The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-30

less in the years Immediately sue seed.

still outstanding, and to meet payments
ON THESE more than $4,000, coo must be
appropriated in the INN. date future.
IL, therefore, this bill becomes . law
the obligations which will be imposed
on the Government, together with the
appropriations made for imme diate ex-
penditure on account of rivers and
haroors' will amount to eighty millions
OF dollars Nor is this all The bill
directs numerous surveys and examina-
lions which contemplate now work and
iurtoer contracts and which portend
largely increased expenditures and obli-
cations.
"There Is no ground to hope that in
the face OF persistent and rowing de-
mands the aggregate OF appropriations
tor the smaller schemes not covered BY
contracts will be reduced or even re-
main stationary. For the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1898, such eppropri
stions, together with the instalments
ON contracts. which will fall due in that
year. can hardly be less tn $40. 600 600;
ana IL msy reasonably be spprehended
that the prevalent tendency towards
increased expenditures Of this sort and
the corcealment which postponed pay
ments afford for extravaRance will in
crease tho burdens chargeable to this
account in succ eeding years.
In view OF tho oh igations imposed
upon me by the conssitui zion, 1t seems to
me quite clear that I only discharge o
duty to our people when L inserpose my
dsapproval Of the legislation proposed.
Many of the oNjeo for which IL ap
ptopriates public money are not related
TO the public welfare and IN any Of them
are pslpably for the benefit OF limited
localities or in aid of individual in
terests.
ION the face OF the bill, 1T appears that
not few of these alleged i'm provemen's
have been so mprovidently planned and
prosecuted that. after an unwise ex-
penditure OF millions of dollars. new
experiments for their accom- plishmens
have been entered upon.
while those entrusted with the ID an
ageme nt OF public funds in the interest
OF oil the people can hardly justify oues-
tioneble expenditures for public work
by pleading the opinions of engineers
or others as to the prsc lea ility OF such
work, 1T appears that some of the pro
]ecss for which appropriations are pro-
posed in this bill have been entered
upon without the approval or against
the objections OF the examining en-
gineers
II learn from official sources that
the bill to pay for work which private
parties have actually agreed with the
dovernm mt to do IN considers zion of
their occupancy OF public property
Whatever Items Of doubtful propriety
may have escaped observation, or NAV
have been tolerated In previous execu-
tive approvals OF similar bills am con-
WINGED that the bill now under copsid-
GRAFTON opens the wy to insidious and
increasing abuses and is in itself so ex-
travsRant as to be especially unsuited
to these times OF depressed business.
This CT confederation Ia empbas zed by
the prospect that the public Treasury
will be confronted with other appro-
pristons made at the present sessi of
Congress amounting to more than $780,
600. 600
"Individusl economy and careful ex-
penditure are sterling virtues which
lead to thrift and comfort. Economy
and the exaction Of clear justification
for the appropriation of public moneys
by the servants OF the people are no:
only virtues. but solemn obligations to
the extent that the appropriations con
tsined in this bill are instigated by
private interests.
IL believe no greater danger con-
fronts Us as nation than the unh ppy
decadence among our peope Of genuine
and trustworthy love and aft ction for
our Government as the embodiment of
highest aspirations Of hum anisy and not
as the giver OF gifts, because it's m sion
10 the enforce ment OF exact justice and
equality and not the allowance OF unfair
favoritlsm.
81 hope l may be permitted to sug-
gest at time when the issue OF Gov
eminent bopds TO maintain the cr.dit
and financial standing OF the country Is
subj .ct OF criticism that the contracts
provided for in this bill would create
obligstiOns of the United States
amcunrng to S62 OOO 900, no less binding
than Its bonds for that sum.
"GRovER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, May 30, 1896"
Senate Proceedings.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Morgan
(Dem., Ala }, introduced . bill making
1t felony for two or more persons, one
OF whom 10 an officer, agent or stock
holder OF 5 national bank, to enter into
an agreement or conspiracy to bring
about current circulation or to refuse
payment to depositors in lawful money.
Mr.. Harris (Dem., TENN made a
st3temen cOnceI mig the need of speedy
action on the bill relating to alcohol
used In arts and without division the
bill was passed. The House bill con-
corning the distillipg Of brandy from
fruits was passed without amendment
Il authorizes the exemption OF distlllers
of brandy made from fruits from the
provisions relating to the manufacs sure
Of spirits. except as TO the tax shereon
the partial conference report OF the
Indian appropriation bill was then taken
up
The bond bill waa taken I'M at q