Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-06-12
AN IMPROVED VETO.
the Veto Power Should Be Modelled
National Silver Party Address.
'rom Our special Correspondent.

years an occasion arises demonstrating
the de,irabiity of modifying the veto
perogative of the president. At pres
ent il is the veto of the river and harbor
bill which points in that direction.
The present method is neither fair Ia
the president nor 10 the country.
Hardly any appropriation bill is passed
by congress but contains some items
which the president would like 10 chm
mate. He is powerless, however, in
his objection 20 them; he must either
approve or reject the bill in its entlri'y,
There is no question but that if discre-
tionary power were conferred upon the
president in this respect, it would be
better for all interests. Nor Is 1t only
the appropriation bills that would be
improved by this modification of the
veto; many other bills contain ohje"-
tionable clauses concerning which the
president might exercise his discretion
without approving or diSapprovlng the
whole measure. The control of con
gress over legislation would not be
abridged by the change, because ii
would retain the power to pass vetoed
clauses, the presidents objections TO
the contrary notwithstanding, just as
il does now with a vetoed bill.
No doubt there are many items in the
river and harbor bill which lack al
merit, and have no valid claim 10
consideration. Some have been insert
ed, the president declares, IN opposition
to the accommodation of the engl-
neers " no were not consulted at alLand
they got in through the system known
as log-rolling.' Perhaps not quite 50
large number OF 'rivers" has been
remembered that are altogether dry in
summer, but still they have not been
kept out altogether. And yet, taken
as whole, the bill is preferable t.
others that have been passed because
of the continuing contracts that are
provided for. These Of themselveN
constitute no immediate dram upon
the treasury and only fraction OF the
So. 800, 900 directly and con tingentl\
appropriated by the bill will be
charge upon TIE treasury for the Mex
fiscal year 1t is more than probable
that the entire bill would not have been
vetoed if the president had had the
power TO select the Objectionable feat
ures and confine his objections to them
From whatever standpoint it is consid-
cred. II would seem that the modified
veto would be highly desirable.
The national Silver party, through
its chairman }. J. Mott, has issued from
its headquarters in this city, an address
TO tine friends of silver. The address
recites that since the organization of the
national silver party, January y last,
the work of organization has been stead
lily, but quietly, pursued, and the coun-
try aroused to pitch of excitement I'M
known since the civil war 1t declares
that the secret OF success in the pending
conflict consists IN lining up for the
battle, and that the convention of the
party. 10 be held in st. Louis July p,
will undoubtedly bc one of the most
important conventions and notable
gatherings ever assembled in this
country. Upon the wisdom of It's acts
and that of the Peoples party conven-
ton, to be held at the same place and
time. depends, the address declares.
1.-the vital question as to whether we
can have just sediment of this money
issue in our generation
The address concludes as follows:
The republican party is committed
to the.gold standard through the plat
forms of 50 per cent of the States Con-
ventions, and any straddle that may be
made in its national platform will de-
ceive no one. The democratic party
must not expect the country to accept
any candidate it may name acquiesced
in by the gold wing of that party. The
question Of vital in portance is for sill
yer men to name "a candidate for Presi-
dent whose nomination will be readily
acquiesced in by all the believers in
monetary reform. Friends of silver,
look to your interest,". and organize
now, while the fruit is ripe for pluck
ing. We do not wait on the problem
atical action of any party Mac.