Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-14
A veto FOR THE GOVERNOR
Provision for Such to be in the
New Constitution.
ADOPTION OF FIRST AMENDMENT
Three-fifths Vote Required to
Pass Vetoed Measures.
An Important Change In the Fundamental
Law of the state Decided Upon Alter "a
Hours Consideration and Exhaustive
Discussion.

5taff Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
Dover. Jan. THE Constitutional
Convention devoted nearly all OF yester-
day 's sessions in discussing the report
of the committee on the Governor and
other executive officers. and many OF
the members expressed themselves fully
! on the matter Of giving the Governor a
veto power, which was proposed In the
report. The original idea, as reported
from the committee, was to give the
Governor a veto, with the provision
that vetoed measures could be passed
By the Legislature by two thirds
I vote. Mr.. Bradford bad offered an
4 amendment making the vote majority
I and Mr.. Biggs had offered an amend
ment to the amendment making the
proportion three fifths, and the order
OF the day was the consideration of the
proper proportion.
Some preliminary business was trans
acted.
A resolution, offered by Mr.. spru.
ance, setting apart two hours next
Wednesday afternoon for hearing adj
vocates of woman's suffrage, was
unanimously adopted. In presenting
the resolution MIR. Spruance made a
few remarks. ir which he said the
matter was receiving consideration
elsewhere and it would be only right
to give advocates Of the idea hearing
in Delaware.
President Biggs announced that the
members of committees, which had
been enlarged, were as follows:
Manufacture and sale of Intoxicating
liquors--Messrs. Ellegood, Cannon,
Horsey, Herring, Carlisle, Donahoe,
Sapp and Richards
observation-disclosures Gilchrist, Cooper,
johnson, Wright, Pratt and Moore.
Bill of Rights Messrs Cooper
Smithers, Dasey, Cannon, Evans and
Burris.
On motion Of Mr.. Hearne, the con.
vention resolved itself into committee
of the whole, for the purpose of con-
sideriug the report of the committee
on the Governor and other executive
officers. Capt. Dasey took the chair.
Mr.. Hearne made an address. in
which he favored the amendment
allowing the passage OF a vetoed
measure by three-fifths vote. In
cidentally. be stated that il is likely
the convention will make provision for
increasing the size of the General
Assembly, the idea being to givo each
of the three counties larger representa-.
tion.
Mr.. Spruance said there was cues.
tion as to how the matter of veto power
will affect the election of Governors.
He ayerred that to people who had
never committed crime and did not
desire executive cemency for them
selves or anybody else, or WIN did not
want offices for themselves or for their
friends, it made but little difference
who was Governor OF the State. There
should be a substantial veto power.
man who merely advises does not
amount to much unless be can exercise
some power.
Mr.. Gilohrist wanted to know
whether or not it was intended that
the veto power should extend to
divorce bills the same as to other
measures, and he was advised that in
all probability divorce legislation will
be eliminated from the powers of the
General Assembly. He was in favor of
the two thirds vote hut would support
the three iifths amendment.
Mr.. Cooper held that there should
be absolute separation between the
Legislative executive and judiciary
branches of the government, and a
veto should be in the nature OF an
advisory measure. He thought the
Legislature should have the right to
pass vetoed measure by majority
vote of each house. He was willing
however to vote for a wo-thirds ma
iority feature eve should be very
careful" he said, "what power we
PUT In the hands of the Governor SO
that he could not obstruct legislation. I"
Mr.. Richards favored the two thirds
measure. He said that 20 States had
such provision in their Constitutions.
He thought such provision would
enable the Governor to check improper
legislation.
Mr.. Cavender declared that he would
vote against any thing that would
antagonize the three fifths amendment
Mr.. Ellegood said there was a ques-
tion as to how far the veto power
should go. He thought the proposed
amendment providing for three 'fifths
vote would concentrate too much
power in the hands of one man. In
his opinion tho people should be
governed by the Legislators, who are
elected by them in the several coun-
ties. and thought one house should be
a check on the other. The Governor is
as liable to err as the people con
stituting the Legislature. When the
members of the Legislature have been
honestly elected, no one man should be
permitted to interfere with them in
the performance OF their duties. lie
was in favor uf veto power only when
majority of the members of the Legis-
iature failed to give consent. He
thought, however, that there should
be a check on the hasty and in
judicious work which is sometimes
done on the closing days of session.
N Mr.. Bradford held that every mem
Ter of tn. Legislature is assumed to
n be present when tine final vote on a
measure is taken. If there is going to
be veto power there should be fixed
proportion of all the members of each
khouse required 10 pass vetoed
.tmeasure. He was opposed to the three.
r bfths amendment. as he thought il
would give the Governor power to not
.9Qnly arrest legislation. but also to
lock the will of the majority. He
3as OF the opinion that either the two
Nflhirds or three-fifths provision was
l9ontrary 10 the wishes of the people of
n pelaware. he favored the incorpora-
ton of further provision prohibiting
q vote being taken in either house. on
"a vetoed bill on the same day it is re-
turned by the Governor, as is provided
for in the Constitution of New Jersey.
Especially is this necessary, he
said, "if, as has been intimated,
avery Governor with which the Stats