Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-07
HIS POCKET VETOEs.

The extra session Of Congress will be-
Gin on March 18th, and il had been plan
ned by Speaker Reed that no other bust
ness than that relating 10 the tariff
should be considered then. But 1t seems
that the Speaker was reckoning without
his host" The inhospitable host of this
occasion was President Cleveland VINO
killed three appropriation bills with
noclset vetoes, and thus left the Republi-
can party 10 face the alternative OF
leaving several departments of govern
nent without the means of carry
ing them on, or OF entering to some ex-
tent into general legislation.
Long experience with the hayward
WAYS of congressman has shown us
that when an appropriation bill Is under
consideration, almost any speech or any
amendment can be made and held TO be
in order. Especially is this true in the
Senate. where there is no closure rule
and where garrulity goes unchecked.
So. II is now clear that the pocket vetoes
will force the Speaker to revise his plans
for the extra session. The three appro-
priation bills will have TO be passed
and while the Speaker may force them
through the House at any rate Of speed
that he may determine upon, they must
70 TO the Senate, there to be calmly dis
cussed and dissected.
One of the bills that failed by reason
of the Presidents Withholding his sigma
ture was the ''sundry civil bill" carry
ing appropriations TO the amount of
$50 100000, including about $lS,OooCOo for
the Improvement OF rivers and harbors
Another bill which was quietly smothered
In the Presidents capacious pocket was
the Indian appropriation bill. carrying
appropriations TO the amount Of S76lO0oo
The third was the agricultural appro-
priation bill.
4 fourth bill. the general deficiency,
failed 10 become law because the SEN
ate and House could not agree as to
the payment Of certain claims, passed
upon and decided against the United
States by the Court OF Claims, pro-
vision for which was made by the Sen
ate. AS it passed the House, the bill
carried a total Of sS.442,O27. which was
increased in the Senate to sll,S9S,9io.
Mr.. Cleveland has always been hostile
to river and harbor bills. Congressman
have accused him Of not desiring any
rivers and harbors improved except those
An and about New York, Boston, and
few other great cities. We cannot stop
now TO discuss his position upon this
subject; but we doubt not that the bills
I'm question have always been mixtures
OF worthy and unworthy appropriations.
However, CONGRESSES judgment as to
what was. or was not worthy was en-
titled 10 Just as much weight az the
Presidents. though unfortunately no one
could persuade him to accept that view.
Mr.. Cievelands chief objection TO the
Indian appropriation bill was that there
was a Job in il. This job was covered
under an item relating TO silsNite. The
hill laid down certain rules and regula-
.,ons for the patenting Of lands contain
Ing this substance. and the President, be-
Ing of the opinion that said regulations
were unfair and unjust very properly
smothered the bill Gilsonlte, we must
expla,n. is a substance resembling
bitumen.
The agricultural dlpiVpi i%ti"" D'' tNN
under the displeasure Of the President
because of an item that It contained set
ting apart $4,000 for the purchase and
dlstrlbution OF seeds. The late Secretary
Of Agriculture, slf Morton, was hostile
20 the system of seed-distrioution, and
Mr.. Cleveland imbibed df he did not
origlnate) the Secretary's Views
Mr.. Morton inaugurated some reforms
in the matter OF distributing these seed.
He would have abandoned the practice
altogether, but Congress said may
very emphatically.
Quite possibly governmental distribu-
fion of seed was useful 70 the farming
community IN the early days OF the re-
public, but Of recent years il has been
nothing more nor less than farce. AS
we all know. seed OF foreign and domes-
tic growth are TO be had now, and cheap
~. In every country store. Further.
nearly every STATE mas an agricultural
s-''Ass and experiment stations. where