The Delta independent., 1911-06-16
Political Publicity Matters.
By Alva Swain.

The two interesting features OF
the week were the immense mum Der
of vetos by Governor Shafroth and
the announcement OF the fnanclai
condition of the state by State
Treasurer Kenehan. OF the 33i
bills which reached the hands oil
the governor he vetoed 103, signed
1873 and allowed Al to become law
without his signature. OF the lo5
hich he vetoed 60 were the road
and bridge bills appropriating the
internal improvement fund for the
various counties. His veto of these
bills puts this fund under the dl-
rection of the state highway com
mission. In vetoing, the governor
vent farther than any other gov
ernor has ever gone and placed his
disapprova on a submitted consti-
tutional amendment. Many question
his right to do this. 1t requires
two-thirds vote of both houses TO
submit constitutional amendment.
The same vote can pass a bill over
his veto. The governor claims the
right to veto constitutional am end
Gnents on the ground that ii he
wanted to he could veto bill that
has the unanimous support of both
houses. This is true. But in Veto
ing a constitutional amendment he
denied unto the people their right
"a pass on proposition submitted
to them by the legal number of
their representatives. The amend
meut which he vetoed related to
. {. r.rf7paVg
Governor Shafroth also assumed
"a new departure in two other mat
ters. He claims the power and eX-
ercised it. to reduce appropriations
In several instances wherein the
assembly allowed certain appro-
priation for a specific purpose, the
governor cut the amount in two. 1t
has always been recognized that the
governor had the right to veto any
appropriation item. but it has never
been recognized that he had the
right to reduce an appropriation.
State Treasurer Kenehan will prob
ably decline to pay the amounts in
the appropriations that were re-
duced until after the matter has
been tested in the courts. Governor
Shafroth assumed a third position
unheard of before in legislative
work He had the Lieutenant GOV
ernor and the Speaker OF the House
come to his office and the three
changed the wording of bills TO
conform to the journals of the TWO
houses. In other words. they re
enrolled several measures after the
sessions had adjourned. Governor
Peabody was forced to call an
extra session of his legislature TO
re-enact his general appropriation
bill because it was not properly en-
rolled. Governor Shafroth took
the position that the enrolling of a
bill is a clerical matter. Several at
torneys who are interested in bills
that were thus re-enrolled have an
nounced that they will fight them
in the courts.
The financial condition of the
state resources. according to State
Treasurer kenehan. are in such
shape that only the first and second
classes are sure of payment The
third classes, which are the eduCa-
tional Institutions, will have to be
pro-rated. and il is doubtful if the
fourth or fifth classes will even be
reached. The finances of the state
have decreased nearly twenty per
cent this year. The last assembly
increased the first and second class
appropriations nearly Is per cent.
The result is MIR. Kenehan an
nounces that ne will have to pro
rate on the third class and II will
probably not reach the fourth and
fifth classes.
The land board is in its first
squabble and 1t promises to be
good one. When Governor Shafroth
appointed Keating and Burwell it
was with the understanding that
those two would work together. In
stead Burwell has gone to jefferson,
leaving Keating alone. The Ques-
tion of leasing large number of
acres of oil lands is up before the
board and Burwell and jefferson
voted to give certain company q
lease on 2,60O acres in Montezuma
County. keating protested and IN
a diplomatic way told Governor
Shafroth that IL was DOWNRIGHT !
steal and asked him not to sign the !
lease. The matter promises to end |
in n general falling out in the /.
land board.
STATE OF ONO CRY or Tornno, IS.