Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-02-08
A VETO MESSAGE,
Reasons For The Governors Action on
The TaVewelI Bill.

The Governor sent to the State Senate
the following veto message on Saturday;
To the Senate of Virginia -
herewith return Senate bill No. 247,
entitled an act "To amend and re'enact
section 90 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to the appointment of County Surveyor
and Superinteudents of the Poor as to the
county of Tazewell," " withoutGy approval.
This is measure of seemingly little inn
portance, yet it involves a principle for
which vetoed House bill No. l73, relat-
ing to the appointment of assessor OF lands
for the county of Warwick. This measure
changes the appointment of County Sur
veyor and Superintendent of the Poor, and
III my opinion is contrary to good pubic
policy. For this reason and also at the re-
quest of the honorable representative from
Tazewell, whose people alone are affected
by tie Immediate provisions of the bill, l
return the bill without my approval.
Section 95 of the Code provides that
Teach county court judge, upon the re-
commendation of the board of Supervisors
of his county, shall at the May term of his
court in the wear 1891 and every fourth
vear thereafter, appoint, for each county
in which he holds his court. one county
surveyor and one Superintendent OF the
Poor. Provided, that such judge may, If
he thinks proper, reject the recommends
tjon: and unless the Board Of Supervisors
recommends other persons suitable in his
opinion for said officers within thirty days
after their first recommendation has been
rejected. he shall fill the said offices, or
either Of them, by his own appointment IN
term or vacation" This bill amends this
section by providing that, "the County
Court Of Tazevell county, or the judge
thereof in vacation, shall appoint Super
intendert Of the Poor and County Sur
veyor without the recommendation of the
Board Of Supervisors of said county Of
Tazewell." "
1t is not necessary to enter into the dis
cussion of the merits of the general law, or
recount the reasons that might be given
for or against this proposed special law. l
would only call attention to the advisable
itv of having general laws on such subjects
and of adherng strictly to them. The
number Of special acts which now encum-
ber our statute books are strong arguments
in favor of this principle. The constltu-
ton, article s, section 20, wisely provides
in regard TO cities that mo special act shall
be passed except in cases when in the
Judgment of the General Assembly the OBJ
iect of such act cannot be attained by
general law.
1t is to be regrette that the provisions
of this clause of the Constitution do not
apply to counties; and in fact to all sub
iects of legislation, as well as TO cities.
An examination of the statute books
shows that the practice of passing special
acts, when the general law covers all that
should be embraced, is increasing TO an
alarming extent, and fear that much OF
it has a demoraizing tendency.
1t may not he inappropriate to call at
tention to the fact that have before me
at this time number of bills granting
special privileges and favors to several
counties, and giving local authorities the
right to create salaries where they do not
now exist, and to increase the amounts
now being paid to county and district
officers. Fit is best 10 create new salared
positions, or to increase the pay of those
already in existence general statute should
be passed on the subject, giving uniforni
ty of compensation throughout the State
When the officers Of one county or district
receive compensation, however small
, while those of neighbonng county or dis
trict do not receive a like compensation
or are serving without pay, it naturally
, causes dissatisfaction and results in les
efficient services even from those wht
would otherwise he willing to serve with
out pay.
have not felt justified in vetoing thes'
: various bills, yet / feel that it is not i'm
proper for me TO make these general sug
ecstions, for in my opinion the tendenc,
Of such legislation is bad, and if FOLLOWED
to it's logical conclusion will result not onl
in great confusion and inequality Of com
-, Densation for the same services rendered
-, but enable local authorities to expend tn
public moneys for salaries in many case
against the wishes and interest of the pee
pie. fully realize the difficulties tha
:, confront members Of the legislature, whe
requested TO offer bills Of this character
and united effort on the part Of all woul
y result in tightening the burdens that ma
" fall on each one. And by adopting som
g fixed standard by which the pay of publ
- officers should he governed, would great
- tend to remove the embarrassment
each individual member.
Very respectfully,
- J. lIoGE TYLER,
Governor.
Senator St. Clair being absent, no actlo