Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-13
ANOTHER VETO.

nciency Bnl-History OF an OlA Claim
WASHINGTON, June a-The general
deficiency appropriation bill reached
the president Saturday morning and
soon after noon he sent to the house of
represent atives the following message,
accompanying a veto of the bill:
To THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
hereby return witfrout my approval house btu
No $685. entitled An act making appropria-
tions to supply deficiencies in the appropria-
lions for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896,
and for prior years and for other purposes"
regret that I am constrained TO disapprcye
an important appro priztion bill SO near the
close Of the session of congress have. how
ever, by immediate action after the receipt of
the bin. underworld to delay as little as posi-
bic a reconstruction OF this proposed segisla-
ton, though thus obliged content my
self with less complete explanation OF my
objections than would otherwise be Saomfs-
ted.
This bill is in mauy of its features far re-
moved from legitimate deficiency bin and It
contains a number OF appropriations which
seem to he exceedingly questionable With
oz1 noticing in detail many of these items.
SHALL refer to the two of them which. i'm my
JRdgment, justify my action In the premises.
The bill appropriates 81 or. 3lI-U9 for psruial
payment upon claims which originated in the
Expectations upon our commerce by French
cruisers and vessels during the closing
years of the last century They have
been quite familiar to those hav-
ing congressional experience. they have
been pressed for recognition and payment
with occasional intervals m repose for
nearly 100 years Those claims based
upon the allegations that France being at
with England, seized and condo mned
many American vessels and cargoes in viola
rions of the rules CT international law and
she owed to our country as % neutral power
and TO our citizens By reason of these acts
claims arise in favor of citizens were
cdamnlfied against the FreNdh nation, which
claims government attempted to enforce
but. when concluding treaty with France in
the year 1879. these claims we're abandonedo r
rehnquished in consideration of certain claims
which France charged against us.
do not understand it to be as settled that
sthereexists any legal liability against the gov
.ernment on account of its relation to these
claims At the term of the supreme court just
finished the CHIEF justice In On oplnlonconcern-
ing them and the action of congress in aIlpro-
think that the payments thus pre-
>scribed to be made were purposely
brought within the category of payments by
way of gratuity payment Of grace and not of
right From the time the plan WAS conceived
to charge the government with the payment of
these claims they have abided in the atmos-
phere of controversy every proposition pre-
scented in their support has been stoutly dis
puted and every inference suggested in their
favor has promptly been challenged Inasmuch
as it must be conceded il a state of war existed
between our country and France at the
time these depredations were committed.
that 1T was justified in claiming indemnity for
our citizens it is asserted that Ee were at the
time engaged in war with the French nation.
This imposition seems to be sustained by the
Encouragement of the United States written
in 1798 and by a number of decisions of the SUI
preme court delivered at that time We have
certainly abrogated treaties with France and
cur cruisers and armed ships were roam
property. So. also. when it is asserted
that the validity of these claims was
acknowledged by treaty negotiations
by the representatives of France their decla-
rAtions to the contrary purport IRE exhibited.
and when it is alleged that the abandonment
of these claims against France was in consfd-
raf ION of hnn IN 0rfarr, liant
confidentially alleged that they were, in point
OF fact. abandoned because the conference was
hopeless and even if any benefit really 40
crued to this government by insistence upon
their settlement in the course of diplomatic
negotiations such result gave pretext for
taxing the government with liability to the
claimants
Without noticing the other considerations
and contentious arising from the alleged origin
and development OF .hefr present action may
be useful and pertinent 1t is, believe, some
what the fashion in interested quarters to speak
of the failure of the gov eminent to pay these
claims as such neglect as amounts to repudia-
ton and denial of justice citizens who
have suffered OF course the original claimants
have for years been beyond the reach of re-
lief: but their descendants in each gener-
alton become more numerous, the volume of
advocacy, Importantly and accusation corre-
spondingly increases, find justice has been
the present century and may be charged
against men then in public life, more con-
involved and whose honesty and sense of
Righteousness to be secure from suspicion. AS
early as 1902 committee of the house of rep
resentativeS reported the facts in these claims,
but apparently without recommendation No
action was taken the report In 1903 reso-
luton declaring that indemnity ought to be
paid was negatived by a vote in the same body.
A favorable committee report made in
1907, but it seems that legislative ac-
tion resulted. In 1918 adverse report
was made to the senate, followed by the pas
sage of resolution declaring that the relief
asked by the moraliStS and petitionistS ought
to be granted In 1922 and again in 1924, adj
made to the house. concluding with
similar resolutions Until 1si5 these
claims were from time to time
pressed upon the attention OF congress
with varying fortunes, but never with favor
able action In that year. however, bill
passed for their ascertainmsnt and satisfaction
and 100000 were appropriated for their pay
who declared that he could perceive no legal
or equitable ground upon which this appro-
priatfon can rest This veto was sustained
by the house of representatives Nine years
afterwards. in 1855, another bill passed
similar to the one last mentioned. and appro-
This was also vetoed by President Pierce.
This veto was sustained by the house of repre-
sentatives-
The president then concludes:
In the light of all the facts and circuu-
stances surrounding these spoliation claims.
as they are claimed. none of them in my
opinion, should be paid by the government
The president then states his objec-
tion to the appropriation in favor of
Charles p. Chouteau, survivor, etc,
and thinks it is not justified on any