Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-06-06

If, therefore, this bill becomes a law. the
obligations which will be imposed on the
government, together with the appropria-
tons made for immediate expenditure on
! account of rivers and harbors will
amount to about eighty millions of dol
| lars.
Nor is this all. The bill directs numer-
Gus surveys and examinations, which con-
| template new work and further contracts.
and which portend largely increased ex-
penditures and obligations. There is no
ground to hope that in face of the per-
| sistent and growing demands the ag-
gregate of appropriations for smaller
| schemes not covered by contracts will be
reduced or even remain stationary. For
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1898. such
| appropriations, together with contracts
which will fall due in that year, can
hardly be less than thirty million dollars
ana II may be reasonably apprehended
that the prevalent tendency toward in
creased expenditures of this sort and the
concealment which postponed payments
afford for extravaganza, will increase the
burdens chargeabe to this account in
succeeding years.
In view of the obligation imposed up
on me by the constitution, it seems to me
quite clear that [ only discharge nv
duty to our people when l interpose my
disaproyal of the legislation proposed
Many of the objects for which it appro-
PIRATES public money 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 inter-
ests, On the face of the bill, it ap-
pears that not a few of these alleged i'm
prOVements have been so fmproVidently
planned and prosecuted that after the
unWise expenditure of millions of dollars
new experiments for their accomplish
ment have been entered upon. While
Nt114C tod tNn N1AT0
of public funds in the interest of all can
hardly justify questionable expenditures
for public works for pleading the opin-
ions of engineers or others as to the
practicability of such work, it appears
that some Of the projects for which ap-
preparations are proposed in this Dill
have been entered upon without the APP
prevail or against the objections of the
examining engineers.
Il learn from official sources that there
are appropriations contained in the bill
to pay for work which private parties
have actually agreed with the govern
ment to do in consideration of their oCcu-
pancy Of public property. Whatever was
of doubtful propriety may have escaped
the observation or may have been toier-
ated in previous executive approVals OF
similar bills. ! am convinced that the
bill now under consideration opens the
way to insidious and increasing abuses
and is in itself so extravagant as to be
unsuited to these times OF depressed Dus,
mess and the resulting disappointment OF
government revenue. This condltloh IL
emphasized by the prospect that the
public treasury will be confronted win
other appropriations made at the present
session Of congress amounting to more
than $500, 900.
'Tndiyidual economy and careful eXpen-
ditures are sterling virtues which lead
to thrift and comfort. Economy ana the
exaction of clear justification Tor the
appropriations of public money by the
servants of the people are not the o4ly
virtues Of our solemn obligations. 10
the extent that appropriations contained
in this bill are inStigated by private NJ
tereSts and to promote local or lhdlNlHu" Id,
projects their allowance can not Ian
10 stimulate q vicious paternallsm ana
encourage sentiment among our people
already too prevalent, that thelr atIdcn-
ment to our government may properly
rest on the hope and expectation OF eSPG-
cial faVors, and that extent 10 winch
they are realized may furnish an eSlI-
mate Of the value of governmental care
7 believe no greater danger cOnIrontS US
as a nation than the unhappy decadence
among our people of genuine ana truSt-
worthy love and affection for our govern
ment as the embodiment or the hlShe9t
and best aspirations OF humanity a!iu
not as the giver of gifts, and because lIS
mission is the enforcement OF eHa SJ uo7
tice and equality, and not the allowance
of unfair favoritism. 1 hope | may be
permitted to suggest that at time
when the issue of government BONDS 10
maintain the credit and financial stand
ing of the country is subject Oh Gnu
ism that the contract provided for in
This bill would create obligations of the
United States amounting to $6O,OOOO0O, no
less binding than its bonds for that sum
GROVER CLEVELAND.