Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-03-04
PASSED OVER A VETO
The President Returns the Direct
Tax Bill Without Approval.
he STATES HIS REASONS.
Bat They DO Not Meet the Views of the
Senate ana the Rnl Is Made a Law
by Vote of 3a 60 o--The rrcsl-
dents Las, Message.

WASHINGTON, March 4-The President re-
turned TO the senate without approval the
measure known as the Direct Tax dill, which
contemplated the return OF the moneys col.
lected frem the several states and territories
under the Act OF August, 1861. In his
measure of transmittal, the President says:
"It is my belief that this appropriation of the
public funds is not within the constitutional
power of congress BY sheer, bald
gratuity bestowed either upon states or in-
dividuals. based upon no better reason than
supports the gift proposed in this bin, has
never been claimed to be provision for the
general welfare. A large sur.
plus in the treasury is the parent of many
bills, and among them is found tendency 10
an extremely liberal, if not loose construc-
tion OF the constitution. Ii also attracts Tho
gaze of states and individuals with kind of
fascination, end gives rise TO plans and pre-
tensions that an uncongested treasury never
could excite The people should
not be familiarized with the spectacle of their
government repenting the collection of taxes
and restoring them. > Considerations
which recognize sectional divisions or the
loyalty of the different states at the time this
tax was laid, should not enter into the discus
sion of the merits of this measure q
The difficulties in the way of making just
reimbursement Of this tax instead of excusine
the bin under consideration, furnish reasons
why the scheme it proposes should not be EN-
tered upon.
81 am constrained on the consideration
hereby presented to withhold my signature
from the bin herewith returned because be
lieve il To be without constitutional warrant,
because / am of the opinion that there exists
no adequate reasons either in right or equity
for the return of the tax in said bill men.
toned, and because believe its execution
would cause actual injustice and unfaiIness.
''GRovER CLEVELAND.
"Exective Mansion, March 2, 1882
The presidents veto Of the direct tax bin
was laid before the senate. Mr. Sherman
controverted the position taken by the presi-
dent as TO the power OF congress TO pass the
bill, saying, if congress had the power &c
levy the tax, it also had power TO refund it.
Mr.. Vest honored the president for his
veto and would vote to sustain it,
Mr.. Morgan differed with the president IN
regard to the bill and would vote for it.
Mr.. Edmunds said he had originally op
posed the bill not on the broad grounds On
which the president had put in his objcc
tions. lie would vote against the passage
The vote was taken and the bill passed over
the veto-yeas, 81; nays, 9.
The negative votes were given by Senators
Blair, Call, Coke, Edmunds, Jones (Ark.)
Pasco, Reagan, Salisbury and Vest.
Conference reports We're presented and
agreed to ON the bills to amend the interstate
bill; the bill in regard to the salmon fisher
les of Alaska and the naval appropriation
BILL
Mr. Blair asked unanimous consent TO take
up the joint resolution proposing liquor
prohibition amendment 10 the constitution
of the United States.
Mr. Harris objected He moved 10 pro
ceed to its consideration. The motion wa,
defeated--yeas, i3: nays, ~