The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-07
A sPoLIATloN CLAIMS VETO
THE PRESIDENT REFLECTS THE DE-
FICIENCY BILL.

Tbe Message Also Contains a Brief
RepIy to the Criticisms in Con-
wress ON His veto of the River and
Harbor BiII-The President Finds
Payment of Many of the Claims
Unauthorized by Law.
Washington, June 6.-The President sent
a veto message to the House OF Repre-
sentatives on the general deficiency ap-
preparation bill this afternoon. He re-
plies briefly on the criticisms of his exer-
else of the veto power, and says he has
hurried the preparation of the message
in order that congress may take action
in the matter without delay. The ground
for the veto is the provision relating to
the payment of the French spoliation
claim. The Presidents message follows:
To the House of Representatives: l
hereby return without my approval House
bill numbered 1898, entitled AN Act Max
ing Appropriations to Supply Deficiencies
in the Appropriations for the Fiscal Year
Ending June Thirtieth, Eighteen Hun
bred and Ninety Six, and for Prior Years
and for Other Purposes"
To the extent that the constitution has
developed upon the President partici-
patton in legislation, I suppose his action
on bills presented to him for approval
Involves a duty to be performed like 9th
ers pertaining to his once, with care ana
circumspection, and in full view OF ms
responsibility 10 the people ana MS opll-
cations to SubserVe the pubic welfare
It is difficult to understand why, un { 81,
the constitution, IL should be necessary
TO submit proposed legislation 10 the eX-
ecutive scrutiny and approval except 10
invoke the exercise OF executive judgment
and invite independent executive action.
The unpleasant incidents which accom-
pany the use of the veto power Wo9l9
temDt its avoidance If such course DID
NOT involve an abandonment OF consU ~
tional duty and assent TO legislation Iof
which the executive is not willing TO snare
/ regret that / am constrained to dis,
apprOYe an important APPROPRIATION Dill
50 near the close OF the prese1L SESSION SESSION
of congress. I have, however Dy lmme-
date action after the receipts or tne plil,
endeavored TO delay as little as posslpIe
lation, though l am thus oonged 10 con-
tent myself with a less compete eAPl&d
nation of my objection than would
T6is bil IS. in many of its features, far
removed from legitimate deilclehcy piIl'
and II contains a NUMBER OF aPPr9PII35
tons which seem to me to pc eHceeuiIlEiy
Questionable without noticing IN detail
many of these items, L shan refer 70 tWo
OF them, which, in my judgment JUSTIFY
INV action IN the premises.
The bill appropriates $l,OZl 3g4.O9 IoF q
partial payment upon claims WnlcH OIIsl-
mated in depredatious upon our commerce
bv French cruisers and vessels during
the closing years of the last century
They have become quite familiar 10 thOst
having congressional experience, as they
have been pressed for recognition of a ne
payment, with occasional intervals OF re-
pose. for nearly one hundred years.
These claims are based upon me aile
cations that France, being at war VIII
England, seized and condemned many
American vessels and cargoes in viola
ton of the rules of International law ant
treaty provisions, and contrary TO TN
duty she owed TO our country as
neutral power and to our citizens; thar
by reason of these acts, claims aros'
in favor of such of our citizens as Wer
Unidentified against the French nation
which claims our government ATTEMPTED
TO enforce, and that in concluding
treaty with France in the year lSVO thes
claims were abandoned or relinqushed i
consideration OF the relinquis hment o
certain claims of France charged agalns
US. Upon these statements, II IS state
by those interested that We as a nation
having reaped a benefit on our escaD
from these French demands against US
through the abandonment OF the claim
OF our citizens against France, the gov
eminent became equitably bound as pc