The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-07

President Says 1t Is Not Pleasure, but
Duty, To Disapprove Bills.

THE GENERAL DEFICIENCY BILL
President Says 1t Is Not Pleasure, but
Duty, To Disapprove Bills.
Washington City. June Sin his mess
age accompanying the veto OF the general
deficiency bill. President Cleveland said in
defending the exercise OF the veto power:
The unpleasant incidents which accom-
pany the power would compel It's avoid
ance II such course did not involve an
abandonment OF constitutional duty and
assent to legislation for which the execu-
| tive IS not willing TO share the RESPONSE
b.lity.'
He continues: This bill is in many OF
its features far removed from a legiti-
mate deficiency bill, and it contains a num-
Der of appropriations which seem TO be ex-
eeedingly questionable. Without noticing
In detail many OF these items. shall re-
fer to two of them which, in my judgment,
justify my action in the premises. The
bill appropriates si,0z7,3l4.o9 for a partial
payment upon claims which originated in
depredations upon our commerce by
French cruisers and vessels during the
closing year of the last century They
have been quite familiar to those
having congressional experience. as they
have been pressed for recognition and
payment, with occasional intervals of re-
pose, for nearly loo years. Those claims
are based upon the allegations that
France, being at war with England. seized
and condemned many American vessels
and cargoes in violation 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 for such OF our citizens as
were damaged against the French ma
tion. which claims our government at
tempted to enforce, and that in conclud-
ing a treaty with France in the year 1880
these claims were abandoned or relin-
quished in consideration OF the relin-
qnishment of certain claims which France
charged against us. Upon these state
ments. IL is insisted by those interested
that we, as a nation, have reaped ben
eft in our escape from these French de-
mands against us, through the abandon
ment of the claims of our citizens. the
government being equally bound between
itself and its citizens TO pay the claims
thus relinquished. l do not understand
1t 10 be asserted that there exists any
legal liability against the government on
account of its relations to these claims.
At the term of the supreme court just
finished the chief justice. In an opinion
concerning them and the action of con-
gress In appropriating for their payment.
said; We think that the payments thus
prescribed 70 be made were purposeiy
brought within the category of payments
by way of gratuity-payment OF grace and
not of right
The president enters into the history of
the efforts to secure payment of the
claims. tracing II from 1S02. when the first
bin was introduced. lie saws: Until 1916
these claims were from time to time
pressed upon the attention OF congress.
with varying fortune. but never with
favorable action. In that year. however.
a bill was passed for their ascertainment
a
prlated for their payment. This bill was
vetoed by President Polk. who declared
that he could perceive no legal or eQui-
table grounds upon which this appropria-
ton could rest This veto was sustained
by the house Of representatives. Many
years afterwRrd. IN 1856, bin was passed
similar 20 the one last mentioned and ap-
propriating for these claims Ike sum
OF money. This bill was also vetoed.
President Pierce concluding thorough
discussion Of its demerits WITH these
words: In view OF what has been said.
there would seem 10 be no ground il
which TO base a liability or the United
States, unless ID be the assumption that
the United States is 10 he considered the
securer and suaranteer OF American
claims. Of whatever nature. its individual
citizens may have against a foreign ma
tlon' This veto was also sustained in
tho house Of representatives
Il think it will be fouad that IN all the
bills proposed for the payment OF these
claims the sum TO be appropriated for
that purpose does not exceed $40 10.
II Is now estimated that those already
passed upon. with those still pending fer
examtSiagfon in the court OF claims. NAV
arnotgnt 10 sss 800 600 This indicates either
that the actual sufferers or those nearer
10 them in ties Of blood than the pres
ent claimants underes lImstea u4elT losses.
or that there has been great develop
rnent in the manner Of their p-@seng att1n.
I'm the long lists OF beuehsiaries who are
provided for In the bill now before me.
on account Of these claims, Is2 repres mt
the owners OF the ships and taai- car
goes and fs6 are those who lost IS ia-
s1rers q s.tch vessels or car90ts. The
premiums secured on these policies Wers
large. and the losses were precisely those
within the contemplation II the insurers.
Appropriations 10 indemnify against tn
Suvance losses rest mon weaker grounds.
+ seems to me than those OF owners.
B8t. in the light of ali the circumstances
surrounding these claims as they are
called. none OF them. iu ny oFisliou. should
ta paid by the govern7n nent-
Another item IN this bill wiirl seeus 20
ha especially Objectionable ss an auproprla-
tlon IN favor OF Charles 7. canteau. sur
wgvor. etc. of sI7t4&55s n fun sarlsfac-
tfoE 81 tae claims arsssnE cat a. the con-
strucfton a. the 1rgnelsds an1 steam hat
terry zt Es1Ah. The contract for tire con-
strarttun % faIs battery WAS n1aGe ~ the
government w3ta Charles u. MsC5ra aar-
inw ths war. and he wax . &c pad there
fsr the xaszs af fTrs 20 Tie vas paid ths
s4~z an& sEsass1 fer extras. ard tn May.
fsss. gave his recesgt IA fa}L Tire ass wase
of McCor& ~ bankruptcy assigned 70 Cao-
Fs2z ard hks associates - tszs al claims
81 M-.c-4 against tae United States for
tne precise extras for wA.ch he bad re-
eespte3 IA fun tao years Before. Caataaa
broughs sust in Ene coszrt oF Gains ara
hls extras Ne-e defeated csn.ot gather
from TIE facts I have ea@a ana@ % caTlaGe
concerning this Appropriated thAt tt -
fssttnea On any ground II 1881 ms isanss~
date predecessor vetoed nlA a23oN nz
she snzsFer 20 - examined zxAsn ~ Ire
esurt 90 claims r TIE As&stAo1At SMy~
meat proposed IA thas hs.l - rsxas. rs
cost % sAe battery 4a ozss9saz Nc1d ba
A-a-ess 1s4sss s1Ag ss Iss co@ss4Gs rE4Gx-t