The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1897-04-01
The doverno IS Reasons.

The following is tie full text of Gov
ernor Briggs veto of fH. B. l2S and 2C9.
Bismarck, March l, lS97.-Hon. Fred
Falley, secretary of tate, Bismarck, N.
ID. Sir: l have th honor to transmit
herewith HI. b. 2O9 the Fifth Legisla-
tive Assembly of be state of North
Dakota without my approval for the fol-
lowing reasons.
That it materially charges the pro-
hlbitlon law and is n absolute depar-
turd from the pld Ees and platforms
made by the domini ht party since the
adoption of the con tuition.
1t is my opinion 4 lat this enactment,
If it became law y build fall far short of
its aim, and that it would entail addi-
tional litigation to nforce the present
laws and not increa p the revenues of
cities, counties or s. ate. In fact this
measure is calculat to do great mis-.
chief and little good and that this ques-
ton ought to be del ermined by change
or the constitution. the people SO elect
existing laws provit, Ing how this may be
accomplished.
The constitution is the foundation
upon which the suYcrstructure of the
state is erected, andas executive I am
bound to protect it'll 1t can only be
modified by the vote Of the people and
any attempt to evaae, change or weaken
it must meet my tiisapproval Yours
respectfully, i, A. BR1ccs,
Governor.
Bismarck. Marchfll, 1So7.-Mr. Fred
Fallcy. secretary ofstate, Bismarck, N.
d. Dear Sir: I have tho honor to hand
you herewith II. B. No. 12s of the Fifth
Legislative Assembly Of the state of
North Dakota without my approval.
For the reasons tharthe prohibition law,
framed as it was by able jurists, every
point OF vantage carefully guarded and
evory technicality carefully eliminated
needs no apologies made for it at this
time. as is proposes~ay the bill. 1t is
sufficient unto ITSELF ANY tampering
with this law is dangerous. If the peo-
pie OF our grand state desire to abrogato
this law let the issue be plain; not a
make-shift, and the result be arrived at
by individual ballot: and not delegate to
a legislative assembly authority to in
cumber, weight down and add to the
machinery OF its enforcement useless
provisions, entailing delay. heavy ex.
pense, and as beli5se, mo better results.
There is no furd or appropriation
provided, for which the salary of the
state temperance commissioner and his
deputies can be paid. The matter Of
expense is absolutely unlimited. If the
commissioner and his deputies so desire
they can add any EaEqint of expense;
there being no check whatever upon
them in this regard. whether their re-
turns are commensurate with the ex.
penditures or not. The commissioner
is not responsible in any way for ex
penditure which he may impose upon
counties in actions rusecutcd by him;
while the county ot1icefs, whose duties
and powers are idertiSal with hie, are
to their constituency.
The provision that shid state temper.
ance commissioner sh3ll be vested with
all the powers of TIE lattorney general,
states attorney, sheriff b and constables
and may appear alse b an attorney in
each case, is wholly and entirely untene-
able; must of necessity interfere with
the regularly elect.k 4si eSs, who will
not nsaaah aaaer lssA 81 broN ssto Dc on.
.Dssne ns,as I. o:lgth is 10 fe1 any m,
adding anothesiss ss!y f.F. bloch In the the
way of enforcing TIL Jaw and bring about
conditions, in my Judgement, that would
result in the law nob being as we'll en-
forced as it is at the present time. Yours
f. A. BR1GGs,
Governor,