The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-05-30
THE PRESIDENTS TETO.
Reasons for Opposing the River
and Harbor Bill,
TEE MEASURE TOO EZTRAvAGANT.

81 am Convinced" He snys, "That the Bill
Opens the Way to Insidious and Incrcss-
ing Abuses, and Is Especially Unsuited TO
These Times of Depressed Business"
WASHINGTON, May 3O-President Cleve
land yesterday afternoon vetoed the river
and harbor appropriation bill, accompany
ing the returned bill with a message to the
house, in which he says in part:
"There are All items of appropriation
contained in this bill, and every part of
the country is represented in the distribu
ton Of it's favors. 1t directly appropriate7
or provides for the immediate expendi-
lures of nearly sl4,O00,O0O for river and
harbor work This sum is in addition to
appropriations contained in another bill
for similar purposes amounting to little
more than So, ,000,00 which have already |
been favorably considered at the present |
session of congress. The result is that the |
contemplated immediate expenditures for
the objects mentioned amount to about |
S17,0OOOO0.
"a more startling feature Of this bill is
its authorization of contracts for river and
harbor work amounting to more than s62-
100000 Though the payments on these
contracts are in most cases so distributed
that they are to be met by future appro-
priations, more than S9,000,000 on their nc
count are included in the direct appropria-
tions above mentioned. OF the remainder
nearly $40, 900 will fall due during the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, and
amounts somewhat less in the years imme-
diately succeeding. A few contracts OF
! like character, authorized under previous
statutes, are still outstandingi and to meet
payments on these more than S4,OOO'OOO
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 appro-
priations made to immediate expenditure
on account of rivers and harbors, will
amount to about SS0,0Oo,O00, Nor is this
all This bill directs numerous surveys
and examinations which contemplate new
work and further contracts and which por-
tend largely increased expenditures and
obligations
''In view of the obligation imposed upon
me by the constitutional it seems to me quite
clear that I only discharge a duty to ou1
people when interpose my disapproval OF
the legislation proposed. Many of the OBJ
jects for which it appropriates public
money are not related to the public
welfare, and many Of them are palpably fol
the benefit Of limited localities, or in ai6
of individual interests
"While those intrusted with the man
agement of public funds in the interest o.
all the people can hardly justify question
able expenditure for public work by plead
ing the opinions Of engineers or others az
to the practicability of such work, it ap
pears that some of the projects for which
appropriations are proposed in this bill
have been entered upon without the ap
proval or against the objections Of the ex
a amining engineers. learn from officia
/. sources that there are appropriations con
tained in the bill to pay Tor work whicl
- private parties have actually agreed witt
the government to do, in consideration o
their occupancy of public property.
"I am convinced that the bill now unde
consideration opens the way TO insidiou
and increasing abuses, and is in itself S
extravagant as to Leespecially unsuite1
these times of depressed business and re
sulting disappointment in governmen
revenue.
"To the extent that the appropriation
contained in this bill are instigated by pr
vate interests and promote local or ind
vidual projects, their allowance cannC
fail to stimulate vicious paternalism
and encourage a sentiment among on
n people, already too prevalent, that thei
attachment to our government may prof.
4 erly rest upon the hope and expectation {
direct and especial favors.
= "I believe no greater danger confront
~ us as nation than the unhappy deci
dence among our people of genuine trus
IA worthy love and affection for our govern
I ment as the embodiment Of the highe
q" and best aspirations of humanity and NJ
as the giver of gifts and because its mi
- sion is the enforcement of exact justit
s@ and equality, and not the allowance of III
n fair favoritism.
:. II hope l may be permitted to sugge
q at time when the issue of governme
bonds to maintain the credit and tnanci
stand of the country is a subject of cri
ng cism, that the contracts provided for
Of this bill would create obligations of t
rs United States amounting to S62 100000,
is less binding than its bonds for that sum
ur The managers of the bill intend
nr Ir move the reference of the veto message
ur the committee on rivers and harbors al
bring it before the house on Monda
!. There are many members out of town, al
the lends of the bill do not wish to ris
an attempt to pass the bill over the We
, until more membe arrive.