Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-05-29
PROTECTING THE TREASURY
President Cleveland Has Dealt the
Vicious River and HarbOr Bill
a Death Blow.
REASONS FOR YET0ING The MEASURE
Enormous Appropriation Provided for
in the Bill Unwarranted and I'm
justifiable Under Existing Cir
cumstances.

Washington, May 29.--The president
has vetoed the river and harbor bill. In
his message he says:
"If this bill becomes law, the obliga-
tions which will be imposed on the gov
ernment, together with the appropria-
tions made for immediate expenditures
on account of rivers and harbors, will
amount to about $S0,0OO,0O0. Nor is this
all. The bill directs numerous surveys
and examinations, which contemplate
new work and further contracts, and
which portend largely increased expendi-
lures and obligations. There is no ground
to hope that, in the face of the persistent
and growing demands, The aggregate ap-
propriations for similar schemes, not
covered by contracts, will be reduced or
even remain stationary.
"In view of the obligation imposed up
on me by the constitution, 1t seems to
me quite clear that can only discharge
my duty to our people when / interpose
my disapproval of the legislation pro-
posed. Many of the objects for which it
appropriates public money are not relat-
ed to the public welfare and many of
them are palpably
FOR THE BENEFIT OF LIMITED LOCALITIES
OF in aid of individual interests. On the
face of the bill it appears that not a few
of these alleged Improvements have been
so improvidently planned and prosecut-
ed that, after the nnwise expenditure of
millions of dollars, new experiments for
their accomplishment have been entered
upon.
"While those entrusted with the man
agement of the public funds, in the in
terest of all the people, can hardly justi-
fly the obtaining of ex penditures for public
works by pleading the opinions of engi-
neers or others as to the practicabilty of
such work, it appears that some of the
projects for which the appropriations are
proposed in this bill have been entered
upon without the approval or against the
objections of the examining engineers.
81 learn from official sources that there
are appropriations contained in the bill
to pay for work which private parties ae-
tually agreed with the government to do
in consideration of their occupancy of
the public property.
81 am convinced that the bill now under
opens the way to insidious
and increasing abuses and is itself so ex
travagant as to be especially unsuited
to these times of depressed business and
resulting disappointment IN the govern
ment revenues. This consideration is
emphasized by the prospect that the pub
lie treasury will be confronted with other
made by the present ses
sion of congress, amounting to more than
STERLING VIRTUES.
'Individual economy and careful ex-
penditures are sterling virtues which, ead
to thrift and comfort. Economy and the
exaction of the clear justification for the
of public moneys by the
servants of the people are not only vir-
tues but solemn obligations.
"To the extent that the appropriations
contained in this hill are instigated by
private interests and to promote local or
individual projects, their allowance can
not fail to stimulate and encourage the
sentiment among our people, already too
prevalent, that their attachment to our
government may properly rest upon the
hope and expectation of direct and es-
pecial favors and that the extent to which
they are realized may furnish the estimate
of the value of governmental care.
81 believe no greater danger confronts
us as anation than the unhappy decadence
among our people of genuine and trust
worthy love and affection for our govern
ment, as an embodiment of the honest
and best aspirations Of humanity, and not
as giver of gifts, and because its mission
is the enforcement of exact justice and
equality and not the allowance of unfair
favoritism.
CONTRACTS AS BINDING OBLIGATION AS
BONDS.
II hope may be permitted to suggest,
at time when the issue of government
bonds to maintain the credit and fnan-
cial standing of the country is the sub
ject of criticism, that the contracts pro-
yided for in this bill would create obliga-
tions of the United States amounting to
$62,O00,O00, no less binding than its bonds
for that cum.
"(SignedD GROVER CLEVELAND"