Second. A bill to authorize the counties, cities, townships and incorporated villages, of the State of Michigan, to aid in the construction and maintenance of wagon, gravel, cobble stone, pounded stone and plank roads. My objections to these bills are, that they are of doubtful constitutionality, of bad policy, and inexpedient in practice; and which objections are more particularly set forth in my second veto messages made to your honorable body, as well as to the House of Representatives, on the subject of extending municipal aid for the construction of railroads, plank roads, &c., to which I respectfully refer you. The second bill, (Senate bill No. 58,) now returned is also objectionable for its great ambiguity; but to my mind, is nothing more or less than an enabling act to aid private corporations. It is also still further objectionable, because it authorizes the majority to impose a tax to aid in the construction of a work beyond the limits of the municipality in which it is to be raised. HENRY H. CRAPO. March 23, 1867 From Journal of the House of Representatives, pp. 2368-2369 TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: I respectfully return to the House, without my signature, the following bills: First. An act to authorize the several townships and cities of Monroe and Washtenaw counties, to pledge their credit in the construction of a railroad, from some point on the route of the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana railroad, in the city of Monroe, or within 16 miles thereof, to the village of Saline, in the county of Washtenaw, by the way of Dundee; Second. An act to authorize certain townships in the counties of Ionia and Montcalm, to vote a tax or pledge their credit to aid in the construction of a plank road from Ionia, in Ionia county, to Stanton, in Montcalm county. My reasons for returning these bills without my approval, are, that they are of doubtful constitutionality; that if not unconstitutional they are inexpedient, and that the policy of such legislation will be, in my opinion, injurious to the best interests of the State. My objections are more fully set forth in my previous veto messages, made both to the House and the Senate, on the subject of extending municipal aid for the construction of railroads, plank roads, &c., to which I would most respectfully refer you. The second bill now returned, (House bill No. 253), is objectionable on account of its ambiguity, and especially on account of the abuses which might grow up under it. Its language is susceptible of being so construed, as to authorize a municipality to raise money by taxation to construct, or aid in the construction, of a road outside of its territorial limits, and also to donate money to a private company or corporation for the construction of a road, which such corporation shall own, and for the use of which it may charge and exact tolls. HENRY H. CRAPO. March 23, 1867 From Journal of the House of Representatives, p. 2407 TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: I respectfully return to the Senate the following bills, without my approval: First. An act to authorize townships and cities in the counties of Wayne, Washtenaw and Lenawee, to pledge their credit to aid in the construction of a railroad from Detroit, by the way of Adrian and Morenci, to Fort Wayne; Second. An act to authorize the cities, townships and incorporated villages of the State of Michigan, to aid in the construction and maintenance of wagon, gravel, cobble-stone, pounded stone and plank roads. My objections to these bills are that they are of doubtful constitutionality, of bad policy, and inexpedient in practice, and which objections are more particularly set forth in my recent veto message made to your Honorable body, as well as to the House of Representatives, on the subject of extending municipal aid for the construction of railroads, plank roads, &c., to which I most respectfully refer you. The second bill, (Senate bill, No. 58,) now returned, is also objectionable for its great ambiguity; but, to my mind, is nothing more nor less than an enabling act to aid private corporations. It is also still further objectionable, because it authorizes a majority to impose a tax to aid in the construction of a work beyond the limits of the municipality in which it is to be raised. HENRY H. CRAPO. 1869 January 6, 1869 From Joint Documents of the State of Michigan, pp. 3-31 GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: In accordance with constitutional requirement, at the close of my official term, I now submit to the Legislature, "information by message, of the condition of the State, and recommend such measures as I deem expedient." The infirm condition of my health imperatively forbids my communicating with you in person, and I am compelled, for the same reason, to refer more briefly than I desire, to those questions of State-interest to which I would call your attention. I yield to this necessity with less reluctance, from the consciousness that my successor in office, in whose wisdom, ability and discernment I have full confidence, and who is held in such high esteem by our fellow citizens, will present in his Inaugural Message his views and recommendations for the consideration of the Legislature, with a completeness which will render the performance of my closing duty less important. In this last official act as your Chief Executive, I congratulate you upon the highly prosperous and happy condition of the people of our State. When I assumed my office the Nation was at war. The issue of that war was not doubtful, for every loyal heart had faith in the triumph of the right; but there were embarrassments, uncertainties and perplexities attending the adjustment of our National affairs, and in providing for the burdens and indebtedness which war had entailed upon us. Today we are at peace; the integrity of the Union has been secured, and Freedom guaranteed to all in the land. We have cause for heartfelt gratitude to God for the increasing blessings of peace, for the sufficiency of the harvest, for the rewards of labor, and for the moral, intellectual and material advancement of the people. Steadily we have grown and prospered, and now enjoy the position and advantages of the most favored States. FINANCES. No part of the administration of the State Government is more important than the management of its finances. The collection of the revenue, the appropriation of moneys, the judicious and economical expenditure, and the safe custody of the public funds, should always be matters of solicitude with those in authority. It gives me great pleasure in being able to state that the financial affairs of the State are in a highly prosperous condition. At no time in its history has its credit stood higher, or its exhibit appeared more satisfactory in this regard, than today. The sagacity, prudence and economy, which have marked the management of the funds of the State, during the last four years, is deserving of commendation; and the success which has attended the reduction of the public debt since the close of the civil war, and the very large balance now in the Treasury [$1,130,229.67], attest the wisdom of the Legislature, and the high ability and strict faithfulness of those, who as State Treasurers, have had the custody of the public funds. The condition of our finances, and the receipts and disbursements of the State Treasury, for the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 1868, as appears from the Treasurer's account, are as follows: The amount received into the State Treasury, and which was derived from the following sources, is $2,804,741.43: Balance of cash in the Treasury, Nov. 30, 1867.. Received on account of General Fund,. ... $582,113.96 1,347,521.51 Primary School Fund,.. 115,386.63 54,000.70 66 Swamp Land Fund,... 425,324.81 The following are the payments from the Treasury, amounting in the aggregate to $1,674,511.76: Leaving a balance in the Treasury, Nov. 30, 1868.... $1,130,229.67 $2,804,741.43 TRUST FUND DEBT. The following items constitute this debt, to-wit: The present condition of our State debt, both funded and fundable, is made up as follows, and amounts to $3,614,078.49: Sault Canal Bonds, 6's, due July 1st, 1879.. Renewal Loan Bonds, 6's, due July 1st, 1878,.. Two Million Loan Bonds, 6's, due Jan'y 1st, 1873... War Bounty Loan Bonds, 7's, due May 1st, 1890... $86,000.00 200,000.00 497,000.00 494,000.00 750,000.00 1,081,500.00 463,000.00 |