The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-20
GOVERNOR VETOES
four MEASURES
Disapproves of Bills Offered by
Messrs. Smith, Sefb, Dow
ling and Frater

Gov. Johnson has given a pocket veto
to Sherman Smiths bill for a consti-
tutional amendment to permit special
legislation for cities not operating un-
der home rule charters.
The Smith bill was bitterly opposed
by Minneapolis newspapers, which in
sisted that IL opened the door to legis-
lative interference in municipal affairs
1t provides that special laws may be
passed affecting cities not having home
rule charters 1t has no reference to
St Paul Gov. Johnson took the posi-
ton that if the privilege of special leg
islation was to be accorded to any cit
les of the state it should be extended
to all cities and villages. The govern
or's view is that special legislation is
wrong in theory and by refusing to
sign the bill he vetoes il beyond resur-
rection for two years.
The governor yesterday signed all the
bills that had been submitted to him
for his signature by the legislature. ex-
cept four from which he withheld his
signature. The governor had worked
fndUstriously examining the character
of the bills submitted to him from
Monday, when the shower of bills
began to pour in upon him, and
Atty. Gen. Young and his office men
cooperated with him. The last bill
was signed after o'clock last night
and the governor breathed a sigh of
relief as he attached his signature to
the bill.
Vetoes the Selb Bill
One of the bills vetoed is the Selb bill.
permitting remuneration for former
county surveyors who incurred ex-
pense for carriage hire in inspecting
county roads. Gates A. Johnson, for
rner county surveyor. was made ben
enclary TO the extent of several hun
dred dollars by the terms of the bill.
His bill had been disallowed by the
county commissioners, and an appeal
was taken to the courts. The supreme
court held that no warrant existed at
law for the payment of the amount.
The governor was advised that the
Selb bill contemplated the legaliZing of
an illegal act, and he refused to sign
the bill.
P. E. Dowling's bill, authorizing the
creation of water and light boards by
appointment by district judges, was
also refused a signature by the COVER
nor. Gov. Johnson took the position
that the proper authority for the ap-
pointment of members of purely local
boards is in the city council of the
city for which the board is created,
and that a district judge often far re-
moved from the city or village where
the board is named, in the nature of
things cannot make the appointments
intelligently.
DisapproVes Frater Bill
Still another bill which will not be-
come a law because of the governors
refusal to sign ii was the Frater bill
to permit the organization of mutual
implement dealers insurance COM
panies. IL is said that the bill repealed
law which the governor was advised
was better law than that contem-
plated by the Frater bill
Gov. Johnson signed the omnibus
appropriation bill without disturbing
any of the schedules contained in it.
He has the authority to make changes
in the appropriations bill, but after
giving it careful attention did not see
any place where any large saving
could be made TO the state without in
terfering with the usefulness of the in
stitution proposed to be benefited by
the appropriation.
The Hickey bill to require county
licenses for liquor agents who sell orig
inal packages of alcoholic liquors,
was vetoed by the executive. The
terms of the bill were so ambiguous
that, acting on the recommendation of
the states legal adviser, the governor
pocketed the bill and it will not be-
come a law.