The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-04
River and Harbor Appropriation Dill
Passed Over the Presidents Veto
by . Big Majority.
THREE HOURS OF DISCUSSION
DURING WHICH THE CHIEF EXEC
UTIvE WAS SEVERELY sCoREH.
Speeches by Senators Vest, Sherman
Pettigrew, Hawley, Butler, Villas,
HiII, Bate and Tiilman.

WASHINGTON, June 3.-The Senate to-
day passed the river and harbor bill over
the Presidents veto by the vote Of 56 to g.
This was the last step in making the bill
effectve, and it is now law. The vote was
taken after three hours of spirited debate.
during which the President was criticised
and defended, the remarks at times being
directly and bitterly personal. The
opposition to the vote was ex-
pressed by Senators Vest, Sher-
man. Pettigrew, Hawley and Butler, while
| the veto was defended by Senators Villas.
Hill and Bate. When a partial conference
report was presented on the naval appropria-
ton bill, Mr.. Quay moved that the Senate
recede from its amendment reducing the
number of battle ships from four to two
| This brought on an extended debate. In its
course Mr.. Tillman spoke in his usual breezy
way on 'armor robbers" He<referred to
| the grip by the throat which the armor con-
Germs had on Congress- and, looking around
| the Senate, asked If there were attorneys
| or lobby here. or Senators interested in
| seeing these contracts given out. A final
| vote on the item OF battle ships will be taken
| at O'Clock tomorrow.
| A contest for the right Of way arose as
soon as the Senate met to-day Mr.. Vest.
who, in the absence of Mr.. Frye, was in
| charge Of the river and harbor bill, sought
| to have the Presidents veto of that meas
ure taken up. This was opposed by Mr..
| Pettigrew. in charge of the Indian appro-
priation bill conference report. Mr.. Vest
urged that the suspension and possible de-
struction Of the work of Improvement Of in
ternal water ways was of more moment
than any other subject save that Of the
national honor. 1t was imperative that the
question be settled now SO that if the veto
was sustained ii could be determined
whether another river and harbor bill was
to be framed. The bill and veto were taken
was cast by Messrs. Bate. Chiffon, Harris,
Palmer and Villas, Democrats; Brown, Nor
| rill. Pettigrew, Pritchard and Teller, Repub-
licans. The veto message was then read.
! Mr.. Vest said the veto contained state
ments which: however much he might re-
| not to 60 unchallenged. The Senator did
| not question the Presidents veto prerogative,
but the trainers of the Constitution never
exercised In the ordinary affairs of the gov
1 ernment. 1t was to be power to meet
extraordinary emergencies when popular
| when constitutional question was involved.
| The early Presidents. who stood nearer to
s tine C9nsInt,on exeresed IKE the veto TO- but nut
4
| Madison and never by Jefferson or John
Adams Mr. Vest then ana.yzed the state
| ments- of the veto concerning extravaganza.
| Tie President had he said. stated that the
| bill made direct appropriations of about
s140o0,00o, while in fact they aggregated
$l260S 800. q difference OF s1,39l, ,000 This was
hardly characteristic of the effectiveness of
| the ernanations of Mr.. Cleveland who never
had served in legislative body and seemed
| to have a tendency to minimize the respon-
| sibility of a legislator to his constituents.
CRAIGHILL DID NOT ANSWER.
Mr.. Vest took up other items. showing
that the totals were less than the Presi-
dents statement would indicate. The Sem
| ator said. to the general charge of ex-
| travagance. that in view of the vast inter-
est involved, the extent of the country and
the fact that the river and harbor bill COW
cred two years, this measure was coinpara-
lively reasonable. There were items open to
question, yet as in all legislation this was
the result Of compromise. Mr.. Vest had ad-
dressed letter to General Craiehill. chief
Of engineers, asking for the facts as to
the statement of the President that he had
learned from official sources that the bill
contained appropriations intended to serve
private interests. The Senator said General
Craighih made no reply. but in response to
| telegraphic inquiry answered that the
o a Up to hs date
information had been given, so that for
reasons best known to the administration, -
|
best not to go into details on these charges.
but to indulge in general and rhetorical
declama tons as to the alleged extravaganza
and favoritism contained in it," Mr.. Vest
said he believed one Of the President 5
charges applied to Brunswick, Ga. harbor,
one OF the best and most economical i'm
spoke of the cheaper rates of transpor-
tation resulting from improvements al
the soo., New Orleans; Baltimore,
In In the platform on which Mr. Cleveland was 4:
first nominated was a strong plank for
waterway Improvements and his early mes
sages indorsed these improvements. Mr.
Vest prophesed that in the near future leg
islation would be directed to further develop
internal commerce and cheapening trans
i portatiop.
Mr. Sherman said he would vote to pass
the bill over the veto, because the improve
ment of the waterways of the country. was
one Of the most important branches Of na-
tiDnal development, and one in which other
gfeat nations were showing even greater ad-
Vance than the United States. Moreover
the legislative branch was given the exclu.
sive right to appropriate money, 'It is time
to curb this daily exercise of the veto pow.
err" declared Mr. Sherman. 1T is most ex
trtme power, and dangerous one unless
exercised only in the most extreme cases, in.
volving constitutional questions. But this
wise restriction is set aside. and we have
| veto every week or so. every day or So"
Mr.. Smith said this discussion of the vett
power was not new. AS result of persona
inquiry at the engineer department he wa,
priations OF $l0,000,c00 for projects which hat
not been approved by the government engi
neers. and 81, 100000 for projects which tn,
engineer had reported as unworthy.
= Mr.. Villas PROTESTS
Mr.. Villas said that the bill contained i'm
portant appropriations for his State. but h,
could not bring himself to the conviction
that this great burden should be added /,
the distressed shoulders Of the people of tn,
country. He regarded the criticisms of tn,
! veto by Mr. Vest as excessively minute ans
!, inconsequential The appropriations of thi,
Congress would exceed s5000O0.000 befor,
reaching the river and harbor bill. Congress
had come to dealing with vast sums al
lightly as would some Oriental prince wht
; had no comprehension OF values. The ap
. preparations of the present Congress wouls
outstrip those of the Congress which be
: came famous as the .bilion-do.lar Con
gress." Where was the money coming from
asked Mr.. Villas. Was Ii coming from NOR
taxation or more bonds? 'Of course, tn,
Secretary of the Treasury will have 10 sto,
paying when he has no more money TO pa,
WITH" exclaimed Mr.. Villas. but is II tn
desire of this Congress to drive the treasur,
into bankruptcy? The Senator from Ohio
(Sherman), said Mr.. Villas. appealed 70
more reyarlue though raising revapv