Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-06-06
VEToES RIVER AND HARBOR
President Sends a Special Mes
sage to the House.
An Analysis of the Measure Shows
Tremendous and Unnecessary
Expense To the Federal
Government.

Washington. May 29.-The president
today sent to the house a message We
toing the river ana narbor appropria-
ton bill.
In his message. the president says
that Tho bill contemplatcs the immedi-
ate expenditure OF about Sl7, 900, 900 and
continues:
"a more startling feature Of this bill
In Its authorization Of contracts Tor
river and harbor work amounting to
more han s62, 000, 900. Though the pay
ments on these contracts are in most
cases so distributed that they are 10
be met by future appropriations. o
that $4,000. 900 on their account are in
Guided in Ithe direct appropriations.
or the remainder nearly 500. 000, 900 Will
fall due during the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1898, and amounts somewhat
less In the years Immediately succeed
ing. A few contracts OF a like character
authorized under previous statutes. are
still outstanding. and to meet payments
on these, more han $4,000, 900 must be
appropriated In the immediate future.
IF, therefore, this bill becomes a law
the obligations which will be imposed on
the government together with the APP
propriations mad for immediate ex-
penditures on account OF rivers and hsr-
bors will amount TO above $50, 900. 900.
| Nor IL this all. The bill directs numer-
Gus surveys and examinations which
contemplate new work and further o n
tracts and which portend largely in
creased expenditures and obligations.
I'm view of the obligation imposed
Upon me by the constitution. IL seems TO
me quite clear that I only discharge a
duty TO the people when I ihterpose my
dlsapproval of the legislation proposed.
Many OF the objects for which II APP
propriate6 public none are not related
to the public welfare and many of them
are palpably for the benefit OF limited
localities or In the aid OF individual in
%teres.s.
Il learn from official sources that
there are contained I'm the bill to pay for
work which private parties have actual
ly agreed with this government to do,
In consideration OF their occupancy OF
public property.
Whatever items OF doubtful pro-
priety may have escaped observation or
may have been tolerated In previous
executive approvals Of similar bills.
I am convinced that the bill now under
consideration opens the way 10 insid-
ious and increasing abuses. and is In
itself so ~extravagant az to be especially
unsuited to these times OF depressed
business and resulting disappointment
In government revenue This consider
alton is emphasized by the prospect
that the public treasury will be con-
fronted with othet appropriations made
nt tkA tenuntt anGGtnn Af n.I 90
amounting to more than $500. 900, 600.
ITO the extent that the appropria-
tions contained in this bill are instlgated
by private interests and to promote To-
cal or individual projects, their allow
ance cann0t fall to stimulate a vicious
p%aternalism and encourage a sentiment
among our people, already too prevalent,
that their attachment to our government
may properly rest upon the hope and ex-
p~ectatlon OF direct and especial favors
and that the extent To which they are
realized may furnish an estimate OF the
value Of governmental care.
II believe M greater danger confronts
us as a nation than the unhappy deca-
dence among our people of genuine and
trustworthy love and affection for u
government az the embodiment of the
highest and best aspirations OF human
ity, and not as the giver OF gifts and be-
cause its mission Is the enforcement or
e.aet tustice and canaltty and not the
II hope I may be permitted 70 sug-
gest at a time when the issue OF govern
ment bonds to maintain the credit and
financial standing of the country Is a
subject Of criticism, that the contracts
provided for in this bill would create
obligations Of the United States amount
ing to s62, 900. 900. 900, no less binding
than it's bonds for that sum-