Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-07
STILL ANOTHER VETO
The President Objects 10 The General
Deficiency Bill.
FRENCH sroLIATIoX CLAIMS.
Provision Relating to Payment of
These the Ground OF tho Execu-
uve's DIsapprovni-A History ~
the Claims.

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. June G--The
President sent a veto message TO tho
House OF Representatives on the gene
raj deficiency appropriation bill this af-
ternoon. lie replies briefly 10 the criti-
cisms OF his exercise OF the veto power
and says he has hurried the prepara-
ton OF the message In order that Con-
gress may take action in the matter
without delay. The ground for the veto
is the provision relating to the payment
OF the French spolation claims. Ths
President says:
This bill Is in many OF Its features
far removed from legitimate deficiency
bill. and It contains n number OF appro-
priations which seem 10 me 70 be- ex-
ceedingly questionable. without noticing
in detail many OF these items. shall refer
TO two OF them, which, I'm my judg-
ment justify my action in the premises
The bill appropriates sl027. .SlLO9 Cor partial
payment upon claims which originated in
depredatlons upon our commerce by
French cruisers and vessels during tha
closing years OF the last century. They
ing congressional experience. as they
have been pressed for recognition aud
payment. with occasional intervals OF re-
pose for nearly one hundred years"
The President gives history or theso
| claims. I'm the course OF which he says:
1T Is, | believe, somewhat the fashion
| In interested quarters 20 speak OF tho
failure by the government 10 pay these
| claims as such neglect as amounts 10
reputation by the government, and a
denial OF Justice 10 citizens who have
| suffered. OF course, the original claim
| ants have for years been beyond the
reach of relief; but as their descendants
In each generation become more numerous.
the volume OF advocacy. importunitys
and accusation correspondlngly Increases.
| IL injustice has been done In the refusal
| of these claims, IL began early In the
! present century. and may be charged
against the men then IN public life. moro
| conversant than We can be with tha
! facts involved, and whose honesty and
sense of right ought TO be secured from
suspicion. AS early as 1902 Il commit
tee Of representatives reported tho facts
connected with these claims. but ap-
parently without recommendation. Ma
| action was taken on tho report In 1903
a resolution declaring that the indemnity
| ought TO be paid was negatived by u
vote OF the same body. A favorable CONF
| mlttee report was made In is01. but ie
| seems that no legislative action resulted.
| In 1918 an adverse report was made To
the Senate. followed by the passage oc
resolution declaring that tho relief
asked by the memoralists and petition
| ers ought 10 be granted In iS22, ana
| again In 1925. adverse committee re-
ports on the subject were made to tho
| House. conAudlng with similar results
The presumption against these claims
| arising from such unfavorablo reports
and resolutions. and from the failure OF
/ Congress TO provide for their payment at
time so near the events upon which
they are based, cannot be destroyed by
| the interested cry OK injustice, and ne
glect OF the rights Of our citizens"
THE BENEFICIARIES.
In the long list OF benehciaries who
! are provided for IN the bill now before
me- on account OF these claims. are l53
| representatives OF the owners OF ships
| and their cargOes and 1856 Of those who
lost as insurers OF vessels or cargces-
| These insurers. by the terms OF their
| policies, undertook and agreed 10 bear
and take upon themselves all risks and
perlls OF the seas. men-of-war fire. enc
mics, royers, thieves. jettson. letters OF
marque. surprisals. takings at sea. re-
strants and detalnments OF all kings.
| princes. or people, OF whatever nation.
condition. or quality whatsoever Tho
premiums received on these policies wers
large. and the losses were precisely those
| within the contemplation OF tho insurers.
| 1t Is well known that the business of
| insurance Is entered upon with the ex-
| pectation that the premiums received VIII
| pay all losses and yield profit TO the In
J surers In addition and yet. without show
/ Ing that the business did not result profit
TO those insurance claimants, II Is pro-
| posed that the government shall IN
/ demnlfy them against the precise risks
they undertook, Notwithstanding the fact
that the money appropriated Is not 10 ba
paid except by way Of gratuity-payments
as OF grace and not OF right. The appro-
priations TO indemnify against Insurance.
losses rest upon weaker grounds. 1t seems
10 me. than those OF owners; but In sighr
| OF all the facts and circumstances sur
rounding these spoliation claims. as they
are claimed, none OF them. in my opinlons
| should be paid by the government.
Another item in this bill which seems
10 me especially Objectionable Is the ap-
propration I'm favor of Charles u. Chou
teau. survivor. etc, OF tl7i,4i5.7J. in fun
satisfaction OF all claims arising out OF
the construction OF the iron-clad steam
battery Etlah."
The President says he cannot gather
| from the facts he has been able 10 gathers
concerning this appropriation that II Is
Justified on any ground. and IN conclusion
| he says:
"In 1891 my immediate predecessor We.
! toed bill allowing the matter 20 be- ex-
amned again by the Court OF Claims. IL
the additional payment proposed In this
| bin was made. the cost OF the battery In
question would be almost double that of
| the cOntract-price.
Il have determined 20 submit this In
| complete presentation OF my objections
10 this bill at once. In order that Congress
may act thereon without embarrassment.
J or interruption OF plans for early ad-
| journmen'. GROVER CLhF El..aND'
Executive Mansion, June s. 1886"
a..