The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-06-06
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.

4 : Inc appropriation fOr the river an0
harbor bills that come before congress
seem to grow larger in proportion to the
needs. and advancement of the country
than any other appropriations. Looking
back only to 1870 it is found that the to-
tai appropriation for rivers and harbors
that year was only about 100000;
in 1876, it was $6,O00,OO0; in 1880, 49,
0o0,o 900; in 1881, $11.5oo,ooo, and in 1882
it jumped to $18,743,S75. This last bill
President Arthur vetoed because ne
could not understand the reason for such
sudden and enormous increase. The bill
contained number of items showing
reckless extravaganza.
During the fiftieth congress $22,30o,0oo
was appropriated for rivers and harborsi
the firty- frst congress appropriated $780,
000,000--that was the robber congress-
and in the last congress $21, 100000 was
appropriated for this purpose.
When, however, bill is presented to
the president for his signature which
asks for an appropriation of about ST.
0OO, 900 it cannot be wondered that he
should pause, and not only pause but
refuse to- sanction it. 1t may be all very
we'll to say that it is their own money
which the people propose to spend for
such purposes and that by its expendi-
7ture. the country would be developed and
employment given to many. But at this
particular time is it just to entail such
an expenditure upon the nation? The
treasury is practically empty and bonds
are being issued that more money may
flow into the national money box: Con
sequently it would seem that this should
not be selected as the year for such enor-
moust appropriations.
It Is true that the bill carries with it
a call for appropriations that are needed
and which must be forthcoming, not
only for work already begun but fo1
other work which must be undertaken in
the near future. Had the bill contained
only those legislative items the presi-
dent would not have thought of exercis-
ing the veto, but he saw it freighted with
items of personal nature as well as
others, asking for money for the fur
|thgEaRos, ri Some projects Of purely local
character and which could not in any
way pertain to the general welfare.
Not only did the bill call for $77,000,-
900 in round numbers but it opened the
way for the expenditure of SINE $780,
OO0, 900 additional, giving an opportunity
to those of speculative turn of mind
and of thrifty disposition to enrich
themselves at the public expense.
When the bill went back to the house
and senate it was promptly passed
without debate, over the presidents
veto, the vote standing 220 to 60 in the
house and Sc to 5 in the senate. The re-
port of the house committee on rivers
and harbors answered all the objections
raised by the president and made it
appear that in each particular instance
the executive was in error. In the SEN
ate the experience was similar.
If the ideas of the president with re-
xard to the bill were correct the veto
was entirely proper; if the presidents
I ideas were incorrect in relation to the
items, as stated by the house and senate
then the bill should have received his
signature 9
It is case where the tares are per
mitted by necessity to grow up with the
wheat.