Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-23
FIRST VETO SENT IN.
THE GOVERNOR REFUSES TO SIGN
AN ELECTION BILL.
SUCH LAWS SHOULD BE GENERAL
Tbf. the Chief Ground on "hic"
u..es His Action, Though "
o....o,. Are Rnised-No Action
To-day.
To-Day.

covsrror o'Ferrall sent his first veto
message of the present session 10 '"e
General Assembly yesterday The paper
was addressed to the House OF Deiesa'ea'
IN which the measure from when ne
withheld his signature originated anu do
,hare were not sufficient members present
to pass the bill. notwithstanding MS oD-
,ections. no action was taken.
The message reads
To the House of Delegates:
7 have had under consideration fiou''
Rin ~. entitled An Act 10 Authorize inc
Registration- Books of the City OF Char-
,ottesvilIe to be Purged Prior 10 the
Special Vote to be Taken IN Saiu C''S 'A
the 18th Day Of January, 1895 ana am
constrained to return it without my Sig
nature. T..
The bill provides as follows: Ihat IL
shall he lawful to purge the registration
| hooks Of the city of CharlottesVihe Oh u
| before the 10th day of January 1870 III
| the manner and according to the pro-
visions of section IS of the Code OF 1884,
| evcept that the notice provided LOT os
tbst section shall be given at least hVe
| DAYS prior to the day on when inc ""'u
registration books are purged.
THE GOVERNORS oBJECTlONS.
The general law of the state requires
| nfteen DAYS notice, whereas uhuel en-. GO
I'm the hooks can be purged upon hNe
dovs, notice. If fifteen days nouce u
Too,,ired at the smallest precinct IN inc
State outside of CharlottesViiie' VIZ
should il not be required at eacn ol W
four wards in that city, Where 'hele o. -,
in the aggregate 1,Jo0 or more nam u,ha
.to hooks of the registration? me
,roinc 10 a matter Of great importance
20 yoters and ample notice should pe
,,iven before IL is done, 50 that all Who's
zones are posted may be intorIneu an"
have opportunity to be heard, II they u'
! sire. ,,-,..,on whom
oil election laws affecting the state d,
large should be general. Inc DOOM, ~ ~
n,,rgod under the provisions of this OIL
will be used in all future elections
section Sc of the Code provides ina
"if the registrar should be unapie y
hear the evidence in reference 10 TN
names posted on the regular DAYS ol reg
ietration. the books may De Mp
omen as to such names only tor lou
other DAYS" This bill contains no sue
provision, and l doubt whether II ~ .h
he properly construed, as authoriziL,s VI
registrar to keep the books open iois0
than one day TO hear evidence
NO RIGHT OF APPEAL.
Section So of the Code gives a vote
tho right of appeal from the decision
the registrar to the court having Jul l S'H,
ton or the judge thereof. NO such iis
y 4l,sas hill
is given in terms under TINS pHi' anu
! doubt whether It could be construct q
Giving the right by implication but
= the right is given by implication, ~
the proceedings must conform ~ -,
:. 90 of the Code, which requires 'iie ~
. or Judge at least five days pieIiou9
80 Lection 10 transmit his decision
Z the registrar, who shall eh'o' ''-0
on his registration book
Now the bill fixes the 10th day OF JAM
. orv as the day for purging the DOCKS u
= election ia 10 be held on the 18Th Gay
= Ia,,,arv The court or judges declslu
, ,rder section 50 Of the Code must
tronsmitted to the registrar hVe daS
,r before the election, so that al apPed
from the four wards in the city must
hoard and determined in three Gays
would be impossible for any couil
Z nudge to deliberately hear ana uSO"
mon the merits of each appeal IL IiIe
E. are many. in so short time. ms
4 unon the assumption that the poo'
S, VII not be kept open after Jan
e. arv 10th. II, however, the DOCKS shou
as he kept open for four other days as pr
Mt yided IN section Sc Of the Code ot'cour'
the decisions Of the court or judge cou
IS not be transmitted to the registrar II
dovs before the election, as required
or section So. aforesaid
MT s. In my opinion it is bad pohcy 10 i Ia
or one law for purgng the registrar
oil hooks for the state at large and anotl
IT. for any particular city or county. /
"a General Assembly has regarded II WI
and proper TO enact sections 80 ana %
the code. and / cannot think II Is go
nolicy TO exempt the city or Charlott'
vile from their operation, simply Tor !
adj nurpose of providing for an electi
ST. which can be postt ned for short III
IS without injury to any interest.
he For these reasons l must decline 10
OF prove this bill.
m CHARLES T. OFERRALL,
ie- Governor
ar December %. 1897.