Arizona republican., 1913-04-12
HUNT HURLS VETO AGAINST
(Continued from Page One)

the governors of all the common wealths which collectively are com prised in the United States. While, therefore, l would not presume to question the motives of certain esti- mable gentlemen in the lower house where the foregoing 'amendment. y according Q the verbatim record of legislative proceedings. was obtruded into the revised Penal Code of the State, l am lead to express sincere Wonderment at the alacrity shown by certain legislators, erstWhile termed conservatives" in departing so in temperately from the precedents set by all the forty-se states that pre- ceded Arizona into the union
 Although l must assume that the legislators who conceived and foster ed this measure did so in a broadly tolerant spirit, looking the while down the long vista of years that lies before Arizona as a sovereign com monWealth, 1 take the liberty of sug- gesting, nevertheless that an enact ment aimed, as is this one, at some of the executives powers and duties, could more wisely and safely have been made singly the subject of spe- cial consideration than by it's ,inclu- sion in the revision of the penal code, a course, which. as is apparent in view of this message has placed in jeopardy the status of this entire d- vision of the revised statutes.
 Leaving aside. nevertheless, all con- sideration of the intent of the amend ment to which objection is made. it is desirable to anticipate broadly and accurately the actual results which the enforcement of Section 12sS of Title 9S would entail. were it to be- come d part of ArizOna's laws
 It is as a matter of fact. very generally known that. at this time, five men are confined in the state prison awaiting 'legar' commitment to eternity. It has recently transpir ed furthermore, that petitions bear ing in the aggregate several hundred signatures, and proposing to initiate a law abolshing the death penalty have been filed with you. while others, according to official informa- tion, are being received almost daily. To judge by the rate at which the filing of these initiative petitions is progressing it is evident that within a few weeks, or perhaps, days. there VII have been recorded in your de- partment the full number of electors signatures requisite for the deciding of this important public issue at general or special election, as the case may be, under the wise proVi- sions of the initiative as contained in the constitution and the statutes of Arizona Looking into the future further. perhaps, than the writer of the amendment is wont to do, it will be discerned that when this portion of the penal code to which objection is made. would. in the natural course of events. become effective in Octo- Der next the prison management. in the absence of the governors repriev- ing power or under the ninety days limitation imposed would be under the necessity of holding five Or more executions in utter disregard of the fact that thousands of our citizens would deplOre the engrossment of any
 
 in the history of Arizona as a sover- eign state prior to any ascertainment of sentiment under the initiative.
 Following the logical sequence of thought concerning this subject, it would appear. therefore, that those gentlemen responsible for the revo- Iutionary measure quoted herein are reluctant to entrust the abolition or affirmation of the death penalty to the voters of Arizona but would com pei an orgy of blood at the state prison in October next. regardless of public sentiment on d question await ing decision bt the electorate.
 ITO summarize briefly, then. my po sition as an executive in relation to House Bill AS, 1 deeply and sincerely