The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-06-02
Veto of the River and .HarbOr Bill.
EIGHTY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
APPROPRIATED.

], | nES NeoI-nthInO
The President Reads Lecture o.
Paternalism---He Stands for Rigi,
Economy.
The following vete message was sen
last week to the House of Representa-
tives. and has created sensation
among the friends of the measure
. To the House OF Representatives
return herewith without approva
your bill numbered 1917 entitled
An act making appropriation
for the construction, repair and pre-
servation of certain public works OF
rivers and harbors and for other pur
poses."
There are Alt items Of appropriation
contained in this bill and every par,
of the country is represented in the
distribution of its favors.
1t directly appropriates or provides
for the immediate expenditure o
nearly $14 100000 for river and harbor
work. This sum Is In addition to ap
preparations contained in another bill
for similar purposes, amounting to a
little more than $3,000,O00 which have
already been favorably considered at
the present session of Congress.
The result is that the contemplated
| AAaLhOulobo expenditures lOI U10 OOJSCUS
mentioned amounts to about SI7 ,OO0,-
600. A, moro startling feature of this
bill is its authorization of contracts for
river and harbor work amounting to
moro than $62,000,000. Though the
payment of these contracts are in most
cases 30 distributed that they are to be
met by future appropriations, more
than $3,000,000 on their account are
included in the direct appropriations
above mentioned. OF the remainder
nearly 500, 100000 will fall due during
the fiscal year ending Juno 80, 1898,
and amounts somewhat less in the years
immediately succeeding. A few con.
tracts of like character, authorized
under previous statutes, are still out
standing; and to meet payments on
these more than 81 ,O0O 900 must be ap-
propriated in the immediate future.
If, therefore, this bill becomes law,
the obligations which be imposed on
the government together with the ap-
preparations mado for immediate ex-
penditures on account of rivers and
harbors will amount to about $50, ,OOO,-
600. Now 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 no ground to hope that in
the face Of persistent and growing
demands the aggregate of appropria-
tions for the smaller schemes not
| coveted by contracts will be reduced
or, even remain stationary. For the
calendar year ending June 80, 1898,
such appropriations together with the
installments on contracts which will
fall due in that year can hardly be less
than $50, 900, 600 and it may reasonably
be apprehended that the prevalent
tendency towards increased expendi-
lures of this sort and the concealment
which postponed payments afford for
extravaganza will increase the burdens
-chargeabie to this act in succeeding
years.
In view of the obligation imposed
upon me by the constitution it seems
to me quite clear that only discharge
duty to our people when 1 interpose
my disapproval Of the legislation pro-
posed.
Many of the objects for which it
approprlates public money are not re-
lated to the public welfare, and many
OF them are palpably for the benefit Of
limited localities or in aid of indivi-
dual interests.
On the face of the bill it appears
that not q few of these alleged i'm
provements have been SO improvident-
ly planned and prosecuted that after
an unwise expenditure of millions of
dollars, new experiments for their &C.
complishment have been entered upon.
While those entrusted with the
management of public funds in the in
terest of all the people, can hardly
justify questionable expenditures for
public work by pleading the opinions
OF engineers or others as to the practi-
cability of such work. 1t appears that
some of the projects for which appro-
priations are proposed in this bill have
been entered upon without the approval
or against the objections of the ex-
amining engineers.
l learn from official sources that
there are appropriations contained in
the bill to pay for work which private
parties have actually agreed with the
their occupancy of public property.
Whatever items of doubtful pro-
priety may have escaped observation
or may have been tolerated in previous
executive approvals of similar bills, |
am convinced that the bill now under
| consideration opens the way to in
siduons and increasing abuses, and is
In Itself 80 extravagant as to be espe-
| cially unsuitable to these times of de-
| pressed business and resulting disap-
| pOintment in government revenue.
| This consideration is emphasized by
the prospect that the public treasury
| will be confronted with other appro-
priations made at the present session OF
Congress amounting to more than $780,
5000.
Individual economy and careful ex-
penditures are sterling virtues which
lead to thrift and comfort. Economy
and the exaction of clear justification
J for the appropriation of public moneys
/ by the, servants OF tho people are not
only virtues but solemn obligations.
To the extent that the appropria-
tions contained in this bill are instigat-
ed by private interests and to promote
local or individual projects their
allowance cannot fail to stimulate o
vicious paternalism and encourage a
sentiment among our people, already
too prevalent, that their attachment
to our government may properly rest
upon the hope and expectation of
direct and especial favoro, and that
the extent to which they are realized
may furnish an estimate of the value
of governmental cares.
i believe no greater danger confronts
us as q nation than the unhappy deca-
dence among our people of genuine
and Trustworthy love and affection for
our government as the embodiment OF
the highest and best aspirations OF
| hmm noritu md pnf a q tho niuan of o,i fec