, 1888-03-03
THE D%ISAPPROVAL.
Governor Moonlight's Veto of. the
General Appropriation Bill.
Accuses the Legislature of CurtaiI-
ing Appointing Powers.
The Capitol Large Enough and a
Penitentiary Not Needed.

$500
Wyo., March 2, lS88.-Toh the Honorable
House of Representatives., Tenth Leg1sla-
tire assembly. GENTLEMEN have the
honor TO return herewith house enrolled
act No. u without my approval.
The act provides for the erection, com.
pletion, maintenance and care of certain
public buildings, and provides for the
support and maintenance of certain pub
lie institutions, and for other purposes.
CHAPTER ONE
relates to the capitol building, and
provides for tie appointment of a
building commission to supercede the
one now in existence. June ], 1888, un-
der certain restrictions and conditions.
Concerning the provision for the appoint
ment of commissioners, | am at a loss to
arrive at the true meaning and intent of
section 8, which after designating that
the nominations shall be made by the
governor during the present session of
the council, and by and with the advice
and consent of that body shall make the
appointments. then goes on to say, "1n
the entire absence of such nominations
and appointments by the governor, the
present capitol building commission shall
continue as such" etc. If this means
that unless the council shall confirm the
nominations invited by section 3, then
the old members of the commission shall
hold over for another two years; the same
question is here presented which forced
itself upon the executIv in the live stock
commission bill and which in effect, en-
ables the council to dictate the appoint
ments by simply refusing to confirm any
and all nominations. The principle in
volved in the second attempt of the legls-
lature to restrict the appointing power
and to deprive the executive of the func-
tons and ~prerogatives which have re-
ceived the sanction of many years and of
all political parties, | shall at all times
vigorous defend without fear or favos.
The rule regarding appointments should
apply to the capitol building commission,
the same as to all other appointments,
and when it does not there must be some
special purpose or hidden reason at vari-
ance with public policy. I'm the entire
absence of such nominations and appoint
ments by the governor" may be intended
to mean that should the governor fail or
refuse to make any nominations to the
council, so that consent could not be
given to the appointments, then the old
commissioners should continue on in their
duties. Who can tell?
SECTION FOURTEEN
]appropriates one hundred and twenty
five thousand dollars for the pur-
pose of competing and enlarging the
capitol building, together with all such
sums as may be received as rents of the
said capitol building" This a%ppropria-
ton then is to complete the building I'M
der the present contract, and her to en-
large by the building of wings but no
where does the enactment say that this
shall be the final appropriation; so that
the word completing refers to the pres
ent wing, and not what shall follow after
wards, thus leaving the door open for an
other assessment two years hence.
Section Is makes it the duty of the ter
%ritorial board of equalization, during each
Of the years 1888 and 1889, to direct. the
county commissioners Of the several coun-
ties to levy on all taxable property, a tax
of not less than two mills on the dollar,
to raise this amount Of 1925, 900 in the
two years. The entire valuation for 1887
was $32, 0S9, 613.12, al increase over 1886
Of 81 ,06S, 500. This increase was brought
about by the taxing Of the railroad lands
embraced in the forty mile strip running
through the entire width Of the.territorY,
and but for this the valuation would have
decreased over $4,000, 900. The great
shrinkage in cattle will bring down the
valuation Tor 1888 to less than $50, 000,-
600. The rate Of levy on this amount, to
raise the S62, 500 for completing and en-
larging the building in 1888, will be about
2 l0-l00 mills on the dollar, and about
the same for 1889. In another part of
this act the bonds Of the territory are to
De Issued IN the sum OF SSU,OUO lor Otler
buildings. The interest on this amount
will be S., 400 per annum, requiring a
levy of about lS-l0OLhs OF a mill. The
levy for the University fund is increased
25-lOOths Of a mill by this same act, and
| have grouped them together for the
purpose Of clearly showing what the levy
will be for territorial purposes for 1888
and the following year, should this act
become q law.
Levy for 1887 upon s32, 08a, ola. IL for
territorial purposes;
General fund,.,.,..,...."...........2.5 so mills
University fund ......."...".. .25 mills
Bond tax fund ......""..."....." .25 mills
Insane asylum fund..".""...... .0l mills
Total........""..."".....3.0l mills
Levy for 1888 upon $50, 900, 900 for ter
%ritorial purposes,
General fund........"".".".....".2G 5 mills
University fund as increased by -,
this act.,..nv~..."..".",..":, 80 mills
| Bond tax as Increased bv this
act AZ mills
Insand asylum tund...."........ .Ol mills
| Special levy for capitol building 2.lO mills
Ta,l r 90 mills