Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-27
THE GOVERNORS NO.
An Important Bridge Bin vetoed-rhe
Reasons Clearly Stated.

An Important Bridge BIZ Vetoed-Ihe
Reasons Clearly Stated.
Special Telegram TO the Register.
CHARLESTON, w. VA, February %
Governor Wilson to-day vetoed the bill
pasoea by the Legislature providing for
bridging the Ohio, Great Kanawha and
Big Sandy rivers. In his veto, the Gov
ernor says: According to the existing
law, the construction of bridges over the
Kanawha is regulated by the same pro-
visions which apply to the Ohio under the
laws of the United States. Every State
statute has made it so, and the time Of the
enactment of these statutes in 1888 the
United States statutes required that
bridges over the Oaio should be 80 feet
above low water mark at the bridge cite.
The State act of 1883 was thought to be
sufficient protection for the Kanawha. 1t
is well known that for several years past
efforts have constantly been made for the
passage of an act of Congress permitting
bridges to be constructed over the Kama
wha. under such regulations as the Secre-
tary of War msy prescribe. 1t is under
stood that a bill is now pend
ing for that purpose. The bill now
under consideration declares that q
bridge over either of said rivers may be
constructed in the manner now, or which
may hereafter be provided by the Congress
of the United States.
l cannot give my consent that the great
natural highways of this State shall be
surrendered TO any authority whatever,
much less to the discretion Of a single
man. however exalted his position. The
Constitution Of the United States c0nters
upon Congress the right to regulate com-
merce among the several States, to exerslse
exclusive legislation over all places pur-
chased by consent of the Legislature
of the State in which the same shall be,
for the erection of forts, magazines, ar
ssuals. dock yards anu other needful
buildings, and extend the judicial power
of United States Courts to all cases OF
admiralty and maritime jurisdiction. To
find in these provisions a right in Congress
to permit and authorize the building
of bridges, so as 70 obstruct
The navigation of the rivers within
the States will require such declaration
of implied powers as the trainers of the
Constitution never intimated and the Su-
preme Court of the United States has
never maintained.
Here lies the greatest coal field in the
world, the basis of a prosperity upon the
threshold of which we have barely entered.
The Great Kanawba-nsture's highway
secures for all free and untrammeled right
of transportation as permanent as the ever
lasting hills. Should q bridge be con-
structed over this river, even with its
banks or at any other heights which would
obstruct its navigation, it would inflict an
injury upon this region that mere bridge
convenience could never compensate. l
am sure the evils of this bill did
not present themselves to the Legislature
for I should consider myself totally disre-
eardiul of the public welfare to either sign
it or permit it TO become a law, without
my objections.
The Governor has in preparation veto
of the bill, reviying dead charters Of Wild
cat roilroadp, and other defunct corpora
tions. where time has expired by limita-
ton.