Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-08
Tel. sls-s5l

this pending action. South Qntahans are
exercised over the affair, as, also arekHDme
persons who reside iw QmAha. The gov
ernor need not pine for assistance or sug-
~Eestlons as 20 whom to select, for many
there be who are ready to tender their SER
vices, both as advisors and members! How
ever, the governor has decided to. take some
time in consideration of this important
matter. He will not name the board for
some days; to say the very least. II. X,
1856, the bill vesting in the coming board
this lower, did not pass with the emer-
gency clause, so 1t will not become effective
for three months. ysa 2ais7'r'
Message from Governor.
Governor Mickey transmitted to the SEN
ate and house this afternoon this message
against the passage Of s. f. ia, the bill
providing for a constitutional conventions:
To the Honorable Speaker and Members
of the House: s.. f. ia, a bill for a Joint
the state to vote at the next election Of
Members of the legislature for or against
a convention TO revise, amend or change the
accordance with section 2, article XIV Of the
constitution of the state of Nebraska, has
been placed in my hands for executive con-
some doubt has been expressed as to the
right of the chief executive to pass upon a
sEGbOIuNNOn AInA5 DhEDOItg buI bGCllOh 10 VI
article v of the constitution provides that:
EVERY bill passed by the legislature, be-
fore It becomes a law and every order, reso.
both houses may be necessary Except on
questions of adjournmenD shall be presented
sign il. and thereupon it shall become a
law, but II he do not approve, he shall
return it3wtth his objections, to the house
Approaching the eomprehensiveness ,9t
the terms used, bill. order" .rssolY.
submitted to me for official action with a
View, a~tfleast OF saving all question as to
The os. Legal onI Sf5est &, ~ Us fd gassasSs sre by acting tine tT f2
dependent and apart from the executive
branch of the eSYerftnent upon 2 matter
80 good admP sovernm snt * the state. ~ saw
II 10 also borne In mind that on a pre-
vious occasion by f h or f o,nt rSsol n hT9
memoriallzing the congress OF the United
States upon the subject Of leasing OF pub
lie lands for grazing purposes ana 3. T.. "a,
being a concurrent resolution memorializing
congress 10 establish the true military
status OF the First Nebraska militia, were
sumably at the request of the legislature.
Fully realizing, therefore, that there may
be some question as to the right OF the
chief executive in any manner TO advise
upon the subject and with the greatest re-
spect for the prerogatiyes OF the legislature
as a coordinate branch of the government
of this state, I at least venture the follow,
ing suggestions by way Of my d~isapproval
as Cniefs executive. roI tine sdOAAOn " pgt.A
houses. In passing concurrent. resolution ia.
0bsectiOnE of Governor.
Z BY reasonSof the great Importance of the
undertaking ana the great expense. incident
to a Constitutional convention. the iegisia-
ture should move, very CAUTIOUSLY IN TAX
convention would entail an approximate sX-
pense on the taxpayers OF SlOO,uOO, possibly
much more, without any certainty or the
results OF such convention being adopted.
1t would be just as difficult to carry at the
polls a proposition authorizing the callns
OF a constitutional convention as y would
be to carry an amendment to the consti-
tuition. The difficulties In the way OF either
PROPOSITION are SERIOUS and those who OPP
pose constitutional amendments on the
ground that experience has shown they
cannot be carried are estopped from argu-
and easier means of relief. Again, 1t would
be impossible to secure results tnrouSh the
medium Of a eonstitntonal eSnventhon oe-
in the most expeditions way
possible. Relief could be afforded by means
OF constitutional amendments In 1904, two
lit is admitted that the constitution is in
adequate In a number OF particulars ana !
amendments rather than by convention; To
undertake at this time 70 revise the whole
organic .aw OF the state, or to place the
whole organic law in jeopardy. as would
be the case should a constitutional conVen-
ton be called, would Interfere with IN
improvements, developments
and with business generally, The consti-
tuition is the bulwark OF justice and safe
gSiard al. our civil rights. 1t shelters life
iberty and property. IL Is a safety valve
ID public sentiment and holds In proper
bounds every instrument and institution OF
society. Before II laws must stand or fall,
and by At The rights Of all the people are
measured, conserved and protected. A new
constitution would require new construc-
ttons and new constructions would require
many years OF expensive litigation before
Tho courts will have as fully construed the
new as they have the old. The matter OF
expense, the matter OF DELAY. the danger
OF unsettling business interests and eondi-
tons and the possibility OF ieopardizine
many provisions OF our organic law whlch
ought not 10 be brought IN question prompt
me TO withhold my approval from this
ibint resolution. In lieu thereof l would
most respectfully ask the house to recon,
Adler the bills proposing constitutions
amendments, which by prior action II has
indefinitely postponed.
ReaaFaed aA Attempt at Veto.
The governors action is generally re-
garded In the house as nothing short Of an
attempt teg veto. AS IL is an open rques-
ton whether the chief executive has me
rf@htA a. vafn foint resoIutfonE NJ this char.