Year: 1879

EXECUTIVE INTIafIDATION.


The last veto message of Mr.. Hayes is
clear case of bulldozing. He has undertaken
q pretty big job, and undertaken it in such
q manner as to awaken the most violent op-
position of the great majority of the Aneri-
can Congress and people: In the opening
sentence he acknowledges the fact that Con-
gress has done all that should be required TO
it by appropriating such sums as were neces-
sary for the maintenance of the judicial
department of the government. To this he
says he has no objections whatevak But as
it has been deemed best by Congress to make
no appropriations for other purposes which
he thinks ought to be provided for, he dis
approves of the bill. We trust Congress
will act promptly and decisively by adjourn
ing without further action on the subject.
thus placing the responsibility for the defeat
of the appropriations where it belongs
upon the executive.


It has come to a pretty pass when the
functions of Congress are usurped by per-
son who has by revolutionary means found
his way into the executive Office. Hereto
fore it has been regarded as the province OF
Congress not only to decide how much
money should be appropriated to each of the
purposes of the government, but what pur-
poses should be provided for at all. Time
and again for the past ninety years offices
that have been deemed superfuous have
been abolished by the failure of Congress to
make the appropriations necessary to main
tain ,uem, and laws requiring the expendi-
ture of money have been repealed in the
same manner. Never before in the
history of the country has the attempt been
made by an executive to defeat the will Of
Congress thus expressed, and no former oc-
cupant of the executive chair has had the
temerity to say to Congress-: "You have
done we'll in making necessary appropria-
tions for the maintenance of the legitimate
functions of the government, but you have
neglected to provide for the payment of
few people want to use to influence the
next election therefore I disapprove' of the
bill in its entirety" The assumption on it's
face Is an insult not only to Congress but to
the people of the whole country.


It is true. as Mr.. Hayes alleges, that Con-
xress ipt4nd+ d, by it's failure to appropriate
money for the enforcement of the election
laws, to nulify those laws. No one has ever
disguised the fact. It has been boldly an
nounced on the floor of Both houses of Con,
gress. There is nothing illegal about such
a proceeding, however, for there are abund-
ant precedents for it. . ..55.- ..-


In Mr.. Hayes first veto message he made
especial objection to the fact that extraneous
matter was placed upon appropriation bills
and in fact based his objections to the army
bill on the fact that political legislation was
attached to it. If these objections wer.
valid at that time, why are they not valil
veto were based upon the fact that extrane
Gus matter is not included in the Judicial ap
preparation bill. The payment of deput,
marshals and supervisors is no part of tn
judicial expenses of the government, an,
ought not to be included in the provision
of the bill. If such appropriations have an
place whatever, they belong in the sundry civi
service bill if to any. Mr. Hayes, therefore
in effect goes back on his own utteranees
advocates precisely the principle he attacke


in his first message. If he and his part
can stand this kind of statesmanship tn
Democratic party certainly can. In addition
Mr. Hayes and his party will have to bea
the odium of endeavoring to increase th
expenses of the government unnecessarily


This will 60 before the people in it's prope
light, ard the best thing Congress can do


to adjourn at once and show Mr.. Hayes tha


ne cannot intimidate the legislative branc


of the government by any such means.