The La Jara chronicle., 1911-06-23
SHAFROTH BREAKS
VETO RECORD

the week were the immense num-
Der of vetoes by Governor Shat
roth and the announcement of the
financial condition of the state
by State Treasurer Kenehan. OF
the 337 bills which reached the
hands of the governor, he vetoed
lob, signed 1913 and allowed Al to
become law without his signature.
OF the lob which he vetoed 50
were the road and bridge bills ap-
propriating the internal improve
ment fund for the various coun-
ties. His veto of these bills puts
this fund under the direction of
the state highway commission.
In vetoing the governor went
farther than any other governor
has ever gone and placed his dis
approval on submitted consti-
tutional amendment. Many ques-
ton his right to do this. 1t re-
quires a two-thirds vote of both
houses to submit constitutional
amendment. The same vote can
pass a bill over his veto. The
governor rlaims the right to veto
constitutional amendments on
he ground that if he wanted to
he could veto a bill that has the
unanimous support of both houses.
This is true. But in vetoing II
constitutional amendment he de
MED unto the people their right
to pass on a proposition submit
ted to them by the legal number
of their representatives.. The
amendment which he vetoed re
lated to fees of certain county
officers.
Gov. Shafroth also assumed
a new departure in two other
matters. He claims the power,
and exercised it, to reduce APP
preparations. In several instan-
ces wherein the assembly allowed
a certain appropriation for a
specific purpose, the gvoernor
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 ap
preparation. State Treasurer Ken
chan will probably decline to
pay the amounts in the appro-
priations that were reduced 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 Governor 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 af-
ter the sessions had adjourned.
Governor Peabody was forced to
call an extra session of his legis-
lature to re-enact his general
appropriation bill because it was
not properly enrolled. Governor
Shafroth took the position that
the enrolling of bill is cleri-
c.,l matter. Several attorneys who
are interested in bills that were
thus re-enrolled have announced
that they will light them in the
courts.
The financial condition of the
state resources, according to
State Treasurer Kenehan, is in
such shape that only the first
and second classes are sure of
payment. The third classes which
are the educational institutions,
will have to be pro-rated, and it
is doubtful if tn, fourth or fifth
classes will even be reached. The
finances of the state have de-
creased nearly twenty per cent
this year. The last assembly in
creased the first and second class
appropriations nearly Is per cent
The result is Mr.. Kenehan an
nounces that he will have to pro-
rate on the third class and it will
probably not reach the fourth and
fifth classes.
The land board is in its first
squabble and it promises to be