Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-30
SOME REMARKS ON THE SIDE
The Representatives May Endeayor to Pass the Measure Over MT. CIeyeIands Head.
SHADOW OF ADJOURNMENT LENGTHeNS
Final Vote cn the Prohibitory Bond Bill to Be Taken Tuesday-Mr. Morgan's
 "Conspiracy' Measure-House Filibusters Again.

Washington, May 29.-The following message was sent to the house by Presi- dent Cleveland this afternoon vetoing the river and harbor bill:
 To the House of Representatives:
 l return herewith without approval house bill No. 7977, entitled '"an act mak- ing appropriations for the construction, repair and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors and for other purposes" There are AT items of appropriation contained in this bill, and every part of the country is repre- scented in the distribution of its favors. It directly appropriates or provides for the immediate expenditure of nearly $l4,- 100000 for river and harbor works. This sum is in addition to appropriations con- tained in another bill for similar pur- poses amounting to little more than $3,- 100000, which have already been favor ably considered at the present session of congress.
 The result is that the contemplated i'm mediate expenditure for the objects men tioned amount to about $17,000,000. A more startling feature of this bill is it's authorizations of contracts for river and harbor work amounting to more than $62, ,000,00 Though payments on these contracts are in most cases so distributed that they are to be met by future appro- priations, more than $3,000,000 on their accounts are included in direct appro- priations above mentioned. On the re- mainder nearly $20,0000 900 will fall due during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, and amounts somewhat less In years immediately succeeding. few contracts of like character, authorized under previous statutes, are still out standing, and to meet payments on these more than $4, ,000,0 900 must be appropriated in the immediate future. If, therefore, this bill becomes a law the obligations which will be imposed on the govern ment, together with the appropriations made for immediate expenditure on ac- count of rivers and harbors, will amount to above $80,000,000.
 Nor is this all. The bill directs numer- ous surveys and examinations which contemplate new work and further con- tracts and which portend largely to in- creased expenditures and obligations. There is no ground to hope that in the face of persistent and growing demands the aggregate of appropriations for Smaller schemes not covered by con- tracts will be reduced or even remain stationary. For the fiscal year ending June 30 1898, such appropriations, to- gether with installments on contracts which fall due on that year, can hardly be less than $S0000,0OO, and may reason ably apprehend that the prevalent tendency toward increased expenditures of this sort and the concealment which postponed payments afford for extrav- agance will increase the burdens chargeable to this account in succeeding years.
 In view of the obligation imposed upon me by the constitution it seems to me quite clear that only discharge my duty to our people when I interpose my disapproval of the legislation proposed
 Many of the objects for which it ap- propriates public money are not related to 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 1t appears that not few of these alleged improvements have been so improvidently planned and prosecuted that, after unwise expendi- ture of millions of dollars, new experi- ments for their accomplishment have been entered upon.
 While there are competent men en- trusted with the management of public funds in the interest. of all, people can hardly justify questionable expendi- lures for public work by opinion of en- gineers or others as to the practicability of such work.
 It appears that some of the projects for which appropriations are proposed in this bill have been entered upon without approval or against objections of the ex- amining engineers. learn from official sources that there are appropriations contained in the bill to pay for work which private parties have actually agreed with this government to do in consideration of their occupancy of pub lie property. Whatever items of doubt ful propriety may have escaped observa- tion or may have been tolerated in pre- yious executive approvals of similar bills, l am convinced that the bill now under consideration opens the way to insidiouS and increasing abuses and is in itself so extravagant as to be especially grievous in these times of depressed business.
 This consideration is emphasized by the prospect that the public treasury will be confronted with other appropria- tions made at the present session of con- gress amounting to more than $500. .000,- GOO. Individual economy and careful ex- penditure are sterling virtues which lead to thrift and comfort. Economy and ex- action of clear justification for appropria- tion of public moneys by the servants of the people are not only virtues, but sol- emn obligations.
 To the extent that the appropriations contained in this bill are instigated by private interests and promote local or n- dividual projects, their allowance cannot fail to stimulate vicious paternalism and encourage sentiment among our people too prevalent that their attach ment to our government may properly rest upon the hope or expectation of di- rect and especial favors, and that the extent to which they are realized may furnish an estimate of the value of gov ernmental care. I believe no greater dam ger confronts us as nation than the unhappy decadence among our people of genuine and trustworthy love and affection for our government as an em- bodiment of the highest and best aspira- tions of humanity, and not as the giver of gifts, and because it's mission is the enforcement of exact justice and equal ity and not the allowance of unfair fa- voritism.
 I hope I may be permitted to suggest at time when the issue of government bonds to maintain the credit and finan- cial standing of the country is a subject of criticism that the. contracts provided for in this bill would create obligations of the United States amounting to $62,-