The record-union., 1896-05-30
Disapproves of the Sum Voted for
Future Contracts.
1t Would Result in the Expenditure of
Sixty-TwO Millions of Dollars,
Obligations Too Great to Incur
When the Revenues of the Govern
ment Are Not Sufficient to Meet
Current Expenses.

| WASHINGTON, May 29.-The Pres
ident to-day sent a message to the
House vetoing the river and harbor ap-
preparation bill. In his message the
President says that the bill contem-
plates the immediate expenditure of
SIT ,OOO,O 900, and continues:
"a more startling feature of this bill
| is it's authorization of contracts for
river and harbor work amounting to
more than $62, 100000 Though the
payments on these contracts are in
most cases SO distributed that they are
| to be met by future appropriations,
more than S300O,000 on their account
are included in the immediate appro-
| priatlons. OF the remainder nearly
S2O,OOO,OOO will fall due during the fis-
cal year ending June 30, 1S9S and
amounts to somewhat less in the years
Immediately succeeding.
| "A few contracts Of a like character
authorized under previous statutes are
still outstanding, and to meet payments
On these more than $4,00O,OO0 must be
appropriated in the immediate future.
If, therefore, this bill becomes a law,
the obligations which will be imposed
upon the Government, together with the
provisions made for expenditures ON ac-
count of rivers and harbors, will
| amount to about $80,O0O000
| Nor is this all. The bill directs sur
veys and examinations which contem-
plate new work and further contracts.
and which portend largely increased
expenditures and obligations In view
Of the obligation imposed upon me by
the Constitution, it seems to ME quite
clear that l only discharge a duty to
our people when interpose my disap-
Iroval of the legislation proposed
Many of the objects for which it
appropriates public money are not re-
lated to the public welfare, and many
OF them are palpably for the benefit of
limited localities or in the aid of indi-
vidual interests.
Il learn from official sources that
there are appropriations contained in
| the bill to pay for work which private
parties have actually agreed with this
Government to do In their occupation
Of public property.
Whatever items of doubtful pro-
priety may have escaped observation,
or may have been tolerated in previ-
GUS executive appropria tions of similar
| bills, l am convinced that the bill now
Under consideration opens the way to
| iEsidious and increased abuses. and is
in itself SO extravagant as to be es-
pecially unsuited to these times Of de-
pressed business and disappointment
i'll Government revenue This consider
alton is emphasized by the prospect
| that the public treasury will be con-
frcnted with other appropriations made
at the present session of Congress
amounting to more than $500, 900 600.
ITO the extent that the appropria-
items contained in this bill are insti-
gated by private interests and pro-
mote local or individual projects, their
allowance cannot fail to stimulate a.
Vicious paternalism, and encourage
sentiment among our people already too
prevalent that their attachment to our
Government may properly rest upon
the hope and expectation of direct and
special favors, and that the extent to
which they are realized may furnish an
estimate of the value of Governmental
care I believe no greater danger con-
fronts us as a nation than the unhappy
decadence among our people of genuine
cur Government as the embodiment Of
the highest and best aspirations of hu-
manity, and not as the giver of gifts,
and because it's mission Is the enforce
ment of exact justice and equality and
not the allowance Of unfavoritism
II hope 1 may be permitted to sug-
gest, at a time when the issue of Gov
ernment bonds to maintain the credit
and financial standing of the country
is subject of criticism, that the con-
tracts provided for in this bill would
create obligations Of the United States
amounting to $62, 100000 no less bind
ing than it's bonds for that sum-
BILLS APPROVED.
WASHINGTON, May 29.-The Pres
ident has approved the legislative, ex-
ecutive and Judiciary appropriation
bill, and that granting to Denver, Grip
pie Creek and Southwestern Railway
Company a right of way through the
South Park and Plum Creek reserva-
tion, in Colorado, and amending the re-
viSed statutes SO as to provide that
only citizens of the United States shall
serve as engineers Of merchant marine
vessels of American register.