The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-03
Talk Of Taking it to the Courts
Discounted.
SOME FAVOR EXTRA SESSION
Better Opinion, However, Seems to Be
That the Matter Viii Stand as at
Present and That Friends of the
Measure Viii Abandon Both
Schemes Freely.
Final Session.


Governor Montague in bold and clear,
cut message to the Senate yesterday af-
ternoon vetoed the bill passed by the
Legislature a few days ago rcapporhon-.
ing the State into congressional districts.
The document which was read in the
Senate q; few minutes after six O'Clock,
and which will be found i'll full below,
furnished the grand climax for a session
OF the Legislature which has been fu.
of life and interest. The veto message
carnot be said to have caused great sur
prise for the better opinion of. those close
10 His Excelency had been for some days
that the bill would not be approved.
The Governors objections to the bill
lie in his contention that the object OF
any apportionmen is the equalization OF
population and the compactness of area
OF the several districts, and that the bill
failed to meet either OF these recu
lrcnts. He then goes on at some length
and in a very able manner TO argue toA
this contention.
CoMMENDEp AND CONDEMNED.
Democrats III the city last right from
The First Sixth and Eighth Districts
werc jubilant over the veto message and
IaNishiy praised the Governor for what
they termed his bold and fearless posi-
tion. There was plenty OF adverse COM
ment however. coming. in a large meas
urc, from those who have fought Tor the
bill in the Legislature.
The friends of the measure were talk
ing last night of Two plans for putting
the law into operation, Notwithstanding
The action OF the Governor, but It seemed
10 be the better opinion that neither
ALL l,r,1 tod hut h2 Ia
would so over and be brought UP again
at the next session of the Legislature,
which will be, in all likelihood this ia II.
One of the plans is 10 take the bill into
the courts and the et!ierl is to recall the
Legislature and pass the measure over
the Governors S veto.
So far as could be learned there had
been on formal conference of the friends
Of the measure and no definite plans had
been arranged up to last night. The sug
Sestion that the body call itself into eH-
ira session does not meet with much ia
Nor. A number Of members who voted
FOR tho bill said last night that they
would not sign call, and the signatures
OF tlree-fifths of the members OF both
branches being rcquired.lt seems doubt.
full if a call could be secured.
QUESTION OF HIS RIGHT.
The right of the Governor to veto the
bill is questioned BY some lawyers, and
il is those who hold to this view that
favor going into the courts.
The mode Of procedure would probably
be to ask the Court of Appeals for
,nandamus TO compel the Keeper Of the
Rolls of the House of Delegates to place
the bill in the Acts of Assembly of the
session lust ended 1t is suggested that
If the case is fought out on this line it
may ultimately go to the United States
Supreme Court
But those who hold that the Gocvrnors $
SS,.,,, !,
do not fear that any court will ever pass
upon it, but that this view of the mat
Ter will be abandoned. They contend
that where the Federal statute uses the
Term Legislative it undoubtedly con-
templates the law making power OF the
State which is the General Assembly, and
The Governor. They also point TO the fact
that all repapportionment bills enacted
IN the past have been either approved or
vetoed by The Governor. In 1889 Governor
Cameron vetoed bill reapportioning the
State. and after consultation With at
torneys as to the matter Of taking 1t 10
Tho courts. the friends of the measure
abandoned The idea and passed the bill
over the Governors veto. Judge berry-
man Green, of Isanvilc and a number or
other strong lawyers expressed the opln-
ion last night that there was nothing
whatever in the contention against the
Governors right to veto or approve. On
the other hand. one of the strong law
rers of a nearby city vas at the Gov
crnor-s Office just before the message
was sent to the Senate, and urged thar
there were strong points in the arGu-
ment against the right of the Governor to
veto the measure.
There was one opinion. however,
expressed last night about which there
was but little difference, and that was
that the action of the Governor was cou-
rageous 10 a degree.
TALK WITH SENATOR G' ASS.
The veto was the, all abeorbing topic
smong the public men last night. and ex-
pressions Of con,mendation and condem-
nation We're heard on every hand
State Senator Glass. who lives in the
Sixth District sat serenely in his seat ir
the Senate Chamber wife the Governors
veto message was being read. betrayine
no evidence Of SURPRISE at the Executives
action After the Senate adjourned Mr.
Glass, responding to a question from
Times reporter. expressed g"eat satislac'
tIon over the veto. ''I confidently expect
ed that the Governor would veto the at
said the Lynckburg member. and coult
not imagine that he would he 1rdpced te
approve It. Aside rom IS ',lafn dtrreFa {
Of constitutional requirements. the act
from other points of view. was objection.
able In that 1t made unnecessary. unrea-
.onaile and in some particulars. indefen.
sible alterations In certain districts I,
aismcmbered the Sixth District and prac-
:icaliy turned It over to the Republicar
party and in the doing of it DESTROYED
the eauilihrium OF population in all tht
adjacent districts aud made a seosra.,1.
ical phenomenon of the Tenth.
..Ta,e the map and look at the geo.
graphical scheme Of the Tenth District
for Zen minutes and IT vii, give sAoY night.
re fn,. = a.eei Ii Is IL nlcssf fea rfllilS