, 1888-02-22
THE MAVERICK VETO.

THE MAVERICK VETO.
The LEADER is not of those who be-
lieve in raising a hue and cry against any
particular class of men or the industry
which this class may represent. That
prejudice, more or less deep seated, exists
against the cattle business there can be no
doubt and much of this prejudice may
have been brought upon the stock men by
their own actions. But we have yet to see
a class Of men strongly in the ascendancy
trary measures. No one attempts to up
hold the maverick bill as it now stands
upon our statute books, but there is a
disposition among some hothcaded indi-
viduals to extirpate it without giving any
thing in return to throw the mantle of
the law about an industry in which many
thousands Of dollars are still invested and
from which the people Of this territory
indiscriminately must still hope to receive
direct or indirect benefit.
Governor Moonlight's veto on the sub
stitute maverick bill which was sent to
the legislature yesterday created a decided
sensation, but after very careful perusal
we can see nothing in it which should
give rise to acrimonious discussion
or cause any hard feelings one
way or the other. The governor has sim
ply exercised his p~rerogative, and in do
ing so has spoken his sentiments plainly.
Plain speaking unfortunately is becoming
too rare a virtue in this commonwealth of
ours, and the opposite extreme to which
we run is apt to ultimately carry with it a
train of unpleasant consequences.
The governor objects to the passage OF
the law because the live stock commission
which it creates may perhaps be continued
in Office indefinitely; because the mem
bers OF it give nc bonds and owe no ale
glance except TO the territorial council
and therefore may exercise a peculiar
political influence. His reference to the
fact hat the selection of a sec
Rotary of the commission, who under
the provisions of the bill may or may not
be n member Of the commission. might be
made from the legislature itself we take Il
was not intended as a thrust at any ind
yidual member of the legislature. bui VS.
used to most p~otently emphasize The En-1
that absolutely no restraining inszao.ss
were thrown about the members 4 the
Live Stock commission itself
A serious objection raised b. the GOV
ernor is that in relation to the unlimited
authority of stock inspectors to appoint
deputy shcrifs and the disoordant Gle.
ments which this might introduce.
The governor objects to the secretary
having the use of presumably large sums
of money, realized from the sale of NAV
ericks, for long periods of time, though it
might be urged in defense that the money
belongs to the stockmen, and if they are
satisfied everybody else should be. What
ever it may be under the new law the sum
certainly seldom reached huge proportions
under the old. As to the possibility of
the general territorial fund being ul-
timately forced to foot some OF the stock
commission bills we do not think the dan
ger very grave.
The Legislature, however, now has the
matter in its hands and it remains for
them to take into consideration the
thoughtful review of it which the gov.
ernor has submitted. We understand
there is a general disposition to modify
some of the provisions and bring it into
closer accord with the executives view.
The members, one and all, should be dis
posed to give the objections serious con-
sideration, for they are not made in a cap.
tious spirit The old maverick law should
no longer disgrace our statute books, but
in its place lshould be some modification
30 that the business may be placed
within the protecting pale OF the law.
A discordant ianglc now would do more
harm than good to all concerned. Let US
have peace combined with a reasonable
law to govern the tantalizing subject Of
mavericks.