The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-04
The River and Harbor Bill Pas
sed by the Senate.
AFTER a SPIRITED DEBATE
Bv Fifteen Votes More Than
Required Two-Thirds.
GIGANTIC STEAL OF MILLIONS
The President Criticised by Republican
and PepuIist Senators For His
Exercise of the Veto
Power.

day passed the River and Harbor bill
over the Presidents veto by vote of
So to ). This was the last step in max
ing the bill effective and it is now a
law.
The affirmative vote was Is more
than the two-thirds required to pass
a measure over a veto. The vote was
taken after three hours of spirited de-
bate. during which the President was
criticised and defended, the remarks
at times being directly and bitterly
personal.
The opposition to the veto was ex-
pressed by Senator'S Vest, Sherman,
Pettigrew, Hawley and Butler, while
the veto was defended by Senators
Villas, Hill and Bate.
Mr.. Vest, who was first to take the
floor, said the veto contained state
ments which, however much he might
respect the high Office of the President,
ought not to go unchallenged. The
Senator did not question the Presi-
dents veto prerogative, but the franz
ers of the Constitution never had in
tended that this power should be ex-
ereised in the ordinary affairs of the
government 1t was to be power
to meet extraordinary emergencies,
when popular passion had led to hasty
legislation or when a constitutional
question was involved. The early
Presidents, who stood nearest to the
Constitution exercised the veto power
but seven times: twice by Washing
ton, five times by Madison, and never
by jefferson or John Adams.
Mr.. Vest then analyzed the state
ments of the veto concerning extrava-
gance, saying that in view of the vast
interests involved, the extent of the
country, and the fact that the River
and Harbor bill covered two years, this
measure was comparatively reasona-
BILE.
Mr.. Sherman, who followed, said he
would vote to pass the bill over the
veto.He expressed the opinion that the
veto power could not be directed a.
gainst an appropriation bill. The leg
islative branch was given the exclusive
time to curb this daily exercise of the
veto power" declared Mr.. Sherman.
at is a most extreme power and dan
gerous one unless exercised only In
the most extreme cases involving con-
stitutional questions. But this wise
restriction is set aside and. we have
veto every week or two, every day or
So"
Mr.. Villa (Dem., Wis.,, said that
the bill contained important appro-
priations for his State, but he could
not bring himself to the conviction
that this great burden should be added
to the distressed shoulders of the peo-
pie of the country. He regarded the
criticisms of the veto by Mr.. Vest as
excessively minute and inconsequen-
tial The President doubtless took the
figures furnished by the engineers,
speaking broadly of the millions in
volved, without particularizing as to
the last cent.
Mr.. Villas took up the extent of APP
preparations at this Congress. These,
he said, would exceed $500,000,000 be-
fore reaching the River and Harbor
bill. Congress had come to dealing
with vast sums as lightly as would
some oriental prince who had no COM
prehension of values. Where was the
money coming from, asked Mr.. Villas.
Was it coming from more taxation or
more bonds? The Senator from Ohio
(Sherman) said Mr.. Villas appealed
for more revenue, as though raising
revenue was some Legislative trick. He
would vote to sustain no veto.
Mr. Berry Dem, Arkansas), while
deprecated extravaganza, regretted
that the attack should be directed
against the bill which most benefited
the agricultural classes.
Mr.. Pettigrew (Rep., South Dakota)
expressed the belief that the time had
come for constitutional amendment
limiting the veto power TO prevent its
usurpation of Legislative functions and
to overriding majority rule. This, he
said, was the policy of the Republican
party as opposed to "the usurpIng
policy of Grover Cleveland"
''The present occupant of the White
House." continued MIR. Pettigrew, is
not content with the violation of the
Constitution by the exercise of the
veto power alone; but with an utter
disregard of his sacred oath of Office,
as well as of the Constitution, he
overrides the laws, influences Con-
gressmen with patronage, enriches
his favorites at the public eXpense-in
fact permits no restraint, but his inn
perial will He has refused to enforce
the laws of Congress so often that the
list of violations is next only to the
list of vetoes. He has sold bonds, at
private sale, to his favorites and for
mer associates upon terms and at a
price many millions of dollars below
the market price of the bonds on the
day of such private salA. In view or