The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-06-19

ses of the state government, etc."
which clearly brought it under the
constitutional provision quoted.
Before taking up the appropriations
for the colleges, Governor Jennings,
upon the ground in each case that,
This item is objected to and not APP
proved for the reason that it is con-
sidered an unnecessary sppropris-
tion," vetOes the following items of
appropriation, sggregating $1,000.
For printing supreme court
records. ....--...- .........S | OUU
For rewards for and expenses
of capturing fugitives from
Justlce.----..... ...... ! 900
For printing delinquent tax
lists .................. % 600
For jurors and witnesses be-
fore grand juries. ........... So 600
For interest on state bonds % 600
He then proceeds TO point out that the
state supreme court, In an advisory
opinion written by Mr.. Justice West.
colt, the greatest jurist Florida has
produced, in 14th Florida, page 2S4,
has construed the constitutional pro-
vision to limit appropriations in such
bill as this to-
1. Salaries of public officers.
,. To other current expenses" of
the state.
Current expenses of the state
must, in my opinion, be limited to
the ordinary expenses of the state,
and does not contemplate or author
ize the expenditure of such appropri-
ations for the purchase of sites for
school buildings or building perma-
nent school houses, or other perma-
nent buildings"
He quotes definitions of current
expenses" of a government from
opinions of the United States supreme
court and the supreme courts of sew
eral of the states, and proceeds to
give reasons for vetOing items which
he had to disapprove.
Granting, for the present, that all
of these institutions are entitled to
their current expenses under this con-
stitutionsI provision, and as provided
for in the DILL now under considera.
ten, am sdvised--and il is clearly
the law on the subject--that even
these expenditures must be limited to
current expenses" proper.
II have been urged by many citi-
zens of the localities wherein the sew
eral institutions are located to approve
the bill in toto; have heard argu-
ments, received letters, kilograms,
etc, from many influential citizens
relative thereto. am also urged to
permit the bill to become effective
(if 1 cannot approve it, without my
signature, thus relieving me of the
responsibility of the bill. This, in
deed, would be a pleasing thing to do.
But, the question naturally, arises,
why should shirk duty that might
fall upon others 10 perform. and lead
to greater burdens for the taxpayers
to bear, and complications of the in
terests involved by such failure on
my part?
Having arrived at the firm con.
clusion that it is my duty to eliminate
from this bill, under aad by virtue
of the constitution in such cases made
and provided, all items therein con.
tanned other than appropriations for
the salaries of the public officers and
other current expenses Of the state, /
shall proceed to discharge that duty
by Withholding my approval from
certain items, endeavoring to leave
intact q sufficient amount of money
for each institution to defray the or
binary or current expenses in liber-
al manner.
The veto message concludes with a
statement Of the amounts deducted
from each institution a. follows;
State normal college ...........S "a 100
East Florida Seminary 10000
Florida state college. ........ = $40
South Florida military......... u 600