The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-10
WHAT WILL HE DO wITH TT.

This title OF one of Bulwer's novels is
the question of the hour. The he, in
the case is the Governor and the 1T is
the so-called Nicholson bill. The Gov
ernor's disposition of this now cele-
brated measure is a current theme OF
conjecture and a good subject for
wagers. What will he do with it? First,
he may sign it, and he might do that
from one of several motives. In the
constitutional sense for the Governor to
sign bill is to approve it, but he might
affix his signature without giving his
mental approval. He might yield his
convictions to the judgment of Others
or to the popular will; he might sign it
because he was afraid to do otherwise,
or he might sign it, thinking thereby
Ito put the Republican party in hole
These are merely conjectural sugges-
tons. In the legal sense a signature is
an approval without reference to the
Governors motives.
Second, the Governor may veto the
BILL and if he wanted to make some
what ostentatious display of opposition
and place himself on the record that is
what he would probably do. Governor
display or doing things for effect. and
there is no reason to suppose that he is
violently opposed to this bill. His per-
sonal sympathies are not with the
liquor business, and there is nothing in
his record to indicate that he is opposed
to restrictive legislation on the subject.
But he is a Democrat, and the tradi-
tional policy of his party would suggest
veto. Possibly he may choose to
stand with the Lieutenant Governor and
a majority of his party in both houses
who voted for the bill. but more likely
he will not. He has shown aDtness in
discovering plausible grounds of objec-
ton to measures that did not suit him
and ingenuity in presenting them, and
no doubt he could frame a veto message
on this measure that would fire the
Democratic heart and increase his popu-
larity with his party. From a Demo-
cratic standpoint the Journal thinks
veto would be good politics, and as Gov
ernor Matthews has keen sense for
good politics it is possible he may de-
eide on this course. If he should return
the bill with his veto it would likely
be passed, his objections notwithstand-
ing. This could be done any time be-
fore midnight of Monday, the 18th inst.
But the Governor may veto the bill in
such way that it cannot be passed
over his objections at this session of the
Legislature. The Constitution says.
If any bill shall not be returned by the
Governor within three days after it shall
have been presented to him, it shall be a
law, without his signature, unless the gen.
eral adjournment shall prevent its return,
In which case it shall be law, unless the
Governor within five days next after such
adjournment, shall file such bill, with his
objections thereto, in the office of the Sec
rotary of State, who shall lay the same
before the General Assembly, at. it's next
session, in like manner as if it had been re-
turned by the Governor.
Under this provision the Governor
may hold the bill till the expiration of
the session and within five days there
after may file a veto in the office of the
Secretary of State which would kill the
bill until the next Legislature. If he
wishes to kill it without giving the
present Legislature a chance to pass it
over his veto this is what he would do.
There is still another course open to
the Governor. If he is afraid or unwill-
ing to become identified with the meas
ure by signing it, but still not averse
to it becoming a law, he can accomplish
this by simply doing nothing and letting
it become a law without his signature.
as it would do five days after the ad-
journment unless he filed veto as
above stated. If he decides to with
hold his signature the fate Of the bill
will not be known until the expiration
of the five days after the adjournment
during which he may file veto.