The herald., 1896-06-04
THE F|FTY.FOURTH CONGRESS
The River and Harb0r Bill Now
Law
IT PASSES OVER THE VETO
After Three Hours Of Bitter and Personal
Debate
Only Pivs Votes olven to Sustain the Veto.
Pushing Business In Anticipation Of
Early Adjournment
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, June 3.-The senate
today passed the river and harbor bill
over the presidents veto by vote O.
So to 6. This was the last step in making
the bill effective, and 1t is now q law
The vote was taken after three hours o.
spirited debate, during which the pres
ident was criticised and defended, the
remarks at times being directly and bit
terly personal The opposition to the
veto was expressed by Senators Vest
Sherman, Pettigrew, Hawley and But
Ter. while the veto was defended by Sen
ators Villas, Hill and Bate. When 6
partial conference report was presented
on the naval appropriation bill Mr.. Quay
moved that the senate recede from it.
amendment reducing the number ol
battleships from four to two. This
brought on an extended debate. In Its
course. Mr.. Tillman spoke in his usua
way on "armOr robberies." He referred
to the grip by the throat which the
armor concerns had on congress, and
looking around the senate. asked If there
were any attorneys or a lobby here. OF
senators interested In seeing these con.
tracts given out. A final vote on the
item of battleships will be taken at !
o'clock tomorrow.
as soon as the senate met today. Vest
OF Missouri, who, in the absence Of Frye
Is In charge of the river and harbor bill
sought to have the presidents veto
taken up. This was opposed by Petit
grew Of South Dakota, In charge of the
Indian appropriation bill conference re.
port Vest urged the suspension and
possible obstruction Of the improvement
Of the international waterways was oil
more moment than any other one sub
Ject save that of national honor. 1t was
imperative the question be settled now
so II the veto was sustained 1t could be
determined whether any other river and
harbor bill was to be framed. The veto
order was taken up-yeas 3S, nays TO-
The negative vote was: Democrats
Bate. Chiffon. Harris. Palmer, Villas
Republicans-Brown, Merrill, Pettigrew
Pritchard, Teller.
Vest said the veto contained state
ment which, however, much he respect
ed the high Office Of president, ought not
to go unchallenged. The senator did not
question the presidents veto preroga-
tive. but said the trainers of the consti-
tuition never intended this power should
be used In the ordinary affairs of the
government. 1t was to be power to meet
an extraordinary emergency, when pop
ular passion led to hasty legislation, or
when a constitutional question was in
volved: The early presidents. who stood
nearest the constitution. exercised the
veto power but seven times; twice by
Washington. five times by Madison;
never by Jefferson or John Adams. Vest
then analyzed the statements in the veto
regarding extravaganza. The president
had, he said. stated the bill made direct
appropriations Of s14,O00.0oO, while in
fact they aggregated $12,6O8 900, differ
ence of 1881, 100. Vest took up the other
items, showing the totals We're less than
tho presidents statements would indi-
cate.
The senator said. as to the general
charge or extravaganza, that in consid-
ering the vast interests involved, this
measure was reasonable. There were
items open to question, yet as in all
legislation this was the result Of a COM
promise. Vest said he addressed a letter
to General Craighill. chief Of engineers,
asking for facts as to the statement of
the president that he had learned from
official sources that bill contained an.
propriations intended to serve private
interests. The senator said General
Graighill made no reply. but in resnonse
to telegraphic query answered the let
ter mad been referred to the secretary
OF war for instructions" Up to this
date no Information had been given.
so for reasons best known to the ad-
ministration,' said Vest, bitterly, 'it
Is considerd best not to go into details.
but to indulge in general and hystericai
defamation as to the alleged extraya-
gance and favoritism In it,"
vest said he believed one of the presi-
dents charges applied to the Brunswick.
Georgia, harbor, one of the best and
most economical improvements in the
country. The senator spoke of cheaper
rates of transportation resulting from
improvements at the 500, New Orleans
Baltimore, New York, Boston and else,
where. In the platform on which Cleve-
land was first nominated was a strong
plank FOR water improvements. and his
early message endorsed, these improve
ments. Vest predicted that in the near
future legislation would be directed to
turtner develop international commerce
ana cneapen1ng transportation.
Senator Sherman said he would vote
to pass the bill over the veto because
the improvement of the WATERWAYS of
the country was one of the most import
ant branches of national deyelopment
ana one In which other great nations
were showing even greater advances
legislative branch was given the excI,-
sive right Ito appropriate money"
1t Is time to curb this daily exercisa
OF the veto power" declared Mr.. Sher-
man. 1T is most extreme power and a
dangerous one unless exercised only in
e.c iiiost eAlreiIle cases involving con-
stitutional questions. But this wise re-
striction Is set aside and we have a veto
every week or so-every day or so.'
Mr. smith (Dem., N. J.) said this dis
cusslon OF the veto power was not new.
AS result or personal inquiry at the en-
gineer department, he was able to state
tnat this Dill contained appropriations
or $lO, 100000 for projects which had not
been approved by the government en-
gineers and 1850, 900 for projects which
the engineers had reported as unworthy
Mr.. Villas said that the bill contained
important appropriations for his state
but he could not bring himself to the
conviction that this great burden should
be added othe distressed shoulders of
the people of the country He regarded
the criticisms fthe veto by Mr. Vest
as inconsequential. The appropriations
OF this congress would exceed $500, 0OO. 900
before reporting the river and harbor
bill. Congress had come to dealing with
vats sums as lightly as would some ori-
entail prince who had no comprehension
u values. The appropriations Of the pres
ent congress would outstrip those of the
congress which became famous as the
billion dollar congress-" Where was
The money coming from? asked Mr.. Villas
was 1t coming from more taxation or
more bonds?
"Of course the secretary Of the treas
ury VIII have to stop paying when he
has no more money to pay with" ex-
claimed Mr.. Villas, "but is it the desire
e this congress to drive the treasury