The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-30
President Cleveland Says Dis
approval Is . Duty.
~ OBJECTS TO THE CONTRACTS
Says the Country Is Sos In Condition
10 Squsnder Money.
Biii Next tuesday. and the House
TO Endeavor to overrule the River
and Harbor Veto on tho same Day.

Washington tfkys May @f.--lne pfesf-
Gent To-Day sent 20 congress the following
rneSSass: TO the House OF Representa-
tiyss. I return herewith without zpUoval
house bgii No s.sss. entitled An act max
inz an appropriation for the construction.
repairs and preservation OF certain paDiic
works on rivers and hsroors. and for other
purposes There are All items contained
Ia this biii. and every part OF the country
Is represented in the distribution Of its
fasors- IL directly appropriatss or pro-
sideS for imme<4iate expenditure neaf,y
G<.eoe. 9ts for river and harbor work. This
sum Is n addition 20 the appropriations
contained In another Dill for similar par-
poses amounting TO a little more than
G."p@.ees which have already been favor
ably considered at the present session of
congr.ss- The result ia that the conten-
plated Immediate expenditures for the OBJ
jecfs mentioned amount 10 about ~, ,p1-
aes
The most startling feature OF this bin Is
its authorization Of contracts for river and
hareor work amounting to more than
sa-~a.eee. Though the payments on these
contracts ar. in most cases 50 distributed
that they are TO be me, by future appro-
prsatlonr, more than t3.o1s. go on their ac-
count are included In the direct appropria-
tons above mentioned OF these nearly
ss7.6s.ss will fall due during the fiscal
year ending June % lass. and amounts
somewhat less In the years Immediately
succeeding few contracts OF Ike char
acter authorized under previous statutes
are stiii outstanding. and 10 make a pay
msnt on these more than 81. CO. .0os must he
appropriated Immediately. II, therefore
TINS btu becomes law. the OBLIGATIONS
which viii be imposed on the government.
together with the appropriations made for
immediate expenditure on account of riv-
ers and harhors VIII amount TO about ssa,-
ooe.ye- Nor Is this all. The bill directs
numerous surveys and examinations
which contemplate new work and further
contracts. and which portend largely in
creased expenditures and obligations
There Is no ground to hope that In the
iace OF the persistent and growing de-
mands the aggregate OF appropriations
Tor smaller schemes not covered by con-
tracts Win be reduced or even remain sta
ttonsry. For the fiscal year ending June
%. iSs. such appropriations together with
the insfalimsnts on contracts which will
fall due In that year. can hardly be less
than So oce. coo. and II may reasonably be
apprehended that the prevalent tendency
towards increased expenditures of this
sort and the concealment which post
poned payments afford for extravagance
viii Increase the burdens chargeahie TO
this account In succeeding years.
In view OF the obligation imposed upon
me by the constitution Il seems 10 me
quite clear that l only discharge a duty 10
our people when 7 interpo.e my dfsan-
provsi OF the legislation proposed. Many
OF the objects for which II appropriates
public money are not related to the public
welfare and many OF them are pahah,y
Tor the benefit OF limited localities or In
aid OF individual interests On the face OF
the bill II appears that not few of these
alleged improvements have been SO I'M
providentiy planned and prosecuted that
after the unwise expenditure of millions
OF dollars new experiments for their ac-
eompiishment have been entered upon
While those inirusied with the manage
nlent Of public funds In the interest of all
the people can hardly Justify questionable
expenditures Tor public works BY pleading
the opinions 81 engineers or others as to
the practicab',ify OF saeh work, IL supearx
that sore OF the projects for which ap-
rrcnriaiions are proposed In this bill have
been entered upon without the approval
or against the objections OF the examining
engineers learn from official sources
that there are appropriations contained In
tire Bill 20 pay for work which private
parties have actually agreed with the
government to DO in consideration of thelr
occupancy OF pnbiic property
Whatever o. doubtful propriety NAV
have escaped observations or NAV have
been tolerated In previous executive ap-
prevails OF similar bills. am CONVINCED
that the bill now under consideration
opens the way 10 snsldions and Increasing
abuses and Is In itself so extrAvacant as
"a be uns,iited 10 these times Of depressed
business and resulting disappointment In
sovernnent revenue. This condition is
sfnphasiEea by the prospect that the puh-
ie treasury VII be confronted with other
appropriations made by the present ses-
sion OF congress amounting TO more than
sse e.ee.ese. Individual economy and care
fal expenditures are sterling virtues which
lead 20 thrift and comfort Economy
and the sSaciion Of clear justification for
APPROPRIATION OF the public moneys bv the
servants or the people sre no; only vir-
tues. but solemn obiigatiens To the sx
tent that The appropriations contained in
this hin are instituted hy private inter.
ssts ana promote local or individual p-o-
tects. their allowance cannot fan 10 stsr,
nlate Visions pste-nalism and encourage
the sentiment among our people. already
too prevalent, that their attachment 20
our government may properly rest rao,
the hope and expectation % especial IA
vcr<, an3 that the extent 20 which they
are realized may furnish an estimate %
the value - governmental care. believe
10 greater danger confronts us as a ra
tson than the unhappy aeoadsnce among
our people ef genuine and Trustworthy love
and Affection for our government sx she
embodiment OF the hiShest and hest as2i~
atoms of humanity and no; as q Siver ~
xif;s. ana because 50 mission Is fha en-
forcemen; of sxac, tus'ies ara easalifv
and not the allowance Of uufair raveytt
ism.
Il hope nav - permitted 70 suggest
That AZ time when The issue % govern
men; ecnsts 10 maintain the credit and
financial standing of the country Is A sub
3ect o. rrtti-sSrn the contracts r-oxiseH
for in this ein would create OBLIGATIONS
% the Unitef States amounting 70 So asa-
fssA no less birding than tfs bon Is for that
Sasa. GROVER CLEVELAND 80