The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-07
President Returns the GeaeraI Deficiency
Bill to the House Without Signing.
IT'S IlLEGITIMATs APPROPRIATIONS
The Reason for Withholding Execu.
tive ApprOvaI-The French SpoiIa-
tion Claims Item the Most Objec
tionahio Feature md 1s Given Ex-
haustive Historical Treatment.

Washington, June 6.-The President
sent veto message to the House of
REPRESENTATIVES on the general defici-
ency appropriation bill this afternoon.
The message is as follows:
To the House of Representatives.:
l hereby return without my approval
the House bill numbered S293 entitled
An act making appropriations to supply
deficiencies in the appropriations for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1885, and for
prior years and for other purposes"
To the extent the Constitution has
developed upon the President a partici-
patton In legislation, 1 suppose his ac-
ton upon bills presented to him for
approval involves duty to be perform
ed like others pertaining to his office,
with care and circumspection, and in
full view Of his responsibility to the
peope and his obligations to subserve
the public welfare. 1t is difficult to
understand why under the Constitution
II should be necessary to submit proposed
LEGISLATION to executive scrutiny and ap-
proval except to invoke the exercise Of
executive judgment and Invite in pres
ent executive action.
The unpleasant incidents which ac-
company the use OF the veto power would
tempt its avoidance IL such course did
not involve an abandonment of consti-
tutional duty and as assent TO legisla-
tion for which the Executive Is not will
ing to shade the responsibility.
L regret that am constrained to dis
approve an important uppropria ton bill
so near the close of the present session
of Congress. | have however. by i'm
mediate action after the receipt of the
bill. endeavored to delay as little as
possible a reconsider alton of this pro-
posed legislation, though am thus
Obliged to content myself with "a less
complete explanation of my objections
than would otherwise be submitted.
tg .,f &c Fn A,,.,a
fnr removed from u legitimate defiici-
ency bill, and II contains a number of
appropriations which seem to me TO
be exceedingly questionable Without
noticing i'll detail many of these items
] shall refer to two of them, which, in
my Judgment justify my action in the
premises.
The bill appropriates one million
twsnty-sswen thousand. three hundred
and fourteen dollars and nine cents for
a partial payment upon claims which
originated in depredations upon our COM
1nerce by French cruisers and vessels
during the' closing years of the last
century. They have become quite ia
miliar to those having Congressional ex-
perience, as they have bs;n pressed for
recognition and payment with OCCASION
nj intervals OF repose, for nearly one
hundred years
These claims are based upon the allie
cations that France being at war with
England, seized and condemned many
American vessels and cargoes in viola
ton of the rules of international law and
treaty provisions and contrary to the
duty shS owed 10 our country as a neu-
tral power and 10 our citizens: that by
reason of these ao:S claims arose in ia
NOR of such of our citizens as were dem
nified, against the French naton-which
claims our government attempted TO en-
force, and that in constituting q treaty
NrE no. In tbe ,n1o
were abandoned or rel.nqu!shed in con-
sideration of ,tho REIMBURSEMENT OF Ger
tain claims which France charged
against us.
Upon these statements It is insisted by
those interested that VIZ, as a nation.
having ieaped a benefit I'M our escape
from these French demands against us,
through the abandonment of the claims
or our citizens against France, the gov
ernment became equitably bound as be-
tween itsslf and its citizens to pay the
claims thus relinquished.
do not understand ii to be asserted
that there exists any legal liability
against the government on account of It's
relation to these claims. AT the term OF
the Supreme Court just finished the
Chief Justice. In an opinion concern
ing them and the action of Congress in
appropriating for thsir payment, said:
We think that payments thus pre-
ecribed to be made. were purposely
brought within the category OF pay
ments by way of gratuity-payments of
grace and not of right"
From the time the plan was conceived
to charge the Government with the pay
ment of these claims they have abided
In a state of controversy. Every pIopo-
sition presented In their support has
been stoutly disputed and every inhu-
ence suggested in their favor has been
promptly challenged.
Thus. inasmuch as 1t must I think be
conceded that If q state of war exist
between our country and France at the
time these depredations We're commit
ted. our Government Was not justified
In claiming indemnity for our citizens,
1t Is asserted that we We're at the time
actually engaged In war with the French
nation This position seems to be sus-
tained by an opinion of the Attorney
General Of the United States, written
In 1888. and by number Of decisions OF
the Supreme Court delivered soon after
that time
We had certainly abrogated treaties
with France. and our cruisers and armed
ships were roaming the seas capturing
her vessels and property.
SO also 1t is asserted that the validity
: OF these claims was acknowledged in
the treaty negotiations by the repre-
sentatiVes of France. their declarations
TO contrary purport are exhibited.