The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-06
The deficiency Bill Is Now
DiSapprOved.
French SpOliation Claims in
it the Chief Cause.
President Discusses Them at Great
Length In Message.

y
today sent a veto message to the House OF
Representatives in which he says:
~ hereby return without my approval
House bill number 8293, entitled, AN
act making appropriations to supply de-
hciencies In the appropriations for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1895, and for
prior years and for other purposes
"1o the extent that the constitution
has devolved upon the President par
ticipation In legislation, 1 suppose his
rroval involves duty TO be performed
like others pertaining TO his office, with
care and circumspection aud in full view
OF mis- responsibility TO the people and
his obligation to subserve the public
welfare.
der the Constitution, 1t should be neces-
sary to submit proposed legislation to
executive scrutiny and approval except
to invoke the exercise of executive judg-
ment and invite independent executive
action. The unpleasant incidents which
accompany the power would tempt it's
avoidance III such course did not involve
an abandonment OF constitutional duty
and assent 10 legislation for which the
executive Is not wiling TO share the re-
sponsibility.
al regret that am constrained to dis
approve an important appropriation bill
so near the close OF the present session of
Congress. have, however, by immediate
action. after the receipt of the bill, en-
deavored to delay as little as possible, a
reconsideration of this proposed legisla.
tion, though 1 am thus obliged to con-
tent myself with a less complete explana-
tion of my objections than would other
wise be submitted.
This bill Is, In many OF its features,
far removed from a legitimate deficiency
bill and 1T contains number of appro-
priations which seem TO me to be exceed
ingly questionable. Without noticing in
deiail, many OF these items. shall refer
to two Of them, which, In my judgment,
justify my action In the premises.
1.-The bill appropristes Il, ,027, 314. 09 for a
psrtial payment upon claims which orig
mated in depredations upon our COM
merce by French cruisers and vessels
during the closing years OF the last Gen.
tury." f
These are the French spoliition claims,
81 called, and after discussing the condi-
iions and circumstances when gave rise
TO them. the President proceeds as fol-
lows: ----- -
without noticing the:otbsr considera-
tions and contentious arising from the
alleged origin OF these ciaiins, a brief ref
erence to their treatment I'm the past and
development OF their preservation may
be useful and pertinent. 1t Is, / believe.
somewhat the fashion IN interested
government to paS It's claim. as such
eglect az smounr TO repudiati on and a
denial OF justice 10 citizens W no have su r.
ere OF course, the original claimants
have Tor years been beyond the reach of
reii,f; but as their descendants in each
&c, era tiCn become more numerous, the
volume Of advocacy, importantly and
accusation IL correspondingly increased.
IL justice has been done in tire refusal OF
these claims, IL hegan early in the pres
ent century ana may be charged against
men then iu pubrc life more conversaut
than We can be, with he facts involved,
and wSoss honesty and sense OF right
ought % be seeute from Suspicion"
Alter irscing the early attempts to Sc
cure payMe1t OF taess claim the presi-
dent prcc eds: Until ls46. these claims
were IRON time to time, pressed upon
the attention OF Congress, with varying
fortunes, ut never With favora BILE legis-
laiive action. In that year, however,
bill vas passed for their ascertainmcot
and satisfaction and I've millions of dol
h8 wire appropriated for their payment.
This bill .wag vetoed by President Polk
who declared thst he could 'percejve no
legal or equitable ground upon which this
appropriation tan rest
This veto was susta ined by the House
pi Representatives Nine wears after
ward, IN 1850, snother bin was passed
similar TO the ons last men ioned and APP
propriating for the settIemnt of thsse
claims like sum Of money. This bill
was also vetosd, President Pierce.con-
cluding thorough discussion of it's
merits with tiese words: lin view of
what has been said there would seem to
be no ground on which 10 raj a lisibil-
Ivy CT the United Safe, unless ii be the
as,umpsion that the United States are TO
be considered the Insurer and guaranieer
OF all claims OF whatever nature which
any individual citizen may have against n
foreign nation.' This veto was also sustain
ed by the House OF Representatives.
think that It will be found that in all
bills proposed for the payment of these
claims the sum 10 be appropriated for
that purpose did not exceed five millions
OF dollars. Ii II now estimated that those
already passed npon with those still pend
ing for execution In the court OF claims
may amount 10 twenty-five million dol
larss. ibis indicates either that the ac-
tuai sufferer or those nearer to them in
time and blood than the present claim
ants, under estimated their 10 scs or that
there has been a great development in
the manner OF their presentation.
Notwithstanding persistent efforts to
secure payment from the government
and the opportunity OF those interested,
no appropriation has ever been made for
the purpose, except a little more than
Si,300,00 which was placed in the gen.
ernl dficieDcy bill IN the very last hours
Of the session Of Congress pn March 3,
1891.
oin the long list-of benefciaries who
nre provided for In the bill now before
me, on account OF these claims, 1852 repre-
bent the owners OF ships and their cargoes
end is6 those VINO Lost as Insurers OF such
vessels or cargoes. The appropriations TO
indemnify against insurance losses rest
upon weaker grounds, IL seems TO me,
nan those OF owners, but, In the light OF
gll the fac.s and circumstances sur
rounding these spoliation claims, as they
are called, none OF them, In my opinion,
should be paid by The government.
l. a. Al IL.