Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-06-05
HARBOR BILL veto.
Not Justified Under Present
Treasury Conditions.
Big APPROPRIATIONS.
The President Says the Bill Opens
the Way toInsldIous and Increas-
ing Abuses, Stimulating Vic-
ious Paternallsm.

ious Paternallsm.
The President sent the following message
to the House,:
"To the House Of Representatives:
81 return herewith without approval
House bill numbered 1877, entitled AN act
making appropriations for the construction,
repair and preservation Of certain public
works on rivers and harbors and for other
purposes.
"There are four hundred and seventeen
items of appropriation contained In this bill,
and every part of the country Is represented
in the distribution Of Its fayors.
at directly appropriatcs or provides for
the immediate expenditure OF nearly four
teen millions of dollars for river and harbor
work. This sum is In addition to appropria-
tons contained In another bill for similar
purposes, amounting to a little more than
three millions OF dollars, which have already
been fayorably considered at the present ses-
sion OF Congress. The result is that the con-
templated immediate expenditures for the
objects mentioned amount to about seven
teen millions Of dollars.
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM.
"a more startling feature Of this bill Is its
authorization OF contracts for river and har-
Dor work, amounting to more than sixty
two millions OF dollars. Though the pay
ments on these contracts are, in most cases,
so distributed that they are to be met by flu
ture appropriations, more than three mil
lions of dollars on their account are included
in the direct appropriations above mentioned.
OF the remainder, nearly twenty millions OF
dollars will fall due during the fiscal year
ending June 3d. 1898, and amounts somewhat
less In the years Immediately succeeding. A
few contracts Of like character authorized
under previous statutes are still outstanding
and to meet payments on these more than
four millions OF dollars must be appropri-
ated in the immediate future
WILL AMOUNT TO 100000
III, therefore, this bill becomes law, the
obligations which will be imposed on the
government, together with the appropria-
tions made for immediate expenditure on
account OF rivers and harbors, will amount
to about $50, 100000. Nor is this all. The
bill directs numerous survey and examina-
lions which contemplate new work and fur
Their contracts and which portend largely 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 the smaller
schemes not covered by contracts will be re-
duced or even remain stationary. For the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1898, such appro-
priations, together with the installments on
contracts which will fall due in that year,
can hardly be less than thirty millions OF
dollars, and it may reasonably be appre-
hended that the prevalent tendency toward
increased expenditures of this sort and the
concealment which postponed payments af-
ford for extravaganza will increase the bur-
dens chargeable to this account in succeed
ing years In view of the obliga ion imposed
upon me by the constitution it seems to me
quite clear tina 1 only discharge duty to
our people when interpose my disapproval
of the legislation proposed.
NOT RELATED TO THE PUBLIC WELFARE.
"Many Of the objects for which it appro-
PIRATES public money are not related to the
public welfare, and many Of them are palpa-
bly, for the benefit Of limited localities or d
of individual interests. On the face Of the
bill it appears that not a few of these al
legged improvements have been 80 IMPROVE
IDENTIFY planned and prosecuted that, after an
unwise expenditure of millions of dollars,
new experiments for their accomplishment
have been entered upon.
"While those entrusted with the manage
ment of public funds in the interest of all
the people can hardly justify questionable
expenditures for public work by pleading the
opinions OF engineers and others as to the
practicability OF such work, it appears that
some of the projects for which appropria-
tions are proposed in this bill have been en-
tered upon without the approval or against
the objections of the examining engineers.
PRIVATE PARTIES INTERESTED.
"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 consid-
GRAFTON OF their occupancy Of public property.
whatever items of doubtful propriety may
have escaped observation or may have been
tolerated in previous executive approvals OF
| similar bills, 1 am co1vidced that the bill
| noun ,,ndar confederation onans the waY TO
insidious and increasing abuses, and is In
itself 30 extravagant rs to be especially IN
suited to these times OF depressed business
and resulting disappointment in government
revenues. Thi, consideration is emphasized
by the prospect that the public treasury will
be confronted with other appropriations made
Mt the present session Of Congress amount
ing to more than $500, 900.
Individual economy and careful expendi-
ture are sterling virtues which lead to thrift
and comfort. Economy and the exaction OF
clear justification for the appropriation OF
public moneys by the servants OF tho people
are not only virtues but solemn obligations.
STIMULATES PATERNALIsM.
''To the extent that the appropriations con-
tanned in this bill are instigated by private in
terests and promote local or individual pro-
iects their allowance cannot fail to stimulate
vicious paternalism and encourage a senti-
ment among our people, already too preva-
lent, that their attachment to our govern
ment may properly rest upon the hope and
| 81 md acnn0iQl fQVnrd and