New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-31
THE VETO POWER.
THE GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO
STAND IN THE WAY OF THE PEOPLES WILL"


STAND IN THE WAY OF THE PEOPLES WILL"
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir Now that the submission OF questions for the
consideration OF the Constitutional Convention is in
order, | wish to suggest amendment which. In
my opinion ought to be made. and that Is one abol-
shing the veto power or taking from the Governor
the right and power to veto bills.
The Governor is not elected as legislative oficer.
Senator's and members Of the Assembly are chosen
and elected to make Jaws; yet as the Consutu-
ton now is the Governor In making the laws or In
determining what laws the people may have. has
more power than n majority OF the Legislature and
by his mere will thwart the wishes and inten-
tons Of a majority Of all the people OF the state.
lie IS assumed 10 know more than majority OF all
the members OF the Legislature. There probably
never has been a session OF the Legislature he'd IN
this State In which there were not members with
more ability and better knowledge Of the Constitu-
ton and the laws than the Governor.
We have a Supreme Court and Court or Appeals
to pass upon and determine the constutionality Of
avs passed by the Legislature; yet the Governor
an executive officer rarely II suspected Of being
IN abe urlst or having the qualifications required
for Judge OF the Court Of Appeals exercises ju-
d!clal power in determining what laws we may have,
and Is allowed to determine their constltutionality;
and II he determines them to be unconstitutional
there IS remedy. no way to get them before the
courts unless two-hrds Of both houses pass the Dill
thirds Of both the Senate and the Assembly are
hostile TO the Governor or that any considerable
number Of his political friends be Induced to
antagonize him. that the right Of twothrds to pass
a bill over his veto Is Of very little value
We have recently had. and are having
now some experience that Is instructive. II we
are willing to learn. and which ought TO make
useful Many bills passed by the last Legislature
by a majority OF the representatives OF the peo-
pie have been vetoed, not because they were not
such the people desired or were not for the pub
lie good but because they not such as the
Democratic party desired. One Of the most meri-
torlous Of all the bills vetoed by the Governor was
the Blanket Ballot bill, and that was. II l re-
member rightly vetoed because there were some
voters 50 ignorant that they would not know
enough to put plster over or how to
10 IL. II they wished vote for not on the
ticket. II It was left to majority of the people
Of this State 10 determine whether II Is for the
good OF the public or the State that people 80 ig-
norant as that should have the right TO vote at
all I have no doubt that large majority would
g y9t5lnr T. e saw now What th Governor desired
vas a provision allowing such ignorant voters 20
hat Of course they could know nothing about,
and make the Ballot law, 50 far as the grossly
ignorant voters are concerned. OF no account We
All well know how such provision would help the
Democratic party Other acts passed by the legis-
lattrr wer" vetoed because Tie Governor uIu hot
desire them to become laws. What laws We can
have then. Constitution now Is. depends upon
tho VIII OF tho Governor alone
When National Government was formed. In
considering the veto question IL was supposed by
those delegates who favored II that there was no
danger OF It's abuse. and by most OF those VINO did
not favor IL that there w2s little danger or us
abuse. i was said that the sovereisns Of i kns,
land had absolute veto power, yet no one OF them
had exercised II in = hundred years, and that the
last who did 1t lost his head by IL and II was
argued that there could be little danger or
President elected for only four years venturlng 10
exercise II except In case OF great public danger
They finally compromised on it as IT now is. allow.
Ing 4, be oVerrulcd only by a two-thrds vote or
both houses. and for long time 1t was used as an
extreme medicne only. Washington vetoed , only
we're vetoed by Adams or jefferson. The free use
Of The veto began with Jackson. and that which
Nine of the States. New-York among the num-
Der followed the example OF the general Govern
md now suffering the consequences. we
have an opportunity TO correct the mistake
and hope and trust X Will not be negiected 90
When bill passed by the Legislature Is sent 70
the Governor for his approval. he should be allowed
to disapprove II. and return Il 70 the LeSls,ature
with his objections and II then. after considering
his objections and having the benefit Of his argu-
Inent the Legislature should again pass II by
M f6ritv vote II should. ! think become n law
is elected FOR more than year. The members
Of the LEGISLATURE elected at the same time are. or
things In the State or certain localities at that
time ana to legislate on those subjects and be-
cause of those questions the Governor may nave
been elected After that new questions may arise
and before the expiration OF the Governors term
another Legislature may be chosen. composed OF
members entertaining different views from those OF
tha Governor vet they may be disabled from ac-
compllshlng the object or purposes for which they
were elected by the Governor elected at previous
obstacle I'm the way. Such things have happened
within the memory Of the Youngest OF us. and are
liable to happen again. unless the veto power Is
taken from the Governor Il. H. BhNN'
New-YOrk, May IL. 1894.