The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-04-02

| Cumberland and Williams of Passalc;
commission to investigate salaries OF
state and municipal employees, Davis
Of Gloucester. Stevens of Monmouth
and Cole of Sussex.
AS the members of the commission
to study the housing Of state offices
in Newark Speaker Powell named
Berkenmeier and Siracusa.
Appropriation Bill a Law
Governor SiIzer's veto Of the entire
appropriation bill, creating a prece-
dent, was followed by its prompt re-
passage by the Senate.
That body met at 1890 o'clock Sat
urday morning with just eleven Sena-
tors present, nine Republicans and
two Democrats-Agens of Hunterdon
and Cole of Sussex. The Democrats
| Joined with the Republicans in voting
to override the veto, giving just the
required majority.
The bill was then rushed over to the
Assembly, where it was passed in
| short order. The bill then became a
| law over the veto. The official hour
J for adjournment was IL o'clock, but
not having finished business at that
hour both houses stopped the clocks
in their respective chambers and pro-
| ceeded with the work still In hand.
1t was the first time since the pres
emit appropriation bill system was in
augurated in 1895 that a governor has
vetoed the entire me sure. Seldom
has a year passed that some items
haven't been d~isapproved, and it has
happened once in a while that COVER
nors have allowed the bin to become
law without their signature. The Gov
ernor was so generally opposed to the
bill that he said he could do nothing
but send it back to the Legislature with
the recommendation that it be re-
vamped.
The legislature was severely crit
icized by the Governor In a message
accompanying the veto for the manner
in which it adopted the appropriations
bill. He declared the members guilty
Of gross neglect and their action a
betrayal Of the interest Of the taxpay-
ers of the state. He recommended
that they postpone adjournment until
they could prepare a new bill.
This appropriation BILL the Gov
ernor wrote, carries with 1t the ex-
penditure from state funds of over
SIS 600, 900, and a gross expenditure OF
over $40, Csc, 200. In the expenditure
| Of SO large a sum Of money it Is the
duty OF the Governor and of every leg
islator to know the provisions of this
bill, what the expenditures are, and to
see that they are made to the best
advantage.
"In order to accomplish this purpose
the Senate rules, in Rule 81, provide
the annual supplemental and inciden-
tai appropriations bill shall not be con-
sidered until at least one week has
elapsed after they shall have been In
troduced, printed and placed upon the
desks of the members
This rule was not complied with,
ands although the legislature had been
in session since January; the appro-
priation bill was placed upon the desks
Of the members of the Legislature at
the exact hour fixed for final adjourn
ment on the last night of the session,
and a copy handed to the Governor at
the same time. That is a time of con-
fusion and excitement, when number
less bills are being hurried through
the legislative mill and then deliver
ed to the Governor to dispose of in
five days.
THE members Of the appropriation
committee were probably familiar with
the contents of this bill, but 1t is not
possible to believe that any one of the
other seventy-two members could have
known or have had any appreciation
whatever Of how this bill was made
up, what it included or what it elimi-
mated.
II would therefore recommend that
this veto be sustained and that the
legislature set itself to the task Of
writing a new bill, having in mind the
suggestions herein made, and that it
give itself time to understand and
consider it."
Probe Resolution Passes
There was an air of expectancy
about the state house regarding which
OF n state departments would be the
first to undergo investigation at the
hands of the committee to be named
under Senate President Bright's probe
resolution. The power to appoint such
a commission was created when the
House concurred in the action Of the
Senate and re ssed the resolution
over the veto o ne Governor.
The resolution G. Ills for a commits
sion Of six members. Aside from Mr..
Bright and House Speaker Powell. it
will comprise two senators and two
assemblymen. It is thought that the
names Of the other members will be
announced within a few Gays. At the
same time the direction in which the
initial inquiry will be aimed probably
will become known.
Over the Governors veto the House,
following the lead Of ~theSenate. adopt
ed a second resolution for the appoint
S.onA 10 q oDaofa1 Ooxarofuc4n rrn