The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-29
STOPS A STEAL.
The River and HarbOr Appr0-
DriatiOn Bill
Which Provided For the Spend
ing of SSO,OOO,OOO
is VETOED TODAY BY
The President Who Issues a
Strong Message
To the House Which Passed
the Bill.
lis VETOED TODAY BY

Washington, May 2s.-The president
vetoes the river and harbor bill today.
The message is as follows:
To the House of Representatives
I return herewith without approval,
house bill numbered No. 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 4O7 items of appropriation
contained in this bill and every part Of
the country is represented in the dis
tribution of its favOrs. 1t directly ap-
propriates, or provides for the immed-
late expenditure of nearly fourteen mil
lions of dollars for river and harbor
work This sum is in addition to ap-
propriations contained IN another bill
for similar purposes amounting to a
little more than only 5000 900 which
have already been favorably considered
at the present session OF congress.
The result is that the contemplated
Immediate expenditures for the objects
mentioned amount to about ST 600, 600.
more startling feature of the bill
is its authorization OF contracts for
TiVOr and harbOr work amounting to
more than sixty two millions of dol
lars Though the payments of these
contracts are in most case SO distribut-
ed that they are TO be met by future
appropriations, more than three mil
lions on their account are included in
the appropriations above mentioned.
of these nearly twenty millions Of
dollars Will IaIl cue during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1885 and amounts
to somewhat less in the years immedi-
ately succeeding q few contracts of
a like character, authorized under pre-
vious statutes, are stth outstanding,
and to meet payments on these more
that four millions of dollars must be
appropriated in the immediate future
If, therefore, this bin becomes q law.
the obligations which viii be imposed
on the government, together with the
appropria ations made for immediate eX-
penditure on account of rivers and
harbors VIII amount to about eighty
millions of dollars
Nor is this all The bill directs num-
erous surveys and examinations which
contemplate new work and further
in the face of persistent and growing
increased expenditures and obliga-
tiOns. There is no ground to hope that
in the face of persistent and growing
demands, the aggregate of apprOpria-
tiOns for the smaller schemes not COW
cred 10y contracts will be reduced or
even remain stationary. For the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1898, such apprO-
priatiOns together with the install
ments on contracts which viii fall due
in that year can hardly be less than
thirty millions Of dollars: and it may
reasonably be apprehended that the
prevalent tendency toward increased
expenditures of this sort and the con
cealment which postponed payment af-
ford for extravaganza, 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 a. duty to our
people when I interpOse my dfsapp-
prOval of the legislation proposed
Many of the objects for which it ap-
propriates public money are not related
to the public welfare. and many of
them are palpably for the benefit of linn
tied localities or in aid of Individual in
uerestS. On the face of the bill it aD-
pears that not a few of these alleged
Improvements have been so imprOvf-
IDENTIFY planned and prosecuted that af-
ter an unWise expenditure of millions
Of dollars. new experiments for their
accomplishment nave been en- tered upon
while those iutrusted with the manage
ment of public funds in the interest of
all the people, can hardly justify ques-
tiOnable expenditures for public work
by pleading the opinions of the engin-
/ eers or other as to the practica bility of
! such work 1t appears that some of the
projects for which appropriations are
| proposed in this bill have been entered
[ upon without the approval or against
/ the objection of the examining engin-
eers.
learn from official sources that these
/ appropriations contained in the bill to
pay for work which private parties
/ have actually agreed with the govern
ment to do in consideration of their Oc-
cupancy Of public property. Whatever
/ it was of doubtful prOpriety may have
( escaped observation or may have been
/ tolerated in previous executive approx
! ais of similar bills. I am convinced
I that the bill now under consideration
I opens the way to insidious and increas-
/ ing abuse and is itself extravagant, as
/ the bill is especially unsuited to the
times Of depressed business and re-
! sulting disappointment in government
/ revenue.
This consideration is emphasized by
/ the prospect that the public treasury
viii be confronted with other appro>
priations made at the present session
I of congress. amounting to more than
] five hundred million Of dollars. Indi-
vidualIy economy and careful expendi-
I lures are sterling virtues which lead to
I thrift and comfort
! Economy and the exaction of clear
4 justification for the appropriation of
public moneys By the servants of the
I people are not only virtuOus but solemn
4 obligations.
/ To the extent the appropriations con
/ tanned in this bill are instigated BY pri-
i vate interests and promote local indf-
i vidual projects. their allowance cannot
/ fail to stimulate q vicious paternal1sIn
and encourage q sentiment among our
4 people. already too prevalent that their
I attachment to our government may
! properly rest upon the hope and expec-
! tatiOn of direct and especial favOrs and
& that the extent to which they are real
/ ue OF governmental care.
+ ] believe no greater danger cOnfrOnts
I us as nation than the unhappy decad-
ence among our people Of genuine and