The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1912-02-28
Unheavd o. Heretofore.

unique and ln6ensely interesting.
Unheard Of Heretofore.
In the days Of the Tillman stress
there was the utmost and most thor
ough accord between "up-stairs' and
n.stsirs," that is, between the
legislative and executive departments.
Later on this continued and in the
days Of McSweeney, Hayward and
Aneel what the General Assembly did
was regarded ss final and anthorita-
tive and there was no thought Of
veto.
In the days of Tillman there was no
provision for a veto on individual
items in the appropriation bill, but
who would have dreamed Of the Veto
ing of thirty or more items in an Ap-
r r.opriation Act after the Constitution
Of 1895; and that is perhaps why they
might just as we'll not have been We
toed, so far as the General Assembly
was concerned, for the House over
rode pretty nearly all vetoed items and
the Senate did not sustain a single,
solitary veto. OF course, it is appreci-
ated that it is not, or ought not to be,
very difficult to get one-third of the
members present to sustain veto, as
it requires two-thirds vote to over
ride a veto.
Reason for Recess.
Some folks do not quite understand
the reason for the recess until Tuesday
night, and then the resolution to ad-
journ some time Thursday. The Con-
stitution has this provision as to the
manner of approving an Ac- and the
right of the Governor to veto:
"If bill or joint resolution shall
not be returned by the Governor with
in three days after it shall have been
presented to him, Sundays excepted,
it shall have the same force and effect
as if he had signed it, unless the Cen
eral Assembly, by adjournment, pre-
vent it's return, in which case it shall
have such force and effect unless re-
turned within two days after the next
meeting"
Taking No Chances.
This is the whole situation in nut
shell, nothing more nor less. The ma
jority me nbers of both the House and
Senate (their votes are taken as the
evidence) do not care to take their
chances on the Governors approval
and expect under the operation Of this
clause in the Constitution to let the
three-day limit apply to every Act
that is ratified at this session, or force
the return of the Act with veto mes
sage 20 be dealt with. The statement
is made that the membership expect
to and wish to assume full responsible
ity for every Act that it passed this
year and not leave the veto messages
for another year, nor do they propose
leaving dozen or more Acts "held
ap," as was done last year.
When the Governor sent the county
supply bill to the Secretary Of State
without his approval members con-
tended that, under the provision cited,
it would not become eftechye until
two days after the next session, and it
was further contended that Acts sent
to the Secretary of State without ap-
provsl might be recalled and then ve.
toed after the Legislature has adjourn.
ed, but by failure to send any Acts to
the Governor for three days and then
remaining in session, waiting, the
House and Senate will know that ev-
cry Act is either q law or has to be- re-
ported back with q direct veto.
"lainority" and "steam RolIer.":
There are some members of the
House who speak Of themselves az the
minority" and of the "steam roller"
If there is "steam roller" it is work
ing very smoothly and perfectly, for
it has not yet hit lump. It really
appears that about all the minority"
can do in stopping the 'steam roller"
is for DR.. Sawyer, or hTr. Ashley, or
Mr.. Magill or Mr.. Rembert to hoist
the red flag and cry out that the
"steam roller is coming, and then
either get out of the way or be run
over" OF course, those who are said
to be in charge of the steam roller"
will aid No. u s.ooG!Ic4 iu.. at,ti4.s-ny
for wiiat ;4ry ale CONG, ana lnat
cans largely that they want each
and every Act passed at this session
and intended to become a Law TO do SO
and not to be pigeou-holed.