The sun., 1894-04-27
'TKToEs THE AppRoPRTA1IoN BrLL
srhs Governor Refuse. 20 Sign tho Bui with
. Ride- Attached to It.

. Rtder Attached to u.
ALBANY. April 26.-Gov. Flower vetoed the
whole OF the Annual Ar pproprlation bill to-day,
- was predicted in THE Sun this morning
The Republicans had put rider In the bill II
was the nrst rider there has been In an Appro-
pristton bill for many years. The general po-
htical opinion OF the State has bsen that the
provision In the Constitution which gives the
Governor power to veto any items OF supply
or appropriation bill requires the Legislature
90 divide up the items In such manner that
the Governor can exercise his discretion un-
dor the Constitution. This rider which
Tho Republicans put In the bill pro-
-vided that all appropriations would
be contingent on the employment OF
Republican counsel By the various State de-
partments. Gov. Flower takes the position
that the Legislature should pass laws In the
forms provided by the Constitution. and that
he will then exercise his constitutional rights
when the bills are presented to him. His veto
message enunciates the principle that all leg
islAtion must be enacted on its Individual
merits. and that he will not consent TO riders
OF any kind on appropriation bills He says:
Il regret that am compelled tn veto this
bill a. whole because OF the action OF the
Legislature in insisting upon incorporating IA
the bill a provision Of Irrelevant general legls-
lAtion. to wit. the following:
-Ths AtOrnsy-Gsnsral shall designate and select all
counsel to be employed In the Department OF Agricu
sure or By the Factory Inspector. Commission of
rshsrtss. or any OF the other commissions provided
for By law for the enforcement OF connected with
any OF sAid departments commissions and a propsr
administration OF said departments commissions in
Ill eAsss hereafter arising and shall M the compsnsa
SS % .s1 s,s s sGS9:: sa and q: G0mRTosT
tion with SAID dsDAttmsnt. or commissions sxcspI
nsy-osnsraI in accordance herewith.
The Constitution. gives the Executive
power TO veto Items OF appropriation Of money
TO veto items Of general legislation, There
fore. II general legislation Il contained in an
approve or disapproye the bill as a whole.
according TO his judgment as to the merit or
thus indirectly. II the bill is one making ap-
propriAtion for the support Of government. the
necessary moneys for carrying on the busi-
psss OF the state or Of allowing the OBJ
law. For this reason the insertion Of pro.
visions OF general legislation In an aFpropria-
nsOus ass and Sas
repeatedly by tho best political sentiment in
state and nation. Il Is practically q club to
Executive In the wishes Of the Iegislaturs. Il
therefore 10 an attack upon the Executives
exercise Of his eonstit1tionai rights. ."'
The Irrelevant legislation 10 this bill now
but that question should stand on its own |
merits. Ifin the Judgment Of the legislature |
u
separate bill ana sent 10 me for approval Ii |
has no essential relation to the Appropriation |
bill: AS have other general provisions relating |
ca the audit Of accounts or the expenditure of |
money, which quite properly belong with the |
items OF APPROPRIATION.
80 far as the dssirability of the irrelevant
provision 10 concerned, there IL nothing In paT-
teulaT to say In Its favor IL Il required the |
Attorney General to perform the legal services |
needed By the various state comm lssi0ns Ii |
might be recommended in the Interest Of econ |
Omy. but this II does not do. II merely per- |
mits him 10 designate the counsel and III their /
compensation, which is TO he paid. not out OF :
the appropriations for the use Of the Attorney 1
General but out Of those for the various com
When these aspects Of the question are
considered. the conclusion is forced home that |
the sole purpose OF the Irrelevant provision |
sgaiust which my objection Is directed Is to /
Increase tie political patronage at the dis posAl
q the party represssnted by the majority Of 1
the Legislature. That such . motive would /
imperil q bill providing for the support l
Of goyeInment shows rs desperate char
EcteE No other construction Of the act on
0f the Legislature Is consistent with tho
facts. for II economy ana not polite i i
patronage mad been the aim Of the I.egislt-
Iure In Inserting this irrelevant provision the /
Legislature should have required the AtEOr-
nsy-0snsrAl 70 act IN nsrson oE b. representa-