River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-04-24
VETO HOLDS UP
D. K. FOR JACKSON
Confirmation of Appointment Is
Deferred Until April "a.
WILCOX CHALLENGES Philip
Claims Statements That Senate Was
Attempting to coerce Governor In
to Signing Hanson Bill Are
Untrue


Madison.-Action on the conf1rma-
ton of the appointment Of Carl u.
Jackson as a member of the state rail-
road commission has been deferred
until April "a. This action was taken
as the result of the veto by Governor
Philip of the G. E. Hanson bill giving
the legislature power to recall appoint
i've officials. Senator Wilcox chal-
lenged statements made by Governor
Philip in his veto message. Wilcox
claimed that statements to the effect
that the senate was attempting to
coerce Governor Philip to sign the
bill "are wholly untrue" The Jackson
appointment was laid over until April
"a by a vote of 16 to II.
The house will take up the veto mes
sage this week.
In his veto of the @. e. Hanson bill
giving the legislature power to recall
appointive officials, Governor Philip
takes sharp issue with the legislature
and the veto presages a fight in the
lower house, when, led by Assembly
man G. G. Coe, Barron county, an eff
fort will be made to put the bill over
the veto. In his message the governor
declares that such a bill exposes the
entire administrative force ito pOlit1-
cal influence" He reminds the legis-
lature that the people in 1914 defeated
n ont
ing for the recall.
"The objections 1 have stated for
bids me to give this bill my approval"
says Governor Philip. However,
if I were in accord with it's provisions
I would not approve of it because OF
the conditions that have been pre-
scribed for me by certain senators. 1t
has been openly stated upon the floor
OF the senate that If | would approve
this bill my appointment of Carl
D. Jackson as railroad commissioner
would be confirmed. Consideration of
this confirmation has twice been post
poned awaiting my action upon this
bill. I beg to state to the senator's
who have attempted to, impose this
condition upon me that / submitted
the appointment Of Mr.. Jackson for
confirmation because / know him to
be an efficient officer who has rem
dered faithful service to the people
and that he is, therefore, entitled to
confirmation. That question, however,
must stand by itself, and l shall not
permit myself to be coerCed into the
approval of this or any other bill for
the sake of securing legislation, no
matter how much I may desire it"
In opening his argument on the pol
icy Of the c. e. Hanson bill, Governor
Philip says that in delegating power
to these administrative commissions 1T
has been matter of deep concern to
the legislature and the people that
they be placed out Of the reach of pO-
litical influence.
'The bill in question may accomplish
indirectly what the legislature and the
people sought to avoid at the time
that the railroad commission was Gre
ated," says Governor Phillip. IF it is
within the power of the legislature to
remove any member of that commits
sion at will without proving unftness
of the office, we will then have provid-
ed method by which private inter-
ests which may have a grievance
against a commissioner because he
has refused to yield to their demands
may bring about his removal by enter
inc the legislative campaigns and,
with the use of money and influence,
send men to the legislature committed
to the proposition Of the removal of
such commissioner. In other words,
we will expose the entire administra-
tive force who hold Office by reason of
appointment to political influence, and
no commissioner or officer will be safe
In his position unless he has at all
times his ear to the ground and is will
ing to barter the public interest for POI
litical influence"
Governor Phillip then declares that
the legislative recall is a departure
from the form of government estab-
lished by our constitution, both state
and national.
An effort will be made at a later
date TO pass the Dill over the veto OF
the executive. When the bill was read
in the lower house, where 1t original
ed, it was apparent that one of the
hardest political fights of this session
is now before the legislature. The bill
went through the lower house unani-
mously and had only one vote against
1t In the senate. Now that the COVER
nor has vetoed the measure the lines
are being drawn and big fight will
be staged to put the bill over.
Would Prevent Misuse Of Flag.
Enactment of a federal law to pre-
vent general misuse and dissertation Of
the American flag was advocated in q
.I ~ so 4x1ar+x-o;0b+b aorr~ro.e