INTOXICATION AND OFFICE.
Mr. Cauthorn, from the Committee on Temperance, returned Mr. Hollingsworth's bill [H. R. page: 208[View Page 208] 312] prescribing an official oath or affirmation, and prescribing a cause of removal from office of any official in this State, with amendments, under instructions of the House, viz: striking out the words, "use any intoxicating liquors as a beverage," and inserting the words: "become intoxicated by the use of intoxicating liquors" In lieu; and strike out the third section, and so amended, the committee recommend the passage of the bill. The bill and amendments were read by the Clerk.
Mr. Hollingsworth supported its provisions notwithstanding the emasculations to which it has been subjected. It provides simply that no man shall drink intoxicating liquors and hold office at the same time and it could work no hard-ship.
Mr. Baxter moved that the bill be laid on the table; which motion was rejected by the demand and taking of the yeas and nays; which were reported. Yeas 21, nays 64.
Mr. Givan desired to make It the special order for Saturday week.
The bill was finally passed the House of Representatives. Yeas 74, nays 14; with an amendment of the title so as to read: "An act to provide against intoxication on the part of public officers, and to provide for removal from office therefor."
The Speaker now returned to the special order, via: the Governor's veto of the act resulting from Mr. Buskirk's bill [H. R. 71] to amend section six of the act of March 14, 1867, for the incorporation of cities. The Governor recites the delay of the bill after it was presented to him for signature on the 12th inst., (by an order of the Senate for its withdrawal,) from the 14th to the 21st inst., and the opinion of the Attorney General, that the time of delay should not be counted in the three full days which the Constitution allows the Governor for the consideration of a bill so presented to him. He then recites the provisions of the act proposed to be amended, and the material amendment of the enrolled act, viz: to enable cities by petition and vote of a majority of freeholders by taxation to aid in the construction of bridges which may have a terminus therein, and to aid in the construction of other public works of public utility. He objects, not to the specific authority to aid in the construction of bridges, but to the vagueness of the objects for which it is proposed to confer authority for aid by taxation in "the construction of permanent public works and works of public utility." His Excellency also cites the reasoning of Governor Baker on the principle of conferring a vague and general sovereignty on majorities.
Mr. Walker was informed that there is a bill from the Senate (Senator Hall's) for the object which this bill contemplates obviating the Governor's objections, and he would therefore move that the matter be indefinitely postponed.
The Speaker. It is a constitutional question here: "Will the House pass the bill, the objections of the Governor to the contrary notwithstanding?" The motion is therefore out of order.
The returned act was then rejected by the House of Representatives - yeas 86, nays 0.
Mr. Baker moved ineffectually to take up the Senate bill No. 254 - the bill referred to by Mr. Walker.
