
government of the United States for its defense
and safety. 1t is my belief that this appropria-
ton of the public funds is not within the const-
tutional power of the Congress. Under the limited
and delegated authority conferred by the Consti-
ment of the purposes for which money may be
lawfully raised by taxation In any form declares
also the limit of the objects for which 1T may be
expended. All must agree that the direct tax was
lawfully and constitutiOnally laid, and that II
was rightfully and correctly collected. IL cannot
be claimed, therefore, nor is 1T pretended, that
any debt arose against the government ana In
favor of any state or individual by the exaction
of this tax. Surely, then, the appropriation di-
rected by this bill cannot be justified as pay
ment of the debt of the United States The dis
bursement of this money, clearly, has DO reia-
ton to the common defense. On the contrary, lt
Is the repayment OF money raised ana iong fo aSo t
common defense. The expenditure cannot prop,
erly be advocated on the ground that the general
welfare OF the OulttI otttteS II pIoNluCu
for or promoted. This general welfare OF the
United States," as used III the Constitution, can
only justify appropriations for national oDJects
and for purposes which have to do with the pros
perity, the growth. the honor or the peace and
dignity of the Nation. sheer, bald gratuity
bestowed either upon states or individuals, based
upon no better reason than supports the gll'
proposed in this bill, has never been claimed td
be provision for the general welfare But L
the constitutional question involved In the con
sideraton of this bill should be determined In III
favor, there are other objections remaining which
prevent my assent to its provisions.
The President here enumerates number
of defects in the bill, among them the fol
lowing:
The fact that the entire tax was not paid fur
nishes no reason that would not apply TO nearly
every case where taxes are laid. There are al
ways delinquents, and while the more thorough
and complete collection OF taxes Is q troublesome
problem of government, the failure TO solve th'
problem has never been held to call for the re
turn of taxes actually collected. The deficiency
in the collection of this tax is found almost en-
tirely in the insurrectionary States, while TIT
quotas apportioned 70 the other state
three-fourths or four-lfths OF the none.
which IL is proposed In this bill q
return would be paid into the treasury OF the 10y
al States. But NO valid reason for such paymen
is found in the fact that the government at iirs
| could not, and afterward. for reasons probabl.
| other STATES There were many federal take
| which were not paid by the people in the rebe
| lious States; and il the non-payncnt by them O
this direct tax entities the other States TO dc
nation OF the share of said taxes paid by thei
citizens. why should not the income taxes an
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