The age-herald., 1901-03-04
VOICE OF YETOES
 VANQUISHED VIM Hard-Wrought Legislation De-
 feated by Governor MUCH WORK MADE USELESS An Amendment Caused the End Of One Bill and Another BiiI Was XIII. cd Because 1t Was It,
 Leaders Talk.

The veto by Governor Sanford Of the Birmingham Mayoraity veto and street improvement reassessment bills, respect lively, produced sensation In Rirnins- ham after the news was imperted by the Age-Heraid yesterday morning.
 The impression upon the public mind appeared to be far from pleasing, for there was the utmost confusion as to the real significance of the vetoes, uncertainty as to the probable consequences. and a degree of irritation that needed lestsla- ton had been thwarted by somebody, s blundering. whether the mistake. of the Governor or another, nobody seemed to be quite certain. s.
 Many men were angered. others an- forted in a way by conflicting feeiinse; altogether the state of the public mind not being as calm and collected as might be expected on an ordinary Sunday.
 But to analyze public sentiment would be impossible, for no two men seemed to entertain identical views concerning a condition that was vexatious at best
 It appears that the Mayoralty veto bill was mysterfously amended on It's pass age by providing that the City Council of Birmingham should have power to regulate street fairs and other fairs within the city limits. Governor Sanford seeing in this all manner of mischief, and holding the bill to be unconstitutional, vetoed the measure. and thereby gave his critics the opportunity of quoting the celebrated oracular words of the Black Prince who found the French girls gar ter on the ballroom floor and restored 1t to her with the remark, "ony soy ouee molly pougs," or French words to that effect. the which meaneth something like Evil to him who evi1 thinks"
 Alderman Jones Taiks.
 Alderman Harry Jones who originated the bill and who was responsible for it, said last night:
 ''rhe Mayoralty veto bill was amended without the consent of the legislative committee of the City Council, and with out any degree of knowledge on my part; and must say that had been in Mont gomery and seen the bill after 1t had passed with the objectionable amendment I would have asked the Governor to veto 1t! .ass.. ..... .-.. .s..
 ''I think 1t an outrage that a measure solely for the public good should be de- stroyed by the addition of an unclean and improper rider! To think that a measure to purify things should be killed by an impure amendment is very dis- couraging. to say the least"
 Asked if he would return to Montgom- cry today and endeavor to adjust the differences between the Governor and the vetoed bill. Alderman Jones said:
 No! If I were to see the Governor 1t would be to thank him for his veto"
 It was asserted about town that cer- tain powerful property interests were op- posed to the re-assessnent bill, and that this influence had operated to bring about the Governors veto.
 Robert J. Lowe.
 Hon. Robert j. Lowe, the city attorney, said that he might go to Montgomery to see if anything could be done to save legislation 90 pressingly required. Asked for a statement, Mir. Lowe said:
 ''I have read the Governors message accompanying his veto of the bill to au- thorize the board to reassess the costs of certain street Improvements. I think the veto was due to misapprehension on the part of the Governor of the purpose and scope of the bill.
 Some years ago certain improvements were made and the costs thereof assessed against the property improved thereby Some of the owners declined to pay, and depended on technical grounds. This bill merely contemplated and provided for re- assessments free from the objections made to the prior aseessments
 "As to the veto of the bill siving to the Mayor the veto power. know of no objection to the bill. I framed tho orisi- nal bill. I am informed that the veto is based upon certain amendments made thereto while the bill was on its passage. have not seen the arnsndments. nor had I ever heard that any apsndmsnt had been contemplated or prcposed. | de not know what, the s.srendpents srs and therefore cannot speak furtnsr.'" .~,
 Other men conspicuous in city affairs declined to talk for publication.