The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-06-06
j. BEARD, Committee.

On Monday last the Rivers and
Harbors bill was passed in the House
over the Presidents veto by vote of
220 to 60. and on Wednesday it passed
the Senate by vote of 56 to 5. Below
we give the reasons why the Presi-
dent did not approve the bill:
return herewith without APPROX
al your bill numbered 1877, entitled
San act making appropriations for the
| construction, repair and preservation
of certain public works OH rivers and
harbors and for other purposes"
There are four hundred and seven
teen items of appropriation contained
in this bill, ami every part of the coun-
try is represented in the distribution
of its fayors.
1t directly appropriatos or provides
for the immediate expenditure ofnear-
! iy fourteen millions of dollars for
river and harbor work. This sum is
in addition to appropriations contained
in another bill for similar purposes
amounting to little moro than three
millions of dollars, which have already
| been favorably considered at the pres
eui session Of Congress.
The result is that the contemplated
immediate expenditures for the OBJ
jects mentioned amount to about sew
enteen millions of dollars. A more
startling feature of this bill 10 its
authorization of contracts for river
and harbor work amounting to more
than sixty-two millions of dollars.
Though the payments of these con-
tracts arc in most cases so distributed
iha. they are TO be met by future APP
preparations more than three millions
of dollars on their account are includ-
ed in the direct appropriations above
mentioned. Of the remainder nearly
twenty million of dollars will fall due
during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1898, and amounts somewhat less in
the years Immediately succeeding. A
few contracts of line character, au-
,horized under previous statutes, are
still outstanding, and TO meet pay
ments on these more than four million
of dollars must be appropriated in the
immediate future.
If, therefore, this bill becomes law
the obligations which will be imposed
on the government together with the
appropriations made for immediate
expenditure on account of rivers and
harbors, viii amount to about eighty
millions of dollars. Nor is this ALL
The bill directs numerous surveys and
examinations which contemplate new
work and further contracts and which
portend largely increased expenditures
and obligations.
There is no ground to hope that in
the face of the persistent and growing
demands the aggregate of appropri-
alions for the smaller schemes not
covered by contracts will be reduced
or even remain stationary. For the
fiscal year ending June, 80, 1896, such
appropriations together with the in
stallmenis on contracts which will fall
due in that year can hardly be less
than thirty millions of dollars and il
may reasonably be apprehended that
the prevalent tendency toward in
creased expenditures of this sort and
the concealment which postponed pay
inenis afford for extrayagance, will in
crease the burdens chargeable TO this
act in succeeding years. In view of
the obligation imposed upon me by
the constitution. i; seems TO me qniie
clear hat | only discharge duty to