The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-24
VETOED BY CLEVELAND.
The President Disapproved the Gen.
era| Deficiency Measure.
ANOTHER BILL QUICKLY PASSED.
The House Sustained the Veto by 172 to
4o---The French Spoliation and Other
Claims Observation-Disclosures Items Cut
Out and the Measure ut Through With
out ANY Delay.

Out and the Measure ut Through With
out ANY Delay.
WASHINGTON. June s-The President sent
to the House OF Representatives. Saturday af-
ternoon message vetoing the General De-
flciency Appropriation bill. He replied briefly
to the criticisms Of his exercise Of the veto
power, and said he had hurried the prepara-
ton OF the message in order that Congress
might take action in the matter without de-
lay. The ground for the veto was the pro-
vision for the payment Of the French spolia-
ton claims.
The Presidents veto was based upon two
grounds-frst that the bill was, in many Of
its features, far removed from legitimate
deficiency bill. and, second, that the specific
claims to which he referred were not just
and equitable claims against the United
States; that their payment would amount to
the giving of gratulties, and that they would
be payments OF grace, and not OF right.
In his veto the President says:
"This bill Is In many OF Its features far re-
moved from legitimate deficiency bill, and
1t contains number Of appropriations
which seem to me to be exceedingly ques-
tionable.
"The bill appropriates s1,027 ,S1409 for a
partial payment upon claims which ortgnat-
ed In depreciations upon our commerce oy
French cruisers and vessels during the clos
ing year Of the last century. They have be-
come quite familiar to those having Con-
gressional experience. as they have been
pressed for recognition and payment, with
occasional intervals Of repose, for nearly one
hundred years.
"I do not understand 1t to be asserted that
there exists any legal liability against the
Government on account OF Its relations to
these claims. At the term OF the Supreme
Court just finished the Chief Justice, in an
opinion concerning them and the action OF
Congress in approprating for their payment.
said: we think that payments thus pre-
scribed TO be made were purposely brought
within the category OF payments by way OF
gratnity-payments OF grace and not OF
HIf injustice has been done In the refusal
of these claims. 1t began early In the present
century, and may be charged against men
then in public life more conversant than we
can be with the facts involved and whose
honesty and sense Of right oughtto be secure
from suspicion.
"I think it will be found that in all bills
proposed for the payment OF these claims
the sum to be appropriated for that purpose
did not exceed IS, 600, 900. It Is now estimated
that those already passed upon. with those
still pending for examination in the Court OF
Claims, may amount to s25, 100000. This In
dicates either that the actual sufferers. or
those nearer to them in time and blood than
the present claimants, underestimated their
losses, or that there has been great devel-
opment in the manner of their presentation.
"The appropriations to indemnify against
insurance losses rest upon weaker grounds,
1t seems to ne, than those Of owners, but In
the light of all the facts and circumstances
surrounding these spoliation claims, as they
are called, zone Of them, In my opinion,
should be paid by the Government"