The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-04
GROVER CLEVELAND STEPS IN
BETWEEN AN ENTRAVAGANT
CONGRESS AND PEOPLE
ON THE RIVER and HARBOR BILL.
for the Condition of the Treasury.
j.. An Able Message Explaining
His Action

uiS NelOcu llle river ana narDOf Dill III Ine
following message:
ITO the House of Representatives: l
return herewith your bill No. 49, entitled
An act making appropriations for the con-
struction, repair and preservation of GER
tain building works on rivers and har-
bors and for other purposes
There are Al items of appropriations
contained in this bill and every part of
the country is represented in the distribu-
ton of its favors.
1T directly appropriates or provides for
the immediate expenditure of nearly $14,-
100000 for river and harbor work. This
sum is in addition to appropriations con-
tanned in bill for similar purposes
amounting to little more than $1,000, 600,
which have already been favorably con-
sidered at the present session Of congress.
The result is that the contemplated imme-
date expenditures for the objects mention
ed amount to about SIT 100000. A more
startling feature of this bill is its author
ization of contracts for river and harbor
work amounting to more than So, O0O,
600 Though the payments of these con-
tracts are i'll most cases so distributed
that they are to be met by future appropri-
alton, more than S3.000,000 on their ac
count are included in the direct appropri-
atiOnS mentioned.
"Of the remainder S20000.000 will fall
due during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1898, and amounts somewhat less in the
years Immediately succeeding. A few
contracts of like character, authorized
under previous statutes are still Outstand-
N M thpSp
than S5,OOO,OOO must be appropriated in
the immediate future.
IF, therefore, this bill becomes law
the obligations which will be imposed on
the government, together with the appro-
priations made for immediate expenditure
ON account of rivers and harbors, will
amount to about SSO,O0O,0OO. Nor is
this all The bill directs numerous sur
veys and examinations which contem-
plate new work and further contracts and
which portcnd largely increased eXpendi-
lures and obligations. There is no ground
TO hope that in the face of persistent
and growing demand the aggregate CT APP
preparations for the smaller schemes not
covered by contracts will be reduced, on
such appropriations. together with the in
Stallments on contracts which will fall due
in that year. can hardly be less than $780,,
100000, and it may be reasonably appre-
hended that the prevalent tendency to-
wards increased expenditures of this sort
and the concealment which postponed
payments afforded for extravaganza will
increase the burdens chargeable to this
act in succeeding years. In view of the
obligations imposed upon me by the con-
stitution, it seems TO me quite clear that
only discharge Il duty to our people when
| interpose my disapproval of the legisla-
ton proposed.
Many of the objects for which it ap-
prOpriates money are not related TO the
public welfare, and many of them are for
the benefit of localities or in the aid of
individual interests.
ION the face of the bill it appears that
not a few of these alleged improvements
have been so improvidently planned and
prosecuted that after an unwise eXpendi-
ture of millions of dollars new expert
ments for their accomplishment have
been entered upon.
while those intructed with the man
agemcnt of public funds in the interest
of all the people can hardly justify
questionable expenditures for public
work by pleading the opinions of engin-
GERS or others as to the practical bility of
such work, it appears that some of the
projects for which appropriations are
proposed in this bill have been entered
upon without approval or against the OBJ
jectiOns of the examining engineers. |
learn from official sources that there are
appropriations contained in the bill to
pay for work which private parties have
actually agreed with the government to
do in considera ton of their occupancy of
public property. Whatever it was of
doubtful propriety may have escaped OBJ
servation or may have been tolerated in
previous executive approvals of similar
bills. | am convinced that the bill now
under consideration opens the way to in
sidiOus and increasing abuses, and is in
itself so eXtravagant as to be especially
unsuited to these times of depression of
business and resulting disappointment in
government revenue. This consideration
is emphasized by the prospect that the
public treasury will be confronted with
other appropriations made at the present
session of congress amounting to more
than 5000. OOO.O00. Individual economy
and careful expenditures are sterling
virtues which lead to thrift and comfort
Economy and the eXaction of clear justif-
cation for the appropriation of public
by the servants of the people are
not only virtues. but solemn obligations.
$40 the extent that the appropriations
contained in this bill are instigated by
private interests and to promote local or
not fail to stimulate Il vicious paternal- !
ism and encourage a sentiment among
our people. already too prevalent. that |
their attachment TO our government may
properly rest upon the hope and eXpecta-
ton of direct and especial favors, and |
that the extent to which they are realized |
may furnish an estimate of the value of |
governmental care.
Il believe no greater danger cOnfronts |
rs as nation that the unhappy de- |
cadence among our people of genuine and |
trustworthy love and affections for our |
government as the embodiment of the |
highest and best aspirations of humanity, |
md not as the giver of gifts, and because
is mission is the enforcement of exact
Justice and equality and not the allow
lnce of unfair favoritism.
Il hope L may be permitted to suggest
1t time when the issue of government
ponds to maintain the credit and stand
ng of country is subject of criticism
hat contracts provided for in this bill
would create otllgltilns of the United
states amounting to $62,OOO,OOO. no less
binding than its bonds for that sum.
"GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, May 30, 1896"