St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-07-26
The Governors Veto Power as it af-
fects the Question of the Submission
Of the Lottery Proposition to
Vote of the People.

1t is the duty of the Governor tt
, "take care that the laws be faithfully
executed"
Art. 73 of the State Constitution de.
clares that:
every bill which shall have passed
both houses shall be presented to the
Governor; If he approve, he shall sign
it, if not, he shall return it, Nth his OBJ
jections, to the house in which it orisi-
mated, which house shall enter the ob-
jections at large upon the journal and
proceed to reconsider it. Ii, after such
reconsideration, t,cO- thirds of all the
members elected To that house shall
agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent,
with the objections, to the other house.
by which it Shall likewise he rrconsid,
cred, aud if passed by tuo- thirds of the
| members elected to that house 1t shall
be tdm.'
Art. rs of the Constitution declares
that:
Every order, resolution or vote to
Which the concurrence of both houses
| may be necessary shall be pre-
sented to the Governor, and before it
shall take effect be approved 10y him,
or, being disapproved, shall be repassed
/
! to each house,
| 1t is evident these articles relate to
all such legislation as may become laws
by simple majority of all the mem
bers elect. This majority is essential
only Oh final passage of the bill, order,
or resolution. A bare quorum may by
a majority of quorum pass it through
the first and second reading. Let US
illustrate. The lower house is COM
posed of 81 mem hers, the senate of SO,
total, 1873. Art. 3S of the Constitution |
declares that Not less than a major |
ity Of each house of the General AS
sembly shall constitute quorum to
transact business" 1t follows that 40
members of the house and 19 members
of the seDate-in all 6S legislators
may transact business, which We under
stand to mean to pass bills, orders and
resolutions through the first and second
readings. Before such bills, oiders and
can become laws ready for
submission to the Governor for his ap-
proval, they are required to be passed
OH the third and final reading by O ma
iority of all the members elec to both
branches.
The object of tue veto power is in ,
;ended to avoid the hasty aud rash ac-
ion of such majorities from becoming !,
avs, if, in the calm opinion of the :
Governor, there be any real objection
o them. I
After IL bill, order or resolution has I
'een passed through the first aud Sec
md reading by majority of quorum, n
ay by 81 members, and through third F
nd final reading by majority Of all Il
he members elect of both branches of 8,
he General Assembly, and, after the
Governor has vetoed it, if huo-thirds of
IL the members elected to both branches II
gain vote for its passage it becomes q b
ttr. 1t thus derives its existence as a o.
tp from such q rote. C.
Can it be seriously pretended that the in
Governor could again prevent it from sc
ecomlng a law by Withholding his ap- a,
roval and signature? II SO, then he F
ecomes the law maker, and the Legis-
ture mere mooting body, or assem- ga
y. &C
The Constitution declares that upon gt
'ceiviDg two thirds of the votes OF all hi
e members elect, 1t "shaU be q lav." p1
hus we preceive that the veto power te
ases to exist in its operation upon a be
II, order Or resolution thus passed.
he Governor is powerless, voiceless of
I'd his pen falls paralyzed from his ri,
md. We say his power aud authority We
veto, extends SO far as to require in
o thirds cote of all the members elect lie
both branches of the Legislature. RI,
ID that in every case where such a vote BIZ
required to pass bill, order or reso- lis
tioD, and is given, he is ignored as to on
g vitality and constitutionality Of such no
sislation. It this be not correct, the
institution is without meaning where ap
it says the bill, order or resolution up
taH be a la,c." ms
We have not yet alluded to other Ou
.icles of the Constitution bearing on
IRE directly on the question before us. ve
beneyer they have been invoked, i. an
$ been customary to couple them with he
'se we have quoted, when in point of =
It they treat of different and separate :.
tiers, and bear no relation the one to '">
J other. Those we have quoted affect
} power of legislation by the repre- 81,
entative bodies constituting the Gen. 6
| Assembly, whilst the others relate D.
Lhe sovereign powers to be exercised =
the people, the democracy of the
tie.
We purpose speaking of them in a son
ure article.s =
thursday morning the following gen.
men left for an outing at the D'Ar- r
me: Messrs. P. j. Lefebvre, C. M. r
ompson, Ollie Thompson, B. F. Me- z.n
ley, s. L. Hebrard, T. B. Brooks and 9
ques Perrodin. At Prud d'homme City ~.
v will be ioined hv Mnssrs n ~