The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-25
WILMINGTON, N. c.
TUESDAY DECEMBER %, 1906.
THE VETO POWER.

There are only two states in The
union which hold elections of state
officers every EMBELLISHMENTS and
Rhode Island. Also, there are only two
states which do 10 give the governor
the veto power over the acts Of he
legislature. These are North Carolina
and Rhode Island.
In the last named state the question
is being agitated Of doing away with
both Of these. Little RhOdy wants TO
do away with the inconvenience and
excitement OF such oft recurrence OF
political campaigns and also TO give
the governor the same power over the
action Of the legislature rs is eXer-
cised by the chief executives of forty
three out of the forty-fiye states Of the
union. If this is done North Carolina
will be the only state in which this
power is denied the governor.
What the new state Of Oklahoma Will
do in this respect is not known, but
she is likely to follow the great majCr-
ity of states and vest her governor with
this power.
We may be mistaken, but we do not
think there is any great public senti-
ment in this state favoring such a
change in our constitution. We DO not
think the question has ever been seri-
ously agitated among Il people. We
dc not believe the agitation Of the
question among them would amount
to anything. The idea would not take
with them. Ours are the most con-
sentative people of any state in the
union md the most opposed to changes
and innovations.
Our people might be willing to eE-
tend the terms of all state officers,
men and president and vice president
SO as to make less frequent the worry
and excitement of biennial elections,
for there are many who think the COM
mercial affairs of the country are 100
frequently disturbed by the political
contests which, under present laws reg
ulatins terms of offices, SO closely fol-
low each other.
The veto power of the governors CT
the states and OF the president of the
United States has been carried far be-
yond what il was at first contemplated
TO be or what Was actually exercised
by the state and federal chief execa-
tives in the earlier days Of the repu3-
lie. We do not believe it vas originally
intended that the will of one man
should, under ordinary circumstances,
thwart that of the chosen representa-
tives Of the people in the matter CT
legislation. The veto destroys the prin-
ciple of the rule of the majority and
requires the consensus Of two-thirds OF
the legislative body to overcome the will
of one man VINO is not clothed by the
people with any legislative power what
ever. Under this power an executive
arc tc see that the will OF the legiSia-
tive body is carried out, can thwart
the will Of that body and say to the
people that the laws their representa-
tives enact shall not be enforced. Only
in most extraordinary cases should this
veto power be exercised by those Of
ficers upon whom it has been conferred.
This was the view taken Of the matte.
in the earlier days of our country, but
in late years the power has been great
~ enlarged by repeated usage and the
executive has come to be looked upon
as a part Of the legislative branches of
the government of the nation and Of
those states which have conferred on
their governors the right to nullify
tie action CT their legislatures.
We a.e cIaa 10 know that there is no
G..sfoe:tion among the people Of orr
e.t't % Greats sch great one-man-
r1"cr IN m:t.crs e leci.!ation.