Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-04-12
WILSON sMART|NG
UNDER CRITICISM
"0f My VetOes | Shall Say
Nothing" Says Governor
in Statement.

TRENTON, April 12.-By defending
himself in a statement given to the
press last night. Governor Wilson
showed plainly that he felt keenly the
adverse criticism of the majority of
the Legislature for the manner in
which he vetoed bills.
The Governor refuses TO discuss the
vetoes. He declares that they speak
for themselves. He also declares that
he used the five days allotted him to
consider measures. The vetoes show
that he signed them on March 80, April
l and .. This makes three days. The
Legislature adjourned on the twenty
ninth, and even though Governor Will
son worked Sunday he put in but four
days in all.
The statement in full follows:
Ordinarily ! would remain entirely silent
under partisan attacks of this kind. but l
feel that 1t is due to the people of the
State that l should speak my very EN-
phatic protest against an uncalled Tor and
grossly dtscoutteous attack upon my Off
cial career, proceeding as a manifesto from
a conference of Republican members OF the
Legislature.
Of my vetoes I shall say nothing. They
speak for themselves and are justified by
me bills against which they were uttered.
But the statement that | have by frequent
absences from the State in any degree
neglected my duties as Governor is abso-
lutely false. No important matter of
business has been allowed to fall in
arrears in my office. Every bill has been
read and acted upon within the time
prescribed by the Constitution. / have
been absent from the State only two Of
the session days of the Legislature.
Not ten days, but nve days only. under
the explicit prescription of the Constitu-
ton were available for the consideration
OF more than loo bills which were sent to
my office Just before the temporary adj
Journment of the Legislature on the 29th
day Of March. | devoted to these bills the
full five days allowed me. They received
my careful attention. The Legislature had
by deliberate arrangement of its Republi-
can leaders, determined TO reassemble the
Following week, so that l was not per-
mitted. under the Constitutional provision,
TO take more time than l did take in the
consideration of the bills.
1t is a noteworthy circumstance that. al
though a great many of the important
measures sent me at the end of the ses-
sion were introduced early In the session,
they were delayed in their passage until
the very end. The bills that came to me
while the session lasted were for the most
part of an incidental and trivial import
ance, Almost all the bills Of capital on
sequence were reserved until the last.
Among them none were more conspicuous
than those which attempted to break
down at one point or another the best
maintenance of which both parties were
explicitly pledged in the campaign Of the
autumn of 1911.
the force of the corrupt practises act and
the Geran act. This. that n the other
door Of loose practise was deliberately
opened. II was ny duty to stand guard
against these things, and ! have done so.
Against the bills to this effect which have
been passed owe my veto l wish TO utter
my earnest protest In the name, not only