The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-05-03
THE VETO POWER.

AS the veto message is uppermost in
the public mind, a few words concern
ing the veto power are in place. The
word reto is a Latin word meaning II
forbid" Appleton's Encyclopedia in
forms us that the first use OF this pow
err was by the tribunes of the people in
Rome, who, by pronouncing the word
ueto could render void the DEGREES of the
senate or the proceedings of the magis-
trates. The ancient Polish constitution
had an abuse of this in the shape of the
lib eruni reto by which any member of
the diet by his ME pozpalam II do not
allow could prevent the passage of any
bill. AT the beginning Of the French
revolutions lengthy discussion arose in
the national assembly on the question
of giving the king q qualified or abso-
lutte veto. Popular opinion was in
favor of the conditional veto. and the
assembly so ordered it, but the absolute
veto was restored to the monarchy after
the fall OF Napoleon.
AS we stated before, the sovereign of
England has an unconditional veto,
but as the power has not been exercised
for over a century it Is almost obsolete.
1t was exercised nee by Queen Anne.
Before her time Its use was frequent.
The king of Norway and Sweden has
u veto; but If three successive storthings
pass the same measure 1t becomes q law
in spite Of the veto. The same rule
vas adopted by the S~paniards in 1912.
Something similar was aimed at in the
ephemeral constitution OF 40 in Ger
many.
The veto power in the United States
is naturally more interesting to our
readers, and, strange to say, the above
named encyclopedia, as well as Zell's,
says nothing about its history. In the
convention which framed the constitu-
ton of the United States there was an
earnest effort made on the part of most
Of the leading members to vest in the
executive an unqualified veto. Being
afraid of too radical ideas In the CON
gress, they desired a conservative power
invested In the president to keep the
country on the balance. DIR. Franklin
was the strongest and most prominent
opponent to tho absolute negative of
the president, and to him may
be ascribed the honor Of its defeat. He
stated that in Pennsylvania the gener-
al assembly was constantly troubled by
the negative of the governor. No good
law could be passed but by a private
bargain with that official. He was al
ways extorting money. An increase of
salary or some donation was always
made a condition. At last it became
the regular practice, said the doctor, to
have orders in his favor, ON the treas
ury, presented along with the bills to
be signed, so that he might actually re-
ceive the former before he had signed
the latter.
The absolute n man power was Of
course condemned by other opponents,
and, as WIS almost the rule in that
wonderful convention, a compromise
was effected. So it was determined to
allow a two-thirds majority to over
come the veto Of the president. This
provision was adopted by a vote of
eight states to two: afterwards unani-
mously. Most Of the presidents of the
United States have exercised the veto
power, but none more than Andrew
johnson. He had the peculiar distinc-
ton of exercising the negative power
and being overruled oftener than any
other president.
We cannot dismiss the subject with
out making a pertinent comparison.
Benjamin Franklin showed how that
absolute power was used by a certain
governor to extort money, etc. There
was no overcoming his veto. He was
virtually dictator. This Is the position
which the democratic majority in con-
gress now wants to assume. 1t would
give the president the necessary appro-
priations to u the government, but
interposes a condition that certain par
tisan and injurious legislation shall al
SO be granted Now IL the president
had not the veto power the scheme
would be successful. This is all that
prevents the congress from becoming
dictatorial. The veto is a good thing,
and 1t is also good that it is not abso-
Lutte: