Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1897-03-11
GOV. BRIGGS REASONS.
Why He Vetoed the Appro-
priati0n Bills-Extra SeS-
sion Avoided.
BY the Passage of Bills Over
Veto-Fusionists Sustain
the Governor.
List of Bills That Have Already
Become LaWS-Others
Not Acted On.

Not Acted On.
Gov. Briggs vetoed the following ap.
preparation bills:
Agricultural college, $4,000.
Agricultural college, $4,000.
Normal, Valley City, s20,455.
Normal, Mayville, $2O,9OO.
Deaf school, sl9,25O.
Insane hospital. $1O9,75o.
University deficit, $500.
University, $5O,72O.
,penitentlary, $4S, $50.
Soldiers home, $4,000.
Add to these the fixed or not vetoed
appropriations 1000, the whole prac-
tically amounts to 100000.
In his veto message the governor said:
II regret the fact that these measures
cannot receive my approval, but the
reasons to me are so apparent that my
duties seem PLAIN.
IF there is any Legislation that should
receive careful and painstaklng consider
alton it is certainly that of providing for
the maintenance. OF our public institu-
tions. Ample time should be given
committees to discuss and pass upon ap-
preparation bills, and if this be true OF
committees 1t would appear that the
executive ought to be accorded the
courtesy OF a reasonable time to con.
slider these matters. In the present
instance these bills come to the execu.
tive eight hours prior to the final ad-
jour- ment of your honorable body. It
certainly will not be contendsd that this
is sufficient time to give to such import
ant legislation.
1.-THE total amount appropriated IN the
bills herewith returned without my ap-
proval IN my opinion 10 largely 10 excess
Of the expected revenue. Careful esti-
mates have been made by the state
auditor and state treasurer % to the
probable income for the biennial period
under the present laws, and to this has
been added q liberal allowance for reve-
nue. contemplated under pending leg,s-
lation. Yet, the fact remains, that there
will be insufficient funds to meet these
appropriation bills. Assuming liabilities
in excess Of possible receipts is not
good business proposition, and do not
believe that single member Of your
honorable body would consider it go
were the same conditions applied to his
OVID affairs.
appropriation bills can be passed in
form which do not as q matter OF fact
appropriate, and in this instance it seems
to me that fact stands out prominently"
The vetoed bills passed both senate
and house over the governors veto. In
the senate the fusion members, populists
( and democrats, voted to sustain the gov
ernor on all appropriations except that
.of the state hospital. In the house the
fusionists also voted to sustain the gov
ernor's veto practically unanimously ex-
cept 10 cases of hospital and deaf school.
All republicans voted to pass the bills
over the veto and trust to luck to get
the money from some source.
It is intimated that the temperance
commissioner bill will be vetoed on the
grounds Of inadequate revenue to pay
the salaries OF commissioner and depu-
ties.
About the only open charges or talk
OF boodling this session was in connec-
ton with the prohibition bill ard the
vote OF Mr.. MCPHERSON (pop.) Barnes
county. He claimed, it is said, in the
committee, to have been offered $500 to
vote for the change in the penalty clause.
On general views he was opposed, but
his election was due to votes of Valley
City aud be had a telegram OF mayor and
council and 149 others asking him TO
vote for the bill, which he did on the
hnal vote. Some OF the temperance peo-
pie were warm and accused Mcpherson
of bribery, but afterward withdrew their
remarks and the house gave him a vote
OF confidence.
The closing hour was without exciting
or specially interesting incident. Mr..
Lenz offered resolution on behalf Of the
minority expressing lack Of confidence
in the majority which was referred to
the committee on ways and means.
Senate bill 174, introduced by CONT.
tee. appropristlng $4,000 per annum for
capitol maintenance and expenses of the
executive departments passed both
houses but it did not reach the gov
ernor. Owing to error in code present
appropriation is but $4,000 for two
years.