Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1899-04-11
SENATE BILL no. Is
ITS HISTORY AS SHOWN BY THE
LEGISLATIVE RECORDS
lance Why Was 1t Not Introduced
Earlier in the Session.

No. 70, ito Legislative history and tho veto
Of the measure by Governor Sadler. IN
nearly every instance these were greatly
at variance with the facts and I had con-
Guided that the printed Journals Of the
two branches OF the Legislature would
sufficiently explain matters even to The
entire satisfaction of the most ardent
supporter of the bill, hence have delayed
making any reply even thongh the clerks
OF The House anne in for 4 share of the
criticism.
The APPEAL published a news item re-
lating to the history of the bill and the
Governors veto of the same. but, owing
to a Typographical error, the item was
m~iSconstrucd and considerable comment
occasioned, in which il was iusinuatei
that certain clerks lad been grossly care
less or worse, myself among the number.
Let me state right here that the clerks
of the Legislative body are simply the
wheels or machinery of such a body and
are directed by the members as a whole.
and immediately under the control OF the
various committees, the members of
which are a complete check ON the clerks
aud the latter can do nothing without the
approval of the committees. Every
measure that passes regularly must 90 to
thu enrolling committee to be compared
with the original. corrected, if errors are
found, and the Chairman Of that Commit
tee takes charge Of the enrolled measure
and personally delivers it to tha Gov
ernor, the clerk, OF clerks, having TO OPP
~pOrtuuity to change a word. figure or
sign on the bIl without the consent Of the
Chairman. Other committees have a
similar supervision over the work Of
clerks. hence, if there is any irregularitv
or errors, the members. as committeeman
are wholly responsible. The only Oppor-
tunity afforded the chief officer of either
branch to practice any S~ku1duEgery, is t.
shuttle the file and even this i not easily
accomplished, for the members can keep
a close check if they so desire.
The Statutes prescribe the dates Of
each clerk. and as regards myself | per
formed my duties strictly according to
law and my oath of office. So much for
the clerks.
As>emblvman Paul from White Pine
county. in a communication in the White
Pine News, Ct the date March 30th, gives
his version OF the history of Senate BIZ
No. 70 and incidentally calls upon me, as
chief clerk, to explain, and while init
mating that I might have been crooked.
in the goodness of his heart re cannot
believe that 7 could have made the mis-
take that killed the bill. Mr.. Paul. like
many Nevada legislators. finds out more
Of what was not lone at a session Of the
Legislature. after the adjournment, than
he knew Of what was being dohe while
the session was in progress, although he
was receiving S. per diem to attend to
business.
Mr.. Paul does not state facts concern
ing Senate Bill No. 76 and as regards his
opinion concerning myself while ! am
grateful t. HIM if his opinions are to be
Judged by those ne advanced on public
affairs during the late session, they are OF
little consequence.
In the same issue of the White Pine
News. Wallace, nicknameG "Black" ano
painted blackel by wOuld-be reformer>
of state politics, is charged with having
a finger in the pie in defeating the bill
! Mr.. Wallace never exchanged a wore
with me concerning the bin and | do no
know whether he opposed or favored it
further VIII say to Mr.. Wallace's ere Ii
that during a clerical experience of seV
eral sessions of the Nevada Legislature
, he has never approached me by word
/ sign or deed and asked me to dc a dis
honorable act, nor has he ever requested
me to do anything that could not have
been proclaimed from every house top il
Nevada, and ever those who are so read!
8. 10 charge him with every crime in tn
d~ecalogue would not be shocked in The
least. | cannot say as much for some O
the would-be refOrmers.
Governor Sadler, i'll my judgment
could not do otherwise han veto Senatt
Bill NO. Is, after its irregular passage h1
the Assembly, an in the veto he state:
this fact plainly. H. does not claim tia
the history is ert,''.oue or irregular. bu
claims the proree .ure is irregular anC
- that the Joint !.U!rs and Roberts Rule.
of Order, under which the Legislator,
was working. will bear him out. 1t i:
stated THAT the Governor n6eU not De gov
erned by the history as long as the Off
GERS of the two houses had signed tht
bill. IF Governor Sadler had acted OF
this suggestions, he would have signet
wo Assembly bills that were lost in the
Senate, one of which did not receive I
favorable vote in that August Body, bu
we're by mistake given to the enrolling
clerk, duly enrolled, and having beel
cUmpGreI with the original, or shoulc
have been by the Committee, were pre-
Sumed to be correct by the officers an
signed by them, the Governor discover
ing the error by reading the history afte
the bills had reached him. Thus, it cal
be seen that it is absolutely necessary 70
him to read II 9 hi story, not for the pur
pose Of tormi, & hi, opinion on the meas
ure, but to SEE tina, the procedure hal
been regular and according to law Their
is a law on the Statutes to-day that wal
signed by a former Governor, although