Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-06-04
THE RIVER AND HARBOR VETO.

usually heavy appropriations,
would bind the government to
expend about $50, 900, 0GO- Be-
sides, it directs numerous sur
yeys and examinations which
contemplate new work and fur
Their contracts. all of which tend
to largely increase the expendi-
lures.
The most Objectionable feature,
however, lies in the fact that the
bill is made the vehicle of an al
most endless number of private
jobs in the nature of approprias
tions for work not of a public
character and intended only to
promote individual welfare. The
practice of Congress in burdens
ing the River and Harbor bill
with appropriations of this class
has grown so rapidly as to be-
come positively outrageous. 1t
seem S surprising, too, that at a
time when the governments in
come is below what it should be
and when rigid economy is ne
cessary in the conduct of the ma
TONS affeirs thatCongress should
so disregard the couutry's inter
ests by such useless extrava-
gance as it has displayed in fran
ing this bill. But the present
Congress has been one of ex-
travagance from the beginning.
It has, to use a street expression,
burned" the peoples money. 1t
has not only turned a deaf a to
the Presidents appeal for legis-
lation which would give financial
relief, but has, it would appear.
done all in it's power to further
cripple the governments fin
anceS.
In his veto message Mr.. Cleve-
land gives expression to some
great truths when he says:
individual economy and cares
full expenditure are sterling vir>
tues which lead to thrift and
comfort. Economy and the ex-
action of clear justification for
the appropriation of public mon
eys by the servants of the PEG
pie are not only virtues, but sol
emn obligations.
To the extent that the appro-
priations contained in this bill
are instigated by private inter>
eSts and promote local or indi-
vidual projects, their allowance
cannot fail TO stimulate and en-
courage a sentiment among our
people already prevalent, that
their attachment to our COVER
ment may properly rest upon
the hope and expectations of di-
rect aud especial favors, and
that the extent to which they are
realized may furnish an estimate
of the value of governmental
care.
II believe no greater danger
cOnfrOntS US as a nation than the
unhappy decadence among our
people of genuine and trust
worthy love and affection for
our Government as the embodi-
meut of the highest and best as
pirations of humanity and not as
the giver of gifts"
It has agrin been demonstrat-
ed that Grover Cleveland is the
true and faithful guardian of the
country's interests. It is better
that the Government work on
rivers and harbors should cease
altogether for a time than that
such a measure as that which the
President vetoed should become
a law. Whether Congress will
pass the bill over Mr.. Cleyeland's
veto or not remains to be seen.
An effort in that direction will be
made, and in pursuance of the
present Congress general policy
of extravaganza, it may succeed.
The President has done his duty
in vetoing a bill which had been
converted from a public measure
into a private job, and the coun~
try will applaud him for it.
II hope I may be permitted to
suggest" says the President. in
returning to the House of Repre-
sentatives without his approval
the bill making appropriations
for river and harbor improve
ments. at a time when the issue
of government bonds tc maintain
the credit and financial standing
Of the country is a subject of
criticism, that the contracts pro-
vided for in this bill would create
obligations of the United States
amounting to sixtystwo millions
of dollars no less binding than
its bonds for that sum-"
Little more need have been
said to justify the veto. The
river and harbor bill has become
the log-rolling scheme of each
Congress, SO that it is impossible
to secure a proper aud necessary
appropriation for the care of an
important harbor without coupl-
ing with it all sorts of local and
private jobs of no general utility
or propriety. 1t is in this way
that the annual appropriations
have grown to such enormous
proportions. While the immedi.
ate expenditure provided for by
this bill is only about seventeen
millions, or nearly the sum at
which President Arthur inter-
posed his veto, the amount accru-
ing under previous contracts
would add several millions more,
and the obligations created would