The San Francisco call., 1897-02-10
GOVERNOR BUDD
VETOES THE BILL
Refuses to Approve the
Appropriation for State
Printing.
Declares That His Attempt to
Secure Economy in the
Office Failed.
Republican Assemblymen Do Not
Listen Patiently and Refuse to
Hear All of 1t Read.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Feb. 8. - The
House was in committee of the whole dis
cussing the labor bill to-day when a mes
sage was received from the Governor.
Several amendments had been made TO
the bill, the most important being that
the term of office of the Labor Commits
sioner was shortened to two years instead
of four years. North of Alameda said
the amendment should prevail if for no
other reason than it was Republican
amendment.
This experiment may be failure" be
added, 'and we may want to discontinue
it two years hence. | admit that the gen
tleman now in the Office is a competent
man, but he is a Democrat, and that is
enough for US. We are willing that the
Governor may appoint him for two years,
but we want TO have the privilege of aboI-
ishing the Office and appointing some one
else two years hence"
Just after this amendment had been
adopted Private Secretary McCabe and
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms William
Lamphrey appeared in the middle aisle,
and after McCabe's presence had been
announced, he informed the House that
the Governor had returned without his
propriating $50. 600 to meet the deficiency
in the State Printing Office. The Gov
ernor also submitted a message on the
subject, which was handed up to the desk,
but was not read, such a proceeding not
being allowable in committee of the
whole.
No further notice was taken of the veto
and the message until the committee of
the whole rose and reported that it had
decided to recommit the labor bill to the
com mittee, thus blocking the progress of
what is understood to be the Governors
pet bill.
This action was taken by the House in
jlffy, and Clerk Duckworth proceeded to
read the message. When he had got half
way through further reading WAS dis
pensed with, and Leavitt of Alameda
moved to make the message the special
order for next Thursday afternoon at 2
clock. In the meantime he said that
the members would have ample oppor-
tunity to read the report, which would ap-
p ar In to-morTow's journal.
Dennery raised a laugh by asking
whether there was sufficient money in the
Safe printing fund to print the message
OF the Governor. He thought that il
might be well to adopt the Governors
suggestion and have the message let out
by private contract to the lowest respon-
slble bidder.
Caminetti then took up the fight of the
minority and asked for the appointment
OF committee or to instruct the proper
committee 10 bring back report upon the
discrepancies in the State Printers office
as alleged in the Governors message.
The speaker was about TO explain some
thing la connection with the Governors s
attitude, when he was called TO order by
Leavitt.
Dennery of San Francisco took the floor
on question of personal privilege. The
gentleman from Amador has made the
statement that he Is not afraid to meet
the issue, he SAID. | will saw 10 him that
he Will have ample opportunity to meet
the issue next Thursday afternoon at 2
o'clock"
the matter until Thursday. By that time
the committee would be able to tell
whether or not there was any money in
the State printing fund and also would be
able to make an estimate as to how much
money would be needed. Several wit
nesses, including the Governor, had been
subpenaed before the committee, but did
come.
Caminetti returned to the charge and
moved that the Committee on Ways and
Means be instructed to make an investi-
CATION into the apparent discrepancies
mentioned in the Governors veto m es-
sage and to have its report on the same
ready by next Thursday morning.
Emmons (FusionisD seconded the nomi-
nation.
At this juncture Guy OF San Diego
thought that it would be more appro-
pirate to refer that matter TO the Com
mittee on Public Printing. The Com
mittee on Ways and Means had already
reported favorably on the appropriation
and had given their reasons In full.
Dibble ended the matter by moving to
lay CaminettIs motion on the table, and
1t was so ordered by vote of 80 to a.
The matter was thereupon made the spe-
cial order for Thursday afternoon.
Appended is Governor Budd's message
complete:
To the Honorable Assembly Of the State of Cali
gorRtd-GESTLEMES: | return herewith Assem-
bly, bill No. 263 without my approx al and with
my objections thereto. The title of the pro-
posed act is "An act making an appropria lion
ior the support of the State Printing Office for
the torty-elghth fiscal year" while it is in
tended that 1t shall serve the purpose OF def
cheney appropriation. Under the provisions
OF the act of March 23, 1893 Statutes of 1898
page 2S5), mo officer or employe III the sery-
ice ol the State shall have power to create any
denc'ency In excess OF any appropriation made
by law, except in case OF actual necessi v and
only then upon the written authority first OBJ
tanned OF the Governor, Secretary OF State and
Attorney-General, and any Indebtedness at
tempted to pe created against the State in
violation of the provisions of this act shall be
absolutely null and void and shall not be al
lowed by the State Board of Examiners"
Section of the general appropriation act of
1895 (Statutes 1895, page 2S9) is more COM
prsheHsive, and provides that no such at
tempted Indebtedness shall be paid ont of any
State appropriations, and that the officer who
creates any such Indebtedness without procur-
ing the proper written consent shall be liable
therefor upon his Official bond.
The superintendent of State printing has
not com piled with the provisions of either of
the above acts; has not made to the State
board OF Examiners the required showing of
ACTUAL necessity" nor has he obtained GER
mem Der of said board OF the unavoidable ne
cessitv of such expenditure BY letter to
this office OF date February 3. 1897, Mr.. John
ston, the superintendent, intimates that after
January 10, 1897, deficiency existed in the
appropriation for the support OF his office, his
language being 81 desire to say that. up to
the 18th day of January there was no def
ciency in the appropriation Tor the printing
Office, and therefore there could be no appli-
cation made to the Board of Examiners except
fer contemplated deficiency. which might or
might not occur, although in all probability
the amount of work that would devoive upon
this Office bv reason of the Legislature being
in session would require the expenditure OF
more money than would be available"
NotWi hstanding this statement, long prior
to the date of this letter, Mr.. Johnston had
made written application to the Stale Board
OF examiners for a written recommendation
70 the Legislature for the appropriation OF
$4,000 asked for in the bill under discussion.
When sent for Mr.. Johnston, requesting that
ne should come before the board and be qnes-
Uon, on January IL, he withdrew his applica-
lion ana has not since appeared before the