The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-06
ONE MORE VETO.
Again the President Stands Re-
tween Congressional Raiders
And the PeOple-He VetOes the
Deficiency Bill.
1T CONTAINS A CLAIM
For Million That Dates From
the Last Century.
Simply an Antiquated Moss
Grown Steal.

Washington. June 6-The president
today sent TO the house message ac-
companying a veto of the general de-
hciency appropriation bill. The mes
sage includes a defense of the exercise
Of the veto power and q long criticism
of the French spoIation claims, aggre-
eating over a million dollars, and also
an objection to the payment of the
Chouteau claim for STA, ,445, arising out
of the construction of the irOnclad
steam battery Etlah.
Chairman Cannon of the house com
mittee on appropriations has a def
cheney bill prepared with the claims
objected to by the president eliminat-
ed AS soon as the veto of the def
cheney bill is sustained. which he an
ucipates, he viii Immediately ask the
consideration of the new bill. 1t is
evident the new bill can pass immedi-
ately.
In his message the president says:
Il hereby return without my approval
house bill No. 829S entitled an act max
IN the appropriations for the fiscal year
ending June 3O 1886. and for prior years
and for other purposes.
ITO the extent that the constitution
has devOlVed upon the president a par
uclpatlOn IN legislation, suppose his
action on bills presented to him for ap-
proval involves q duty to be performed
like others pertaining to his office, with
care and circumspection and in full
view OF his responsibility to the people
and his obligation to subserve the pub
lie welfare. it is difficult to understand
why under the constitution it should be
necessary to submit proposed legisla-
tion to executive scrutiny and approval
except to invoke the exercise of execu-
tive judgment and invite independent
executive action.
The unpleasant incidents which ac-
company the power would tempt its
avoidance. If such a course did not in
vOlve an abandonment of constitutional
duty and assent to legislation for which
the executive is not willing to share the
responsibility
~ regret that am constrained to
disapprOVe an important appropriation
bill so near the close Of the present ses-
sion OF cOugreSs-'
III have. however, by immediate ac-
uon after the receipt of the bill, en-
deaVOred to delay as little as possible
a reconstruction of this proposed legis-
IatlOn, though L am thus Obliged to
content myself with a less complete ex-
planation of my objections than would
otherwise be submitted
This bill is i'm many Of it's features
far removed from a legitimate def
cheney bill and it contains a number of
appropriations which seem to be ex-
ceedingly questionable
Without noticing in detail many of
these items. shall refer to two of them
which i'm my judgment justify my ac-
tiOn in the premises
The bill apprOpriates one million,
tWenty-Seven thousand and three hun
dred and fourteen dollars and nine
cents for partial payment upon claims
which originated in the depredatiOns
upon our commerce by French cruisers
and vessels during the closing years
of the last century. They have been
quite familiar to those having con-
gressional experience, as they have
been pressed for recognition and pay
ment. with occasional intervals of re-
pose, for nearly 100 years. Those
claims are based upon the ALLEGATIONS
that France being with
land seized and condemned many
American vessels and cargOes in viola
tiOn of the rules of international law
and treaty provisions and contrary to
the duty she owed to our country as
q neutral power and to our citizens.
BY reason of these acts claims arose
i'm favor of such of our citizens as We're
indemnified against the French nation,
which claims our government attempted
to OfOrce, and that in concluding q treaty
with France i'm the year $500 these
claims were abandoned or relinquished
i'm cOnsideratiO of the REIMBURSEMENT
of certain claims which France charged
against us. Upon these statements it
is insisted by those interested that we
as a nation have got a benefit ia our
escape from these French demands
against us through the abatement of
claims of our citizens France, the
government thought, equitably bound
itself and it's citizens to pay the claims
thus TelinQuished.
II do not understand it to be as set
tied that there exists any liability
against the government.
OF course the original claimants have
for years been beyond the reach of re-
lief; but as their descendants in
each generation become more numer-
GUS the volume of advocacy. impor-
tunity and accusation cOrrespondingly
increases i find justice has been done
in these claims.
The presidents message is much
longer. but merely offers further proof
of the injustice of the claims mentioned.