The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-25
Governor and Insurance Bill.


Considerable comment Is being made
on the action OF Governor Atkinson, on
Thursday. in sending n message Of dis
approval Of the valued policy insurance
bill to the legislature without n veto.
and permitting the measure to become q
law without his signature. The four
teen reasons the governor gave that
the bill Is not wise, and naming almost
every objection to 1t that Is possible to
imagine. placed him distinctly on record
as against 1t. but some people cannot
understand why. In consideration OF
this fact, he did not place his veto upon
1t. The Intelllgencer has opposed the
bill from the beginning and heartily
hoped that 1t would not pass, and that
the governor would veto 1t. 1t has said
so many times.
All this being true, as the unfortu-
nate circumstance that it is now n
law. the Intelligencer cun afford to say
that there seems to be some mlsunder-
standing Of the governors position.
which In justice Ito him, should be
noted, A cause for his action Is found
In the circumstances of the passage OF
the bill and the provisions of our law
and the constitution which limits the
governors veto power. The bill passed
the house early at Il night session by n
unanimous vote of all present-39 mem
bers. or the 80 absentces who had not
arrived. there Is no telling how many
would have opposed 1t. or voted for 1t,
but even had they been present and all
voted no. the bill would have been
passed.
In the senate. in spite Of the vigorous
contest made against the bill by Senator
Whitaker. and others. 1t passed by a
vote of II to II. The bill had been the
subject OF n hard fight and the legisla-
ture, both houses were determined to
pass 1t. and fully intended 1t to become
| law, veto or no veto. This was OPEN
~ stated. Unfortunately. u bill can be
pdsSCu oNSl Lie NClo Wy
mere majority. in which respect our
constitution is different from the ma
tional constitution. which requires a
two-thirds vote. Another thing: There
was absolutely no constitutional viola
ton on which a veto could be based, an
other unfortunate weakness in our con-
stitution. The only objections that could
be filed were the ones the governor so
strongly urged. none Of them constitu-
tional. This being true the only thing
the governor felt he could do was to file
his protest, and leave the people who
forced the measure to ascertain how
they have been deceived. This he states
is his position.
There is no doubt that the measure
will be more unpopular in the future
than 1t was popular In the legislature
which had the power to make the bill q
law over the governors veto in thirty
minutes time. He could not wait until
the legislature adjourned to veto the
Dlli, lOl, uliueE tIlc COIlSlllutlOI, Wlllle nc
can approve bills in such case. he
cannot veto one-it would become law
in spite of him.
This was the situation. 1t has but
one precedent that We know OF. 1t was
in the case of the Wilson tariff act,
which President Cleveland never signed
because of some Objectionable features.
We only state these facts in view Of
the censures OF the governor. who was
at the mercy of determined majority.
no veto could defeat. His veto would
amount to nothing under the unusual
circumstances. The law is vicious and
should be repealed or fought in some
way to It's death. The Intelligencer
makes this statement in order that,
whatever may be thought of the course
of the governor. his position may be
understood.