The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-04

Washington City. June z-The senate to-
day passed The river and hsrbor bill over
ihs presidents veto by a vote OF Is to 5.
This was tbs last step in making the biil
efsctive. ami Il Ia now a 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 oppostfion 70 the veto was expressed
by Vest. Sherman. Pe.fisrew. Havley and
Butter. while the veto Kas defended by
Villas. HilI and Bate.
When q partial conference report was
presented on the naval appropriation bill.
Quay moved that the senate reccde from
its amendment reducing the number Of
bsfsieships from -four 70 two. This brought
on an extended debate In It's course TIL
man spoke IN his usual way on aarnor
robberieF." He referred TO the grip BY the
throat which the arrnor concerns had on
congress. and. looking around the senate.
asked II there were attorneys or n lobby
here, or senators Interested IN seeing these
contrasts given out. A final vote ON the
item OF battieshtps viii be taken at /
O'Clock tomorrow
A contest for right-of-way arose as
soon "a the senate met Vest. who. In
the absence OF Frye. was In charge
OF the river and harhor bin. sought TO
have the presidents veto taken 3D.
This vas opposed by Pettigrsw. In
charge OF the Indian appropriation
hiii conference report. Vest urged
That the suspension and possible destruc-
ton OF improvements to national water
ways sas OF more moment than any 9TH
e one subject save that of the national
honor. 1t was an imperative question TO
be settled. so that II the veto Was Sus-
tanned IL could be determined whether
any other river and harbor bill WIS 70 be
framed. The veto order was taken up. yeas
~, nays 10. The negative votes we're those
of Bate. Chiffon. Harris. Palmer and vi
las, Democrats. and Brown. Morrill,. Pet
usrew. frItcbard and Teller. Republicans
Vest said the veto contained statements
which, however much ne might respect
the high office OF president. ought not tn
so unchallenged- The senator did not
question the presidents veto prerogatfys.
but said the trainers Of the constitution
never intended that this power should
be used In the ordinary affairs of the gov
ernmant- II WAS to be a power to meet
extraordinary emergencies. when popular
passion led TO hasty legislation. or when
constitutional question was involved.
The early presidents. who stood nearest
the constitution. exercised the veto pow
er but seven times: twice by Washing
ton. five times by Madison. never by Jef-
trEson OF Jonn ADAMS
Vest then analysed the statements OF
the veto regarding extravaganza. The
president had. he said stated that the
bill made direct appropriations OF sis.-
ope.vG. while In fact they aggregated Si2-
soH.eo, a difference of 81, 81, 100 Vest took
up other items. showing that the totals
were less than the presidents statements
would Indicate The senator said. as to
the general charge OF eStravagance. that
al ffsr sine h. s,.-
this measure was reasonable. There were
items open to question. yet as in all leg
isiation, this was the result of compro-
mise.
Vest said he had addressed a letter to
Gen. Craighiil. chief of engineers. asking
for the facts as TO the statement OF the
president that he had learned from off,
eiaI sources that the bin contained ap-
proprtattons intended TO serve pri-
vate interests. The senator said
Gen. Cralghill made no reply.
but In response 10 telegraphic
query answered that the letter had been
referred TO the secretary OF war for in
structions-" Up to this date no informa-
tioD had been given. so. for reasons best
known TO the administration said Vest,
bitterly. lit Is considered best not to go
into details. but to Indulge in general ard
historical defamation as 10 alleged ex-
tTAvsgsnce and favoritism In it,
Vest said he believed one OF the presi-
denis charges applied to Brunswick. Ga,
harbor. one OF the hest and most econem-
ical Improvements in the country. The
senator spoke OF the cheaper rates Of
transportation resulting from improve
ments at the 500. New Orleans, Baltimore,
New York. Boston and elsewhere. In The
platform on which Cleveland was first
nominated was a strong plank for water
improvements. and his early messages In
dorsed these improvements. Vest said
he would propose in the near future leEis-
isiStlon directed 10 further developing
International commerce and cheapening
transportation.
sherman said he would vote 20 raSs the
bin over the veto. because the improvement
Of the waterways Of the country was one
Of the most important branches OF na-
tisnai development. ana one In which other
grsa. nations were showing even greater
advance than the United States More
over. the legislative branch was given the
exclusive right TO appropriate money
"ft is time 20 curb this daily exercise Of
the veto power" declared Mr.. sherman
1T IS mos, extreme POWER and dan
Eerons one. unless exercised only In the
r1ost extreme cases involving corsfitu-
tt1rsi questionS Bnt tsts wise restriction
Is set aside. and ~e have a veto every
week or so rVery day or So
Smith. Dem. y J.. said this discussion
os the veto power was rot rew As a
result Of personal inquiry AZ the engineer
department. he was shss 70 state that this
hlil contained appropriations az sia ga GO
fer projects Nhi-h had not been approved
by Tire EoreTumons engineers. and 81. 10 80
for projects which the engineers had -
ported sS unworthy.
Villas said ths, the hsif contained I'm
rcrtsn; appropriations for his state, has
he ccsila noi hrirg himself to tse couvic-
ton thsf thiS grsSzi burden should ne asa-
dnss % rhe distressed SAossder= as fAa Tz-o-
pie - iAe country. Ee regarded the e-t-
tscixrn 90 the veto ~ Vest as excessively
rn.nnte ard incnnsoGssnt.AL The spp-o-
rrffte,s 60 this congress would exceed
ssse ssa1 80 before reaching the river a.s
Asrsor NIL Co-ETc<s had come 20 Dealing
vita VAST Sums as sixassy as would ss-ne
QrlsnsAi prince who Asd no ecaunr~h~--
slnr ~ values The aprrcprtassea< ~ TIE
present congress ~oa,f sesstrsp ;hcse s-
the c->-Eress ~hieh became famous sx sS4
sshlsfsea dollar ccs.y-rss" -sWAs-@ fs 49,
money coming FROM sSke3 NJ Villas
Is e corniag from rsore tsxatier o. mere
NssHis.s- ~ coarse re sSc-r-s-v Of sne
treasury w'il have 20 stop rrsvtrx wAe-
II has TO zscrc money 20 ray VITA ex-
etAf-sz-s Was. Ut, = Il fss sesl~e Of rsfs
congress - drive the treasury srto hz-k-
-sFrsrxT TIE seraror sror, osss sSA~-pe-a
srreaies Ter r,ore rrVezne. as taours
ress.SzEE rcvezue was sSrse lexsSiaxfv.