The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-30
HARBOR BILL VETOED.
The President Thinks Ii smacLs OF
PaternaIism and Extravagance.

Paternallsm and ExtravagHnce.
Washington. May 29.-The following
message was sent 10 the House by Presi-
| dent Cleveland this afternoon vetoing the
river and harbor bill.
ITO the House Of Representative. 1 re-
turn herewith without approval House bill,
numbered 790. entitled "au act making
| appropriations for construction, repair and
preservation Of certain public works on
rivers and harbors and for other purpos-
! es.' There are four hundred ana seven
teen items Of appropriation contained in
this bill and every part of the country is
| represented in the distribution of It's IA
vors. II directly appropriates OF provides
for immediate expenditures Of nearly four
teen millions Of dollars for river and har-
Dor works. This sum Is IN addition to ap-
propriations contained in another bill FOR
similar purposes amounting 70 a little more
than three millions of dollars. which have
already been favorably considered at the
present session Of congressg The result is
that the contemplated immetiate expendi-
lures for the objects mentioned amount to
about seventeen millions Of dollars.
A more startling feature Of this bin is
the authorization of contracts for river
and harbOr work amounting to more than
sixty-twO millions Of dollars. Though pay
ments on these contracts are IN most cas-
es so distributed that they are to be met
by future appropriations more than three
millions Of dollars on their account are
included In the direct appropriations above
mentioned. OF the remainder nearly twen-
ty millions of dollars viii fan due during
| the hscal year ending June 30, 1893, and
amounts somewhat less IN years imme-
| dlately succeeding. A few contracts Of
| like character authorized under previous
statutes, are still out standing and 20 meet
/ payments on these more than four millions
| OF dollars must be appropr.a ted IA The i'm
mediate future. If, therefore. this bin be-
! comes law the obligations which VIII be
imposed on the government, together with
| the appropriations made for immediate eX-
| pcndltures on account Of rivers and har-
| lions of dollars.
Nor is this ali. The bill directs numerous
/ surveys ana examinations which COntem-
| plate new work and further contracts and
| which largely increase the expenditures
ana obligations. There is no ground TO
| nope that IN the face of the persistent
/ ana growing demands the aggregate OF
| the appropriations for the smaller schemes
not covered by the contracts viii be re-
Quced or even remain stationary for the
! hscal year ending June 30 1898 Such APP
| preparations, together with the INSTALL
/ ments on the contracts which viii fall
| due in that year, can hardly be less than
thirty millions Of dollars, and 1t may rea-
/ sonably be apprehended that the preva-
! lent tendency towards increased eXpen-
! ditures Of this sort and the concealment
Which postponed payments afford for eX-
| travagance, will increase the burdens
years.
In view of the obligation imposed upon
| me by the constitution, il seems to me
/ quite clear that / only discharge my duty
TO our people when l interpose my disap-
| proval OF the legislation proposed. Many
/ of the objects for which Il appropriates
/ public money are not related 10 the public
! welfare and many Of them are plainly for
~ etie D1Ielt OF united localities, or IN aid
| On the face Of the bill it appears that
| not few Of these alleged improvements
| nave Deen SO lmprovidently planned and
prosecuted that after unWise eXpendi-
| lures of millions of dollars, new expert
| ments for this accomplishment have been
entered upon. While those entrusted with
/ the management of the public funds IN the
| interest OF all the people can hardly justi-
! ~ questionable expenditures for public
| works by pleading the opinions of engin-
eefS or others as to the practicability of
/ such work, IL appears that some Of the
projects for which appropriations are DrO-
| posed IN this bill have been entered upon
Without approval or against the ohjec-
/ tions of the examining engineers. ] learn
/ from official sources that there are an
| propria1ons contained in the bill to pay
Tor work which private parties have act
| ually agreed with this government to do,
| in consideration Of their occupancy Of
/ public property.
1
/ may have escaped observation or may
/ have been tolerated in previous executive
/ approvals of similar bills, I am convinced
/ that the bill now under consideration
/ opens a way to insidious and increasinp
/ abuses, and Is in itself so extraVagant az
! TO be especially unsuited to these times of
! depressed business and resulting disap-
! pointment in the government revenue.
! This consideration is emphasized by the
! prospect that the public treasury
/ viii be confronted with other apDronrfa-
! llOng made q Of
/ gress amounting to more than S50lOO0 COO
/ individual economy and careful eXpendi-
| ture are sterling virtues which lead to
! thrift and comfort. Economy and exac-
/ ton of clear justification for the apprO-
! prlatiOn OF pubic moneys by the servants
! or the people are not only virtues, but
/ solemn obligations. To the extent that
! the appropriations contained in fbis bin
! are instigated by private interests and pro-
! mote local or individual projects their al
/ lowance cannot fail TO stimulate vicious
/ paternaliSm and encourage a sentiment
| among our people, already too prevalent.
/ mat their attachments to our government
/ may properly rest upon the hope and ex-
/ pectation of direct and especial favors.
! and that the extent 10 which thav ara
| realized may furnish an estimate Of the
] value Of governmental care. / believe no
greater danger cOntrOnts us as a nation
/ than the unhappy decadence among our
! people OF genuine ana trustworthy love
/ and affection for our government as an
/ embOdyment of the highest and best asDi-
/ ratiOns of humanity, and not as a aiVer
! forcement Of exact justice and equality
1 and not an allowance Of unfair favoTitism.
/ hope ! may be permitted to suggest at
/ a time When the issue Of government
! bonds to maintain the credit and financial
1 standing Of the country is q subject of
/ criticism, that contracts provided for in
/ this bill would create obligations Of tho
| United States amounting TO S62 600 900. no
/ les binding than Its bonds for that sum.
Grover Cleveland
Executive Mansion, May %, 1896.
CARRIED UP BY a BALLOON.