The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-06
AGAIN A VETO.
General Deficiency Bill
Knocked Out BY Pres
idellt Cleveland.
VETO. POWER DEFENDED
French spoliation Claims the Chic.
Ground Of Consure-His-
torical Review.
VETO POWER DEFENDED.

Rouse OIL representatives today on the
General Deficiency Appropriation bill.
He replies briefly to the criticisms of his
exercise Of the veto power and says he
has hurried the preparation of the mes
sage in n~order that Congress may take
action in the matter without delay. The
ground for the veto is the provisions re-
lating to the payment of the French
spoilataon claims
The Presidents message follows:-
To the House of Representatives:-I
hereby return without my approval
House bill numbered 1928, entitled "An
Act making Appropriations to Supply
Deficiencies in the Appropriations for
the Fiscal Year ending June Thirtieth.
Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-six, ana
for Prior Years, and for Other Pur-
poses'
To the extent that the Constitution has
devolyed upon the President a partici-
patton in legislation, l suppose his ac-
tlon on bills presented to him for ap-
proval involves a duty TO be performed
like Others pertaining to his Office, with
care and circumspection and IN full
view of his responsibility to the people
and his obligation to subserve the pub
lie welfare. 1t is difficult to understand
why under the Constitution, it should
be necessary to submit the proposed
legislation to executive scrutiny ana
approval except to invoke the exercise
OF executive judgment, and invite in
dependent executive action.
The unpleasant incidents which accom-
pany the use of the veto power would
Tempt its avoidance if such course did
rot involve an abandonment Of eonstitu-
tional duty, and an assent to legislation
for which the Executive is not willing to
share the responsibility.
! regret that am constrained to dis
approve an important appropriation bill
SO near the close of the present session
OF Congress. l nave, however, by i'm
mediate action after the receipt of the bill
endeavored to delay as little as possible
a reconsideration of this proposed 1egisla-
tion, though am thus obliged to con
tent myself with a less complete explana-
ton of my objections than would other
wise be submitted
This bill is in many of its features far
removed from legitimate deficiency
bill, and it. contains number of an
seeeaiHasiy q41est1ona without noticing
in detail many OF these items I shall re-
fer to two of them which in my judg-
ment justify my action in the premises.
The bill appropriates one million twenty
seven thousand three hundred and four
teen dollars ard nine cents for a partial
payment upon claims which originated in
depredations upon our commerce BY
French cruisers and vessels during tine
Closing years of the fast century The
have 'hscome quite familiar to those hay
ing Congressional experience as they
have been pressed for recognition and
payment, with occasional intervals of re-
pose, for nearly one hundred years.
These claims are based upon the allie
gators that France being at war with
England, seized and condemned many
American vessels and cargoes in viola
ton Of the rules of International law and
treaty provisions and contrary to the duty
she owed to our country as a neutral
power and to our citizens; that by reason
Of these acts claims arose in favor Of
such of our citizens as were damnified
against the French nation which claims
cur Government attempted to enforce
and that in concluding treaty with
France in the year 1890 these claims were
abandoned or relinquished IN considera-
ton of the relinquishment of certain
claims which France charged against us.
Upon these Statements it is insisted by
those interested that we as nation hav-
Zig reaped benefit in our escape from
these French demands against us, through
the abandonment of the claims of our
a ;r1cf I1,~oy AZ,
became equitably bound as between IL
self and its citizens to pay the claims
thus relinquished.
do not understand it to be asserted
shat there exists amy legal liability
against the government on account Of rs
relation to these claims. AT the term Of
ne ne supreme Court, just finished tfle
Ihlef Justice, in an opinion concerning
mem, ana the action Of Congress IN ap-
proprlating for their payment said we
inlnk that payments thus prescribed 10
pc t mace were purposey brought within
the category of payments by wav Of
right" s-'0 N.Y. u
From the time the plan was canee;vsa
% cnarge the government with the nav
trsnl =, =, q tnese claims they have abided
q the atmosphere Of controversy. Everv
proposition presented In their slpport 'l,ss has
oeen stoutly disputed and every irfars
ence suggested in their favor has been
promptly challenged. Dsei1
Thus inasmuch as IT m,,s4 .l:.,-
os conceded that if state of war .l,.isia, axiss,,
e petWeen our country and France ~ tho
sle nm sngse depredations We're committed
aimng si1aan indemnity Was ear not jqatied IN
asserted that we we're at fllg lime ans -
su@ily at;s engaged ;Sg in war with the French
tained by an opinion Of the Aftepnes ~ o5
sral of the United States, writer, IN 17ao