The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-07
FRENCH SPOLIATION CLAIMS.
The General Deficiency Appropriation
Vetoed On Their Account.
ARGUMENT AGAINST THEIR VALIIIIY
Comprise tho Larger Portion of the Mes
saee-He Also Makes "a Brief Reply to
Criticisms of the Frequent Use Of
the Veto Power.

cY Appropriation bll TINS dlNeiAvoh' hN
replies briefly to the criticisms OF his
exercise cf the veto power and says he
has rmritd the preparation of the mes
sage in order that Congress may take ac-
ton in the natter without delay. The
8. .ound :pr TIE veto Is the provision re-
.stng 70 the payment Of the French
sp)datiOn claim.
The Presidents message Is as follows;
THE VETO POWER.
ITO the House Of Representatives:
L hereby return without my approval
House bill numbered sZ03. entitled AN
act making appropriations - supply de-
fciencies IN the appropriations FOR the
fiscal year ending Juns 80 1896. and for
prior years and for other purposes.
ITO the extent that the Constitution
has devolvod upon the President par
ticlpation in legislation, L suppose MS
action on bills presented to him for ap-
proval involves ii duty TO be performed
Ike theirs pertaining 10 his office, with
care and circumspection. and IA full Vie"
Of his responsibility 10 the people and MS
obligations 70 subsorve sthe public wei
fare IL is difficult TO understand why
under the Constitution, " should be
necessary TO submit proposed legislation
% Executive scrutiny and approval except
20 invoke the exercise OF Executive Judg-
ment and invite independent Executive
action
The unpleasant incidents which ac-
company the use Of the veto power would
tempt its avoidance II such course
cid rot involve an abandonment or con
sttutlonal duty and as assent 20 legisla-
ton for which the Executive is not Will
ing 20 share the responsibility
Il regret that 1 am constrained 10
disavprove an important appropriation
bin so rear the close OF the present
session OF Congress. have, however
by immediate action after the receipt
of the bill. endeagOted TO delay as Altie
as possible "a reconsideration OK this
proposed legislation, though j am tnps
obliged 10 content myself with "A less COM
plete explanation of my objections than
would Otherwise 10 submitted.
"rhls bll is I'm many of IS foa-
tures fer removed nom legiu-
mato deficiency bill. and it contains
q number OF appropriations which seem
& La 10 be exceedingly questionable.
Without nOIcing be detail many OF these
Items shall refer t0 two Cf them Wnicn
in NJ 81 aement JUSTIFY my action In the
Promises. -hc bill appropriatea one mill
liO1 twenty ty-seven thousand, three hun
dred and fCurtceu dollars and nine cents
for ths partial psyment upon claims
Whica ottleiuatel la deprclauons upon
or .lu faerl, 1y French truiscis aAd
vessels during the closing years of tina
last certury. They have become quite
fam.u6r 10 those having congressional eX-
perieucc. as they have been threshed for
recognition and payment. with occasional
intervals OF repOse, for nearly one nun
draI years"
HISTORY or THE CLAIMS.
"These claims are based uDon the al
locations that France being at war with
England. seized and condemned many
American vessels and Carsoes IN viola
tion of the rules of International Ia"
and treaty provisions. and contrary 10
the duty She owed TO our country as
neutral power and go our citizens; tnat
hv reason of these acts claims arose in
favor of our citizens as were demnlned,
AGAINST the French nation. which claims
our Government attempted 10 enforce.
and that ina concluding "a treaty with
France in the year 1850 these claims
were abandoned or roliuquished In con-
sideration of the relnquishment Of cer-
tain claims which France charged against
US.
Upon these statements il is insisted
by those Interested thar We nation
having reaped benefit ina our escape
from these French demands against us.
through the abandonment of the claims
of our citizens against France, the Gov
ernmont became eQuitably bound as be-
tween itself and its citizens TO pay the
claims thus reinqushed.
Il DO not understand II ID be asserted
that there exists any legal liability
aeainst the Government on account OF
its relations 90 these claims. At the
term OF the Supreme Court just finished
the Chief Justice, IN an opinion concern
hg them and the action OF Congress In
al rrcrriating for their payment. said:
We think that payment thus prescribed
10 be made, were purposeiy brought
within the category CT payments by way
OF gratuity-payment Of grace and not
OF right From the time the plan was
conceived 20 charge the Government with
the Iayment OF these claims they have
atlded i'm the atmosphere of controversy.
Every proposition presented in their sup
rort has been stJlt'y disputed and every
influence suggested m their favor has
been promptly challenged
"Thus. lnasmgcl a. it must, | think,
Doe conceded that n state of war eX-
isted between our country and France
no The time these depredatlons wero com
mitted our Government was not justified
iu claiming indemnity Tor orr citizens.
it f. Inserted that we We're at the time
actually engaged in war with the French
nation
.arhis position seems 20 be sustained
bv an opinion or the Attorney General
of the United states. written I'm lI01, and
bv d number OF decisions OF tho supreme
Court delivered soon after that time.
We had certainly abr08ated treaties with
France and our cruisers and armed
ships We're roaming the seas capturing
her vessels and property.
So. alzO, lt is asserted that the validity
OF these claims was acknowledged In
the treaty negotiations by the represen-
tatives ot France their declarations u
q contrary purp0rt are exhibited.
REPUTATION.
"And when il IS alleged that the aban-
| donment Of those claims against France
was In consideration OF great dement's
10 the Government. 10 j. as conlidenty
alleged that they were in point OF fact
abandoned because their enforcement
was hopeless and that even II any bene-
iii really accrued 10 Us BY insistance
upon their settlement Ia the course Of
diplomatic negotiations. such result gave
no pretext Tor taxing the Government
with liability TO the claims.
Without noticing other considerations
and contentious arising from the alleged
origin OF these claims a brief reference
20 their treatment in the past and the
development Of their presentation may
be useful and pertinent.
1T H.. believe somew hat the fashion IN
interested quarters 10 speak OF failure by
the government To pay these claims as
l4f "A N