The Western news. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1890-1977, 1905-03-08
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION BILL
AMONG THE REST.
SYNOPSIS OF new MADE. LAWS
Anti-Fusion Bill Killed Governor
Toole Approves Local Option
Primary Law.

Helena, March 6.-The railway COM
mission bill, passed by the legislature
which has just closed, was vetoed late
this afternoon by Gov. Toole. Nj. L.
Davidson of Dillon, Nathan Godfrey
of Two Dot and c. J. Mcnamara of
Helena were named as commissioners
| in the measure.
Governor Toole gives five reasons
for vetoing the bill. The first objcc-
ton is that the appointing power rests
with the executive rather than with
the legislature if the commissioners
are to be appointed at all. He states,
| however, that the commissioners
| should be chosen by the people. AS
sutnng that the Legislature has the
power of appointment, GovernorToole-
says the policy of exercising it is
| wrong and inexpedient.
Regarding the plan of appointing
| the commissioners beyond two regular
elections, Governor Toole says it is in
herently wrong and manifestly vic
ious. AS a fourth objection, Govern
or Toole says the bin is defective in
that it does not provide for the SUM
mary removal by the governor of any
of the commissioners who negleCts his
duty or who is guilty of malfeasance,
the only provision for the removal of
the commissioners being the ordinary
| criminal procedure.
In his last objection, Governor Toole
says there is no limit to the indebted
ness which may be created against
the state, in spite of the fact that the
bill carries an appropriation of S40,-
900 for the maintenance of the COM
mission for two years.
In concluding, Governor Toole says
that theirs was ample time between
Feb. "a and March ,, while the bill
was yet in the hands of the represcn-
tatives to have 50 framed it, II they
desired in good faith to pass it, as to
have obviated the objections which
the legislature well knew the eXecu-
tive would make to it. But the leEis-
lature failed and refused to take sucl
steps as were likely to secure its hna
passage as law.
A "Instead of this" said Governo
Toole, "a ma iority of the house o
= representatives proceeded in ba'
: temper and worse taste to pass a re
solution in the nature of Censure dir
f ected at the governor for the express
z ion of an opinion which it knew woul
be controlling in this bill-a resolr
ton so extraordinary and unpreced
X ented that the senate, promptly, per
emptorily, unceremoniously and prac
e tically unanimously, killed it,"
h Anti.Fusion Bill Killed.
Brennan's anti-fusion bill was We
to toed by Governor Toole today. Thi
a bill provided for candidates nam
s. only appearing on ballot once, an
was aimed to prevent fusion betwee
it. political parties and to stop the en-
RS less chain system. In his veto me
saee, Governor Toole says that in h
s.. opinion the only feature which cor
S mends the bill outside of prevent;r
the endless chain system, is that
c. would reduce the size of the ballot
is eliminating those political parti
cd which could not reasonably hope +
Mt success at the polls without atfiliatio
O. with some other recognized polite
party. The veto says that while Il
ct bill may tend to prevent the recogr
On ton of mushroom parties, believed
W. many to have no greater motive b
m hind them for existing than a divi
on ion of the offices, without regard
he the principles advocated, yet IN tn
RS. day and generation there seems to
les widespread effort to enlarge rath
me than curtail the rights of the peop
i'd 1t is better to submit to this imp'
no fection, if imperfection there be, tn;
ar to fly to others, which might be wor
by by adopting a new method at variar
in and out of harmony with the spirit
the the times.
in Governor Toole approved senate /
by No. 79, by Waite, relating to prima
Lrs. elections. Also the measure legal
hit, ing Harve improvement warrants.
ter
I'M
,;s Reviewing the work of the Nir
IeniSlatiye assembly, which ad diOul