Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-06-04
VETOED.

sent to the house yesterday a message
vetoing the rivers and harbors appro-
priation bill The full text of the mes
sage is as follows:
To the House OF Representatives: I return
herewith without approval house bill No 1877.
entitled IAN act making appropriations for the
construction, repairs and preservation of GER
tain public works on rivers and harborS, and
for other purposes
There are Az items of appropriation con-
tanned in this bill. and every part of the eoun-
try is represented in the distribution of favors-
1t directly appropriates or provides for the i'm
mediate expenditure of nearly sis.000.0Oo for
river and harbor work. This sum is in addi-
dition to appropriations contained in another
bill for similar purposes, amounting to little
more than S3,oO0O00 which has already been
favorably considered at the present session OF
congress The result Is that the contemplated
immediate expenditure for the objects men
toned amount to about Sl7 100000
more startling feature of this bill is its
authorization of contracts for river and harbor
work amounting to more than S62,0O0,00O
Though the payment OF these contracts are, in
most cases, distributed that they are to be
met by future appropriations, more than S.
100000 on their account are included in the
direct appropriations above mentioned
Or the remainder nearly s20.0B00o0 will fail
due during the fiscal year ending June 80. 1898.
and amounts somewhat less in the years i'm
mediately succeeding A few contracts OF a
like character, authorized under previous
statutes. are still outstanding and to meet
payments on these more than s., DOC, 900 must
be appropriated in the immediate future. II,
therefore. this bill becomes law. the obliga-
tionS which will be imposed the govern
ment. together with the appropriations made
for immediate expenditure on account OF
rivers and harbors, will amount to about 49,
O00, 900.
Nor is this all. The bill directs numerous
surveys and examinations, which contemplate
new work and further contracts. and which
portend largely increased expenditures and
obligations. There is ground to hope that
In the face OF persistent and growing demands
the aggregate OF appropriations for the smaller
schemes not covered by contracts will be re-
duced or even remain stationary For the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1898, such appropriations.
together with the 1nStallmentS contracts
which will be due in that year. can hardly be
less than S30,0O0)O, and it may reasonably be
apprehended that the prevalent tendency to-
wards increased expenditures of this and
the concealment which postponed payments
afford for extravaganza will increase the bur-
denS chargeable to this account in succeeding
years
In view of the obligation imposed upon
by the constitution it seems to quite clear
that 1 only discharge duty to our people
when 1nterpose my disapproyal of the legis-
lation proposed Many of the objects for
which it appropriateS public money are not
lated to the public welfare, and many of them
are palpably for the benefit of limited local
tiles in aid of individual interests. On the
face OF the bill. 1t appears that not few OF
providently planned and prosecuted that after
an unwiSe expenditure of millions of dollars
new experiments for their accomplishment
has been entered upon.
While those entrusted with the management
of public funds in the interests OF all the
people, can hardly justify questionable experd-
lures for public works by pleading the opin-
Ions of engineers or others to the practical
bllity OF such work, it appears that some of
the projects for which appropriations are pro
posed in this bill have been entered upon with
out the approval or against the objections of
the examining engineers learn from official
sources that there are appropriations con-
tanned in the bill to pay for work which pri-
vate parties have actually agreed with the gov
eminent to do in cOnSidera ton OF their occu
pancy OF public property.
Whatever OF doubt about the propriety may
have escaped observation may have been
tolerated in previous executive approvals of
similar bills, am convinced that the bill now
under consideration will open the way to in
SidiouS and increasing abuses, and is itself SO
extravagant to be especially unsuited to
these times of depressed business and result
ing disappointment in government revenue
This consideration is emphasized by the
prospect that the public treasury will be con-
fronted with other appropriations made at the
present session Of congress amounting to more
than $500, 600. Individual economy and care
full expenditures are sterling virtues which
lead to thrift and comfort. Economy and the
exaction of clear justification for the appropri-
alton of public moneys by the servants of the
people are not only virtues, but solemn obli-
cations.
To the extent that the appropriations con-
tanned in this bill are instigated by private in
tereSts and to promote local or individual pro-
jects their continuance cannot fail to Stimu-
late an injurious paternalism and encourage
sentiment among our people, already too prev
alent, that their attachment to our govern
ment may properly rest upon the hope
and expectation of direct and especial
favors, and that the extent to which
they realized may furnish an
estimate of the value of governmental care.
believe no greater danger confronts US as a
nation than the unhappy decadence among our
people of genuine and trustworthy love and af-
lection for our government the embodiment
OF the highest and best aspirations of humanity
and not as the giver of gifts and because its
mission is the enforcement of exact justice and
equality and not the allowance of unfair favor
itiSm.
hope I may be permitted to suggest at a
time when the issue OF government bonds to
maintain the credit and financial standing of
the country is subject of criticism, that the
contracts provided for in this bill would Gre
ate obligations of the United States amount
ing to So. 00o,n O3, less binding than its
bonds for that sum. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion. May d. 1896
"BRiCK" POMEROY DEAD.
and Spectator Succumbs TO DrOpsy.