The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-30
THE VETO.

THE VETO.
ITO the House of Representatives
q return herewith without approval
the house bill numbered 1877, entitled
An Act Making Appropria tons for
the Construction, Repair and Preser-
walton of Certain Public Works on
Rivers and Harbors and for Other Pur-
poses There are Alt items of appro-
priation contained in this bill, and
every part of the country is represent
ed in the distribution OF its favors. 1t
directly appropriates or provides for
the immediate expenditure of nearly
fourteen million IF dollars for river
and harbor work. This sum is in ad-
dition to. the appropriation contained
in another bill tor similar purposes
amounting to a little more than three
million dollars, which has already
been favorably considered at the pres
ent session of congress. The result is
that the contemplated immediate eX-
renditures for the objects mentioned,
amount to about seventeen millions of
dollars The most startling feature Of
this bill is its authorization OF con-
tracts for river and harbor work
amounting to more than siXty-two mil
lion dollars. Though the payment of
these contracts in most cases as dis
tributed are to be met by four appro-
priationS, more than three million dol
lars on their account are included in
the direct appropriations above men
toned. Of these nearly two million dol
lars will fall due during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1896, and amounts to
somewhat less in the years hmm edlate4y
succeeding. Few contracts of a like
character, authorized under previous
statutes, are still outstanding; and to
meet the payments on these, more than
four million dollars must be approprl-
ated in the immediate future. Fl, there
fore, this bill comes a law, the obiiga-
tons which will be imposed on the gov
errment, together with the appropra-
ton made for the immediate expendi-
ture on account of rivers and harbors
will amount to about eighty million
dollars. Nor is this all. The bill di-
reefs numerous examinations, which
contemplate new work and further con-
tracts, and which portend largely to
increased expenditures and obligations
There is no ground to hope that in the
face of the persistent and growing de-
mands the aggregate of appropriations
for smaller schemes not covered by the
contracts will be reduced or even re-
main stationary. For the fiscal year
ending June 20, 1898, such appropria-
tons together with irstallments on en-
tracts which will fall due in that year,
can hardly be less than thirty million
dollars. and it may reasonably be APP
pretended that the prevalent tendency
is to increase expenditures of this sort
and the concealment which postponed
payments afford for ex. .avagance, 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 1 only discharge
my duty to our people, when / inter
pose my disapproval of the legislation
passed. Many objects for which it APP
propriates public money are not relat-
ed to the public welfare and many Of
them are palpably for the benefit of
limited localities, or in aiding individ-
ual interests. On the face of the bill it