The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-07

Our constitution contemplates that
the governor shall have voice in
legislation by means of veto power.
The veto power given him by the 18th
article of the amendments is not sub
stantial and practically of little eff
! feet. The same majority which orr
! ginally passed a bill can pass it over
his objection. The result is that
! vetoes by governors have sometimes
! deceived but scant consideration and
! governors have often refrained from
rislling a veto which had so little eff
fect.
1t is a curious fact that while the
veto power has declined until it has
become practically nom existent In
England, whence we take so largely
our institutions, in this country it has
been preserved and its use by the
executive increasingly sustained by
public sentiment. The reason is not
far to find. In England the crown is
hereditary and hence not representa-
tive of the people in the sense that
the parliament is; but in this country
the president as an elective officer is
just as representative of the people
as congress and the governors of states
as their respective legislatures. In
deed, while our senators and repre-
sentatives are elected by only local
constituencies the governor is elected
by the whole people.
The constitution of the United
States and of thirty-two of the states
require a two-thirds vote to pass a
bill over a veto, some two-thirds of
all the members and some only two
thirds of those present. If the gov
ernor is to have a constitutional part
in law making, and we believe such
is the desire of the people and that it
is a wise provision, then more than a
majority should be required to pass a
bill over his objection.
PROPOSAL THREE
That Sections I, 2, and of Ar
ticIe (24) of the Amendments to the
Constitution be amended to read as
follows:
"Article (24), Section 1. The gen.
eral assembly shall meet biennally on
the first Wednesday next after the
first Monday of January, beginning
A. D. 1915.
"section 2. The governor, Iieuten-
ant governor, treasurer, secretary of
state, auditor of accounts, senators,
town representatives, assistant judges
of the county court, sheriffs, high
baiIiffs, states attorneys, judges of
probate and justices of the peace,
shall be elected biennally, on the first
Tuesday next after the first Monday of
November, beginning A. D. 1914.
Section q. The term of office Of
senators and town representatives
shall be two years, commencing on
the first Wednesday next after the first
Monday of January following their
election.
"Section S. The term of the assist
ant judges of the county court, sher-
ifs, high baIiffs, states attorneys,
judges of probate and justices of the
peace, shall be two years, and shall
commence on the first day of Febru-
airy next after their election"
And that a new section, to be known
as Section 6, be added as follows
"Section 6. The persons who shall
be severaly elected in 1912 to the Of
fees mentioned in this article shall
hold such offices until the term Of
their successors elected the first Tues
day next after the first Monday Of
November, A. D. 1914, shall begin as
herein provided"
1t has been suggested that the re-
suit of our September election in pres
idential years was something of an in
dex of the tendency throughout the
country of the presidential election |
to follow. Possibly holding our state
election thus in advance of other states |
gives us some political Importance; |
but it hardly could be said that such |
a consideration, whether imaginary or
real, should materially affect a matter |
Of state convenience and economy.
1t would save the expense and |
trouble of two elections in presidential |
years to follow the practice Of almost
every other state and hold our free
mems meeting on the first Tuesday af-
ter the first Monday of November.
Such a change would naturally re-
quire the general assembly to convene
early in January, which is almost the
universal practice of the other states.
That date ought to be equally II not
more convenient for members and 9TH
ers who attend upon the legislature.
1t is understood that one of the ORR
ginal reasons for October sessions was
to avoid the inconvenience of winter
travel. With the advent of railroads
that reason is no longer potent.
change of date of the freemen's
meeting and Of the session Of the gen.
era1 assembly would necessitate a
change in the beginning of the term
Of certain officers. The governor and
other state officers elected on the
ticket with him could begin their term
as now, when the general assembly
has canvassed their votes and de-
rlared their election and thew hava