Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-09
vERNOR'S VIEW
Bill for Appointment Of Commits
sioners Of Valuation.
lie Docs Not Think He Should be Criticised
For Signing the Act-Thc Newly En-
acted Law Defended by the Executive :
Reasons for His Faith.

Reasons for His Faith.
Governor Tyler has given out the fol-
lowing statement OF his reasons for
approving the bill providing for the
appointment of Commissioners; OF Nal-
uation:
Il cannot see wherein l can he Justly
censured for having Signed ut once the
blu for the appointment OF commits
sioners of valuation. The Constitution
vests in the Governor the right of veto.
| but allows the Legislature. by a TWO
thirds vote of both branches, to pass
the law despite his objections All laws
that come 10 the Governor within five
days before the adjournment OF the
Legislature lie is able 10 defeat by
Withholding his signature. even though
the Legislature unanimously in favor
OF lis passage. Therctre this is Il
power the Governor should be slow to
exercise.
not to overlook their bills. | felt that
as no opportunity could he given 10
pass measures over my veto that ii
WAS my duty TO atix my signature to
all measures unless they were rlaurly
unconstituiional.' or IL was admitted
mat great wrong would be done. III I
had consented To hear arguments nro
ana con. on measures. 1t would have
resulted III holding tho Legislature
mere almost indefinitely. or to have lct
many bills die in my hands. 10 accom-
modatc NIL rs far as possible and in
order to let all bills become laws. [
agreed to work and examine bills os
n
could get through by Tuesday night
SO the Legislature on Saturday stopped
consent. ="
THE OBJECTION
On Monday morning objections we're
raised against the bill, and my office
VAS lllled with gentlemen desiring to
DC neard, begging me to defeat the bill
ana III the midst of the confusion soma
tor Glass appeared with petition sign
ca by twenty-five Senators requesting
me defeat of the measure. Some
friends of the bill appeared and said
the House would almost unanimously
petition not to let the bill die. and thus
u was. After consideration Il first in
.enued To hold the bill to hear oh
Jections) / decided that the best and
iaircst course for me to pursue was
10 sign the bill at once and make II a
Jaw. ana let the Legislature repeal ii
IL 1t thought best. as no repeal hill
could be introduced until after it had
Deen signed. Both Houses were I'm
session. and could have remained nc;
long as they desired. and if any great
| wrong had been done 1t would have
neen their duty TO have remained and
repealed the law. If I had held it till
Tuesday evening. hearing arguments
ana then have signed it. / might have
done an injustice; for the Legislature
would not then have had an on
portunity To have repealed it, AS TO
the argument that they were acting
under Il rule that no new legislation
could be passed except by unanimous
consent, this is Il very fallacious pcsi-
ton. \ majority OF the Senators could
have rescinded the rule. In fact n few
moments afterwards a new measure
creating police officer ut the jefferson
Hotel was introduced and passed. and
1t is also true that unanimous consent
was given to introduce IL bill to re-
peal this measure, and they tried and
failed. II the Legislature lets "A
measure pass through. that should not
have passed. cannot see why The
odium should be placed upon the Gov
ernor.' have no disposition to dis
cuss tie merits of the bill, nor Is there
any necessity for 1t.