The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-05-30
OEXTRAVAGANT
Cleveland Calls the House Down
on the River and Har-
Dor Bill.
Appropriations Too Large and
Many Of Them Not
JuStifed.>
Some Have Not Even the Merit
of Being for the Public
Good.

l return herewith without approval,
house bill No. ST., entitled IAN act max
ing appropriations for the construction,
repair and preservation of certain public
works on rivers n harbOrs, and for other
purposes" There are AIT items of apprO-
priatiOn contained in this bill, and every
part of the country is represented In the
distribution of it's favors. 1t directly ap-
propriates or provides for the immediate
expenditure of nearly $4,000, 600 for river
and harbor work. This sum Ia In addition
to appropriations contained in another bill
for similar purposes amounting to a little
more than $3,OO,OOO, which have already
been favorably considered at the present
session of congress.
More Startling Feature.
The result Is that the contemplated i'm
mediate expenditures for the objects men
toned amount to about 81, OOO, 900. A
more startling feature Of this bill is it's
authorization Of contracts for river and
harbor work, amounting to more than
6 100000. Though the payments ON
these contracts are in most cases 80 dis
tributed that they are to be met by future
appropriations, more than 100000 on
their account are included in the direct
appropriations above mentioned. OF the
remainder, nearly go, 600 1000 will fall due
during the fiscal year ending June3O 1898,
and amounts somewhat less in the years
Immediately succeeding. A few contracts
Of a like character, authorized under pre-
vious statutes, are still outstanding, and
to meet payments on these, more than
$4,OO,OOO must be appropriated in the i'm
mediate future.
II, therefore, this bill becomes a law,
the obligation which will be imposed on
the government, together with the appro-
priations made for immediate expenditure
on account of rivers and harbors will
amount to
About Eighty Millions of Dollars
Nor is this all. The bill directs numer-
Gus surveys and examinations which CON
template new work and further contracts,
and which pOrtend largely increased ex-
penditures n obligations. There is no
ground to hope that in the face Of persis-
tent and groring demands, the aggregate
of appropriations for the smaller schemes
not cOyerpd hv contracts will be reduced
or (tthe TN day OF = dictionary. For the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1885, such appropri-
atiOns together with the installments on
contracts which will fall due in that year
can hardly he less thar $50, 600, 600; and IL
may reasonably be apprehended that the
prevalent tendency toward increased ex-
penditureso Of this sort and the conceal.
ment which postponed payments afford
for extravaganza, will increase the bur.
dens chargeable to this account in sue
ceeding years.
Some Further Reasons.
In view of the obligation imposed upon
i me by the Constitution, 1t seems to me
quite clear that l only discharge a duty to
our people when I interpose my disap-
prevail of the legislation PROPOSED. Many
of the objects for which it appropriates
public money are not related to the public
welfare, and many Of them are palpably
for the benefit Of limited localities, or in
aid of individual interests. On the face of
the bill, it appears hat not a few of these
alleged improvements have been 80 i'm
providently planned and prosecuted that
after an unwise expenditure of millions of
dollars, new experiments for their accom-
plishment have been entered upon. While
those entrusted with the management of
public funds in the interest Of all the peo-
pie can hardly justify questionable ex-
%penditures for public work by pledging
the opinions of engineers or Others as to
the practicability of such work, it appears
that some of the projects for which appro-
priations are proposed in this bill has
been entered upon without the approval,
OF against the objections Of the examining
engineers
Working For Private Parties.
I learn from official sources that there
are appropriations contained in the bill to
pay for work which private parties have
actually agreed with the government to do
In consideration of their of
public property. Whatever 1t was Of
doubtful propriety that may have escaped
| observation or may hav been tolerated In
previous executive a%pprovals of similar
bills, l am convinced that the bill now
under consideration opens the way to in
sidious and increasing abuses, and Is itself
so e~xtravagant as to be especially unsuited
to these times Of depressed business and
resulting disappointment In government
revenues. This consideration Is empha-
sized by the prospect that the public treas
ury will be confronted with other appro-
priations made at the present session Of
congress, amounting to more thar $780,
600. 1000.
Virtues and Obligations.
Individual econom and careful expend.
itures are sterling virtues which add to
thrift and comfort. Economy and the ex-
action Of clear justification for the appro.
priation of public moneys by the servants
Of the people are not only virtues, but
solemn obligations. To the extent that
the appropriations contained in this bill
are instigated by private interests and
prone to local or individual projects, their
allowance cannot fail to stimulate vicious
p~aternalism and encourage q sentiment
among our people, already too prevalent.
that their attachment to our government
may properly rest upon the hope and ex-
pectation Of direct and especial favors, and
that the extent to which they are realized
may furnish an estimate Of the value OF
the governmental care. I believe no
greater danger oonfronts us as a nation
than the unhappy decadence among our
people Of n genuine and trustworthy love
and affection for our government as the
embodiment of the highest and best aspir.
ations Of humanity and not as the giver OF
gifts and bes 5 Its mission Is the en-