Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-02-22
THE GOVERNOR TALKS
On the Matter of the Commissioner of
Valuations Bill.
Richmond Times.l

Il cannot see NnClClH YAH NC J"0"J
censured for having signed at once the
bill for the appointment of commission
ers Of valuation. The constitution vests
in the governor the right OF veto, but
allows the Legislature, by two'thirds
vote of both branches, to pass the law
despite his objections. All laws that
come to the governor within five days
before tho adjournment of the legislature
he is able to defeat 10y Withholding his
signature, even though the Legislature be
unanimously in favor of its passage.
Therefore, this is a power that the gov
einor should be slow to exercise.
"Many members were beseechng me
not to overlook their bills. | felt that
as no opportunity could be given TO pass
measures over my veto, that it was my
duty to afhx MY signature to ali meas
ures unless they were clearly unconstl-
tutional, or it was admitted that great
wrong would be done. If 4 had con-
scented to hear arguments, pro and con,
on measures, it would have resulted in
holding the legislature here almost IN
definitely, or to have let many bills die
in my hands. TO accommodate all as far
as p 1ssible, and in order to let all bills
become laws, agreed to work and eX-
anime bills as fast as possible, and 1t
was decided ! could get through by
Tuesday night, so the legislature on Sat
urday stopped receiving bills except by
unanimous consent.
"On Monday morning objections were
raised against the bill, and my office was
filled with gentlemen desiring to be
heard, begging me to defeat the bill, and
in the midst of the confusion Senator
Glass appeared with petition signed by
twenty-five Senators requesting the de-
feat of tie measure. Some friends Of
the bill appeared and said the House
would almost unanimously petition not
TO let the bill die, and thus it was. At
ter consideration | first intended to
hold the bill to hear ohjections] l de-
cided that the best and fairtst course for
me to pursue was to sign the bill at once
and make it law, and let the legislature
repeal it, if it thought best, as no repeal
bill could be introduced until after it had
been signed. Both Houses were in ses-
sion. and could have remained as long as
they desired, and if any great wrong had
been done it would have been their duty
to have remained and repealed the Law.
If | had held it till Tuesday evening,
hearing Arguments, and then have sign
ed it, might have done an injustice; Tor
the legislature would not then have bad
an opportunity to have repealed 1t. As
10 the alignment that they were acting
under rule that no new legislation could
he passed except by unanimous consent,
this is a very ftlacious position. A
majority of the Senators could have re.
scinded the rule In fact Il few moments
afterwards new measure creating a
police officer at the jefferson Hotel was
introduced and passed, and it is als'
true that unanimous consent was given
to introduce bill to repeal this meas
ure, and they tried and failed. If the
legislature lets measure pass through,
that should not have passed. l cannot
see why The odium should be placed
upon the governor | have no DISPOSE
ton TO discuss the merits of the bill, nor
is there any necessity for it.
"If had not approved of it, | would
not have signed it, for have not gotten
to that point where consider myself
wiser than the whole legislature. The
bill, as | understand it, proposes to get
at property that has heretofore kept IT.
self hidden, and pays no tax, and make
it bear its Just proportion OF burden. The
people who pay their taxes ought not to
at such a measure. As to It's
being inquisitorial, this may be so, and
so are all tax laws. They are necessa'
rily so. As understand it, the questions
are the same that are propounded by the
of the Revenue now, and
everybody, those effected by this bill and
all others, have to submit to inquiries OF
a far more inquistorial nature than |
those of this bill. For instance, if you
have pictures hanging On the wall, they
nave to be given in, or if the boys own
, fishing nei or have pair Of goats, or
f saw or Ratchet is used for repairs
lbout tie place, or you have an old
watch, or if your wife has a harp, or
title piece of jewery or a little silver
,late, all have to be given in, and then
he same questions about your income,
md capital invested in business, etc,
re propounded to the ordinary citizen,
.nd it is all kept on record at the clerks
flee. As / have said, | do not feel
alled upon to discuss the merits or de-
merits of the bill. Other States have
he same law, and it is reported as work
ng well, and perhaps 1t will prove best
Or us to have experimental with it. |
10 not see that this is more Objectionable
han other laws, but if the bill had OBJ
ectons it ought to have been defeated
" the members voting against it, and
ot after DAYS and weeks Of discussion to
ave passed it, and then petition the
overnor to defeat what they passed. l
mink it was hardly fair in Senators to
ASS a law and then petition the governor l
, defeat il, and if he did not desire to
O SO, or could not see his way clear to {
. so if he so desired, TO hold him up q
" criticism, if not abuse, on the floor OF
le Senate, where his voice could not be c
card. A lme.honored custom, beauti- a
Il in its observance, has been that Meth e
House of the General Assembly should d
Duse each other, or the Executive, or f