Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-07
.ANOTHERONE JUST FOR LUCK The President Vetoed the Gen.
 eral Deficiency Bill. SAYS THAT HE WAS HURRIED Or He Would Have Written More Than He Has
 Upon the Subject
THERE IS A SUSPICION OF SARCASM
In His Opening Remarks The Main Objec- ton to the Bill Is the Provision for the Payment of the French
 Spo1iation Claims.

Washington, June 6.-The president sent a, veto message to the house of rep resentatives on the general deficiency appropriation lsll this afternoon. He re- plies briefly to the criticisms of his exer- else of the veto power, and says he has hurried the preparation of the message in order that congress may take action in the matter without delay. The ground for the veto is the provision relating to the payment of the French spolation claim.
 The presidents message follows:
 The House of Representatives: I here by return without my approval house bill No. 8293 entitled An act making appro- pria tions to supply deficiencies in the ap- propriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896, and for prior years, and for other purposes"
 To the extent that the constitution has devo1ved upon the president participa- ton in legislation, suppose his action on bills presented him for approval involves a duty to be performed Ike others per taining to his office, with care and cir cumspection, and in full view of his re- sponsibility to the people and his oblga- tionS to subserve the public welfare. It 1t is difficult to understand why, under the constitution, 1t should be necessary to submit proposed legislation to execu- tive scrutiny and approval except to in yoke the exercise of executive judgment and invite independent executive action
 The unpleasant incidents which accom- pany the use of the veto power would tempt it's avoidance if such a course did not involve an abandonment Of const1tu- tiona1 duty and assent to legislation for which the executive is not willing to share the responsibility.
 regret that am constrained to disap- prove an important appropriation so near the close of the present session of con gress I have, however, by immediate action after the receipt of the bill en- deavored to delay as little as possible reconsideration of this proposed legisla- ton, though I am thus obliged to con- tent myself with a less complete explana- ton of my objections than would other wise be submitted.
 This hill is in many of it's flea lures far removed from a legitimate deficiency b.ll, and it contains a number Of appropria- tions which seem to me to be exceedlngly questionable Without noticing in detail many of these items, l shall refer to two of them, which, in my judgment, justify my action in the premises.
 The bill appropriates $1027, 314.O9 for a partial payment upon claims whlcn originated in depredations upon our commerce by French cruisers and yes sels during the closing years of the last century.
 They have become quite familiar to those having congressional experience, as they have been pressed for recognition and payment, with occasional intervals for repose, for nearly 100 years
 These claims are based upon the ale cations that France, being at war With England, seized and condemned many American vessels and cargoes in viola ton of the rules of international law and treaty provisions, and contrary to the duty she owed to our country as neutral power and to our citizens; that by reason of these acts claims arose in favor of such of our citizens as were demnified against the French nation, which claims our government attempted to enforce, and that in concluding a, treaty with France in the year 1900 these claims were abandoned or relinquished in consideration of the. relinquishment of certain claims which France charged against us.
 Upon these statements it is insisted by those interested that we as nation, hav- ing reaped a benefit in our escape from these French demands against us through the abandonment of the claims of our citizens against France, the gov ernment became equitably bound as be- tween itself and its citizens to pay the claims thus relinquished.
 I do not understand it to be asserted that there exists any legal liability against the government on account of its re1a tions 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 ap-. propriating 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 gratuity-payments of grace and not of right"
 From the time the plan was conceived to charge the government with the pay ment of these claims they have abided t~,f ft.<. at ncf.ha afa nnfp Euaf proposition presented In their support has been stoutly disputed and every in- fiuence suggested in their favor has been promptly challenged.
 Thus, inasmuch as 1t must think, be conceded that if state of war existed between our country and France at the time these depredations were committed our government was not Justified in claiming indemnity for our citizens, it is asserted that we were at the time actually engaged in war with the French nation. This position seems to be sus- tained by an opinion of the attorney gen. eral of the United States written in 1798 and by @ number of decisions of the su- preme court delivered soon after that time. We had certainly abrogated trea- ties with France, and our cruisers and armed ships were roaming the seas cap- turing her vessels and property.
 So, also, 1t is asserted that the validity of these claims was acknowledged in the treaty negotiations by the repre- sentatives of France. Their declarations to a contrary purport are exhibited.
 And when it Is alleged that the aban- donment of these claims against France was in consideration of great benefits to the government 1t is as confidently al- legged that they were, in point of fact, abandoned because their enforcement was hopeless; and that even if any bene- fit accrued to us by insistence upon their settlement in the course of diplomatic negotfations such result gave no pretext for taxing the government with liability to the claimants
 Without noticing other considerations and contentious arisinG from the alleged