The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-16

right,
 Mir. Heflin--That is it exactly and. I thank the gentleman from Tuscaloosa for making that point. was ui1der- taking to get to 1t. but he has ex- pressed 1t better than I could. That Is the meat that am striking at now. It gives him a power he has not now and robs the Legislature of the right 1t has now and for that reason think this part of the report ought to De stricken out and the Governor ought to be required to sign these bills be- fore the Legislature adJourns. and he should not be given the power to sign or refuse to sign a bill when the Gen. eral Assembly which created 1t has ad- journed.
 Mir. Wilson (Clarke)---fwhen first read this Section of this Article l agreed with what has been said by the gentleman from Chambers. It struck me that 1t was increasing the powers of the Governor so far as his duties in connection with the law-making power Is concerned. But after further con- sideration 1t iB perfectly apparent to me that this particular provision does not in any way increase the powers of the Governor in this respect. Under the Constitution, as it now is and which it is not proposed to change, If bill reaches the Governor within five days before adjournment of the Legislature, all the Governor has to do to kill 1t is simply to keep 1t. He does not have to veto 1t and return 1t to the Gen eral Assembly and thereby give the General Assembly the right. which the gentleman from Chambers insists 1t should have, of passing the bill over his veto. He does not have to return 1t to the General Assembly at all. He neither has to approve it or veto 1t, but if he just laws 1t aside. 1t does not become a law. So say this provision does not in any way give the Governor any further power to kill legislation.
 The gentleman from Montgomery says it is to be presumed that any conscientious Governor would not hold a bill during those i've days and there by deprive the General Assembly from passing 1t over his veto. concur that he would not and I also believe any conscientious Governor would pot abuse the ten days privilege which is given him to investigate and find out about the merits of the bill and approve 1t after the General Assembly has ad- journed if he sees fit. Not to veto It. he has that power already. not by an express vote, but just to do nothing. I agree that q conscientious Governor would not intentionally stick bill in a pigeon hole or pocket 1t and keep 1t for the five days and not return 1t; but 1t might be that he would not have an opportunity to inform himself so as to form a judgment or he might not have sufficient opportunity to tn- form himself, as pointed out by the del- egate from Macon. to justify his veto or approval of the bill and this ten days additional time may be of great benefit to the Governor in ascertaining what is meritorious legislation and so far from hlndering proper legislation 1t seems to me that 1t is in the interest of meritorious legislation. There may be questions of facts in relation to a bill about which the Governor desires to get further information and about | which he Is unwilling to trust others and this ten days will give him the opportunity of finding out those things which might lead to his approval of a good bill, whereas but for this he might neither approve or dlsapprove, and thereby a good provision might become a law where otherwise 1t would not.
 Mir. Fitts--I renew my motion to ta- ble the amendment of the delegate from Chambers.
 A vote being taken the motion to table was carried.
 Mir. Fitts--T now move the adoption | of the Section as amended and upon that I call the previous question.
 Mir. Long (Walker)--I rise to point of order. The gentleman from Tusca- loosa being out of his seat cannot be recognised by the Chair.
 The President--The point of order IS well taken.
 MT. Jones (Montgcmery)--I would call the attention of the Chair to the | fact that permission was given to tho
 members of tho committee to sit to- gether during the debate on their re- port.
 The PYesident,-The Chair does not remember any such resolution.
 Mr. deGraffsnreid--I have an amend ment to that section.
 The amendment was read as follsws: Amend Section I3 by adding after the
 words "to reconsider it' in the fourth
 line the following: If the Governors message proposes no amendment which
 would remove his objection to tho bill,
 the Hous, in which the Dill originated may proceed to reconsider md if the maority of tho whole number elected
 to that House vote for the passage of
 the bill, the bill shall be sent to the other House, which shall in like man
 ner consider 1t and if a majority of
 the whole number Nlected to that
 House vote for the passage of the bill
 the same shall be 9 law, notwith- standing the Governors veto."
 Mr., deGraffenreid-My attention iS called to the fact by tho gentleman who sits wItT. me (Mr. O'NeaD that this section makes no provision for bill
 lecomlng @ law when it is vetoed by | the Governor and the Governor falls tc recommend any amendment to the
 bill, As I read SectioIi 13 it provides
 that in the event the Governor vetoes i a bill, 1t shall he returned to the Gen. erals Assembly, and It further provides | that if the Governor proposes amend ments to the bill the House in which | the originated may reconsider the Dill 1 and ttta amendments and the bill &s | anendGd may be cent to the other | HoustD fahas there rccOnSidered, but
 can find nowhere in the article any ] proyisi6nt for lphssing a bill without | amendment over theo Governors veto. | If under a proper construction of Sec
 ton 13 that Be true, 1t Is because the | gentlemeho thHv4 casually omitted i6 l and my Affiendfnent is to cure what l | think is a defett in that particular
 Mir Lowe Jefferson)-Spcakins in connection and along the line Ot the
 amendment the gentleman has offered, | it seems to me that the proposition
 embraced in the report uf the com
 mitkee Is the most radical and the most | far-reaching that has yet come before
 this Convention. The proposition crn- | braces the idea and carries with 1t the 1 theory tat te Governor may move 1 oYnsndments to bills pending before