The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-20
INSIDE WORK FOR
BAD MEN ONLY

Continued from First paEel
xas to protect the children from Just
such sort of employment. the speaker
declaring that old Virginia with pov-
erty was to be preferred to State en-
riched by the sacrifice OF the happi-
ness and health of its childhood. The
measure was ordered to It's engross-
ment after that part of it referring to
the mercantile establishments in towns
of less than 1000 and in country dis
tricts had been stricken out. Among
the provisions Of the bill are those
prohibiting the use of boys under ten
years of age in the selling and dis
tributing of newspapers and periodi-
calls; and the prohibiting OF the use
of boys under eighteen years OF age
as telephone or telegraph messengers
between the hours of 10 =. NJ. and 5
A. NJ.
Governor Had No Veto Power.
Apropos of the urging that Cover
nor Mann has been receiving asking
him to veto the constitutional amend
ment bills resubmittinG to the peo-
pie the question whether or not city
treasurers and commissioners OF the
revenue may succeed themselves
Governor Mann, on yesterday, sent
to both houses of the General AS
sembly message returning the
amendments with the statement that
he was convinced that the constitu-
ton did not contemplate giving the
Governor any power of veto Nover
the Acts of the Assembly in sub
hitting constitutional amendments 10
the people. The Governor sent with
his communication a learned opinion
from Attorney General Williams cit
IN erect
that the General Assembly and the
people alone were the parties to
decide the question OF amending the
fundamental law.
No Opinion on Legality.
In his communication to the at
torney-generaI asking for his opinion
the Governor had invited that official
to give an opinion also upon the
mooted question of the constitu-
tionality of resubmitting the ques-
tons in the manner provided by the
resubmission bills, which are pro-
ceeding on the basis that the amend
ments were not correctly voted on two
years ago and that all that is neces-
sary to be done now Is to resubmit
the amendments. Prominent con-
stitutional lawyers argue that 1t is
necessary to begin the proceedings
afresh. which would mean that the
questions could not be voted on unless
favorably acted upon by the next
General Assembly, the milk in the
cocoanut Of the present action being
that. shoNt6 that procedure hate. heTs,1
taken. the treasurers now in office
would have not been able to have
succeeded themselves.
Under the present measures the
vote on the amendment will be taken
In sufficient time to enable the pres
ent treasurers to hold office.
Acknowledgement Williams declar-
ed that the question was one for the
courts to decide. as to the legality
of the present method of procedure,
which would indicate that after the
present amendments have s,t~en voted
on and adopted and treasurers and
commissioners of the revenue elect
ed Hereunder there must be test
cases tried before the Supreme Court
of Appeals of Virginia before tho
matter will be final
Text OF Governors Letter,
The Governors letter to the AS
sembly reads as follows in connection
with the matter:
Herewith return unsigned the
measure directing the resubmission to
the people Of Virginia the amendments
W SCSAtOiS 49, anu lSV OI drtlCte b.
Of the Constitution of Virginia, the
first affecting the right of the city
commissioners OF the revenue to sue
coed themselves and the second the
right OF city treasurers to succeed
themselves.
1t Is not necessary for me to ex-
press my opinion as to the constitu-
tionality of this measure. but when it
was received and carefully considered,
] seriously doubted my power to APP
prove or veto the proceedings of the
Legislature, because 1t seemed to me
that under section 1876 OF the Consti-
tuition the right OF amendment Is a
complete system In itself, and that
legislative action Hereunder Is en-
tireTy independent OF the approval
or disapproval Of the Governor; it
being plain that II the Gov.
ernor has the right to veto It
might require a two-thirds vote of
the General Assembly to submit an
amendment to the Constitution to the
people. although the Constitution says
that this can be done BY majority
vote. I. therefore, submitted the ques-
ton to the attorney general whose
opinion WITH be submitted with this
message, and ~ ne. supported hy the
6uprAme Courts Of several States aM0
the Supreme Court ~ tho United