The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-30

appears that not few of these alleged
improvements have been so improvi-
IDENTIFY planned and prosecuted that
after an unwise expenditure of millions
of dollars, new experiments for their
accomplishment have been entered.
While those intrusted with the manage
ment of the public funds in the inter
est OF the people can hardly justify
the questionable expenditures for pub
lie work, by pleading the opinions OF
engineers, or others, as to the practic-
ability Of such work, it appears that
some of the projects for which the ap-
preparations are proposed in this bill
have been entered upon without the ap-
prevail or against the objections of the
examining engineer. l learn from Off
cial sources that there are appropria-
tlonS contained in the bill to pay for
work which private parties have actu-
ally agreed with the government to do
In consideration of their occupancy OF
public property. Whatever of doubtful
property may have been tolerated in
previous executive approval of similar
bills, | am convinced the bill now under
consideration opens the way to insid-
1ous and increasing abuses and is itself
SO eXtraVagant as to be especially I'M
suited to these times of depressed bust
ness and resulting disappointment of
government revenue. This condition
is emphasized by the prospect that the
public treasury will be confronted with
other appropriations made at the pres
ent session of congress amounting to
more than five hundred million dollars.
Individual economy and careful expen-
dltureS are sterling virtues which lead
to thrift and comfort. Economy and
the eXaction of a clear justification for
appropriation of public moneys by the
servants of the people are not only vir-
tues, but solemn obligations To the ex-
tent appropriations contained in the
bill are instiga ted by private interests
and to promote local or individual pro-
jectS, their allowance cannot fail to
stimulate vicious paternaiiSm and en-
courage the sentiment among our peo-
pie already too prevalent, that their at
tachment to our government may prop
erly rest upon a hope and expecta ton
OF several favors, and to the extent to
Which they are realized may furnish
an estimate of the value of govern
mental care. l believe no greater dan
ger confronts US as nation than the
unhappy decadence among cur people
OF genuine and trustworthy love and
affecflon for our government as the
embodiment of the highest and best as
plratlonS of humanity and not as a.
giver of gifts, and because its mission
is the enforcement of exact justice and
equality, and not the allowance of I'M
fair favoritism. hope I may be per-
mitted to suggest at a time when the
issue of government bonds to maintain
the credit and financial standing of the
country is the subject of criticism, that
the contracts provided for in this bill.
would create obligations of the United
States amounting to sixty million dol
1.,,-- -.
that sum.
(signed.) GROVER CLEVELAND"
The managers of the river and harbor
bill in the house intend to move reference
OF the veto message to the COMMITTEES
on river and harbors, and bring it back
to the house on Monday. There are many
members out of town, and the friends
to pass the bill over the veto until more
members arrive.