The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-12
first; VETO
SUSTAINED.
Mccarthy Sends Strong
Message to Board Of
Aldermen.
OBJECTS TO The WORDING
The Spirit Of the Ordinance All.
RightN1r. Zin,incr111aA1n's
Statement.

! III Ssh
Mayor Me arthy last night sent a mes
sage to the Board Of Aldermen, withhold
Ing hls approval OF an ordinance offered
by Mr.. zimmerman and adopted by both
branches, allowing three members OF any
committee to .'anthorize" and approve
monthly pay-rolls, and 1t was ula I'M.
lnously sustained by the body.
It was Ills Honors first veto since his
Inauguration, and 1t was earnestly list
ened to blythe members. The patron OF
the ordinance Mr.. zimmerman, arose
and made d manly speech, stating that he
had offered 1T wholly to facilitate the
business OF the city, and expressing his
qualification that the Mayors objections
related mainly to the wording Of the
paper. He then voted TO s,s tain All the
veto. Eii4s I'LL IS. tit5t d,
The veto was widely remarked upon rs
a strong paper, and there was no disposi-
tdon whatever to resist It from any
!, - a. MAYORS FIRST VETO.
Mayor NIcC arthy's objections to the ord I
% October I, 1901.
y =
Gentlemen:-1 reluctantly return to you .,
without my approval the ordinance emu
tied IAN ordinance proylIdlnE 9ha t noee
mittees shall be a sufficient number !; 3 e d 70
authorize and pass on pay rolls, aaopt9eS9
1 BY your honorable body septemb Der ~.
1904 and conquered an by the CoIHHlAo'li
d say reluctantly because have no
purpose or desire at any time to make al
eapious objections to cts qna eet
{hasty, deficient, defective, or dangerous
legislation. and to give time ana oee e.
sion for rceonsidera ton, and not 20 la s,n
tive body. / am thus particular. to ex.
plain because this happens to be the first
icrca sion fer the use OF the veto
n1a y
4 a.. The title is defective and misle d
Ing becausegit describes the ordinance as
]" providing that three mem bersg OF any. OF
the Council committees shall be a sum.
Client number, to authorize and pass on
pay rolls. \
Now surely the author could not have
q
ably the word intended was "approve.,,s
(2). The concluding words OF the ordl-.i
nance are hard to construe, and are as
Shall be transacted by any committee
unless majority of such committee IS
represen ted 4" t would re difficult, to {, say "a
hat Tou Ia wors wss
tended where resent ted is used.
q (3) The words b three mem ers Of any
of the Council committees shall he e s a I
on n the paw rolls Of such committees
are reasonably capable Of being con-
strued to@mean that three mem berss OF
committee and should, therefore, be 4
made more expliclt..s Z.
SS ~ The ordinance does not suggest or
require any certiflcation or audit by any
department head, but fully
and completely empowers three mem 4
bers'' to authorize and pass on pay
rolls.
4 90 The ordinance has not been referred 4
to or considered by any committee of the 4
Council. nor has It been revised by the A
city, auditor. and this fact may account
4 little. imperfections noted were cor,
requiring every pay roll. before pTesen-,
tatinn proper =, comi.te en
person In the auditors office, there would
pro badly be no sufficient reason for Wit
holding approval, but the fact g .Would. re-
the city is loose. lacking In uniformity
and precision. and needs revision and re-
construction-probably also the per-
vision and care of a raymaster.8 5si3
small majority Of a. committee should
audit and pay the large sums represe nted
by pay rolls, while a. present nj jority
Is required to authorize the payment Of
the smallest bill due a citizen for s GOODS
furnished the city. q:
q (s) AS municipal pay rolls everywhere
furnish the ireadiest opportunity for franc.
and the means most frequently employed;
! am opposed to any step which would
sen the rlgor OF the scrutiny Of the accu-
racy OF every item whic h they represent.
& (9) In view OF the fact that more than
of the entire gross revenue
Of the city is consumed by It's pay. rolls,
the serious import of the maj tiers herein
discussed becomes palpable and SUGGESTS 4
Very respectfully, your most obedient
servant, .
~