The Saint Paul globe., 1905-03-28

Gov. John A. Johnson yesterday ex-
ercised his veto power as governor for
the first time. In a communication ad-
dressed to the senate he attached his
veto to senate file No. 4, known as the
Horton bill. The bill gives control of
the new state capitol for the next two
years to the capitol commission.
The governors action was a surprise
only to those who had not been follow
ing the trend of recent events at the
state capitol Railroaded through the
senate at a night session soon after the
legislative session began, twelve SEN
ators registered their protest to the
Horton bill and the taking from the
Democratic governor of the state pre-
negatives which had been always en-
Joyed by his predecessors. In the house
the Horton bill, as it came from the
senate, was so amended that its author
scarcely recognized ii. BY a vote of
6S to az the bill was put through the
house after being amended by the pub
lie buildings committee. Then ii was
sent to the appropriations committee
There the bill was rewritten, and on
the final vote again twelve votes were
recorded against 1t. The senate con-
CURED in the house amendments, with
but scattering votes against il, and the
bill went to the governor last Friday
Rumors had been current that the
6ONNihOi lcluSt W SlBH the Dill.
Gov. Johnson, to all inquiries, refused
to Indicate his position, but those
closest to the governor said that he
would return the bill to the senate with
communication giving his reasons for
refusing to affiX his signature to it.
Yesterday the governor made good on
the prophecies of his friends.
Governor Outlines Position
The veto message is admitted to be
strong presentation of the adminis-
tration's position. 1t calls attention to
the fact that always in the past the
governor has been considered equal to
the task of being the custodian of pub
lie buildings of the state. 1t invites
consideration of the occupancy of the
new building by three coordinate arms
of the state government, and says that
the building is 80 nearly completed
that its tenants should be there by le-
gal warrant instead of being mere
guests of the capitol commission.
The governor tells the legislature
that the function of the capitol COM
mission is to build and not to operate
the new building, and that the Horton
bill is an invitation to the commission
to delay its completion of the new
building. He says that the provisions
of the Horton bill are an intimatiou
that the governor is not competent to
manage the new statehouse
AS a substitute he recommends that
another bill be passed, giving the gov
| ernor a reasonable appropriation for
the control of both capitols and au-
| thority to employ under civil service
| rules such employees as are required to
have a technical knowledge of their
| work.
Frank A. Day, private secretary to
the governor, delivered the veto mes
sage to S. A. Langum, secretary of the
senate, at IL o'clock yesterday morn
ing. The senate had just adjourned.
A few minutes later Lieut.. Gov. Jones
returned the veto and the bill to the
| governors office with the request that
| they be deposited in the vault in the
| governors rooms until today when the
senate will formally receive the veto.
Veto Not Too Late
Gov. johnson had no knowledge that
the senate had adjourned or that it was
to be in session yesterday for less than
| an hour. The fact that the senate
had adjourned for the day, however, is
not taken as indicating any defect in
the service of the veto message. Par
| liamentarians agree that while he had
had the bill for three days, the gov
ernor might legally have mailed IL to
the senate yesterday and his veto
would have been legally in time to con-
Stitute veto in the eyes of the law.
1t is unlikely that the question will
be raised, so apparently clear is the
status of the veto.
The governors veto message, though
it had been half expected by the
friends of the Horton bill, was in the
nature of a sensation. While the SEN
ate had adjourned when it reached that
body, it was the sole topic of discus
sion about the capitol yesterday after
noon.
1t will require AZ votes in the senate
and rs in the house to pass the bill
over the governors head. Sentiment
about the capitol was marked in de-
Claring that no such number of votes
could be secured to bolster up a cause
which so many members of both par
| ties agreed had no merit to start with.
A number of Republican members
sought the governors office during the
| afternoon. They extended their con-
| gratuIations upon what one of them
termed the governors sand" and as
| Sured him that they would stand with
| him in maintaining the rights confer
| red by his office.
Gov. Johnson was seen late in the
| afternoon.
Il have nothing TO say" he, said,
| further than have said in my mes
| sage. My views on the Horton bill are
| expressed in that message clearly, !
hope. But I do not consider it a proper
| subject for private discussion"
Senator Hiler H Horton. father OF
the, bill, was not at the capitol yester-
| day. He was reported to be Ill at his
| home "A call at his residence last night
| confirmed the report. The Ramsey
county member was confined to his bed
| and visitors were denied admission to
his room
Knife Out for Governor
Whether or not the Horton bill Is
| ma SSpd over tha fyovarpor,c l,ood tha