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read. [It requires a two-thirds vote of each house to pass
a bill over the veto. ]
Mr. Rider offered a substitute providing that any bill
shall become a law, notwithstanding the objections of the
Governor, if approved by a majority of the members pres-
ent of each house.
Mr. Rider was in favor of the veto power being given
to the Governor, but it was a new and untried thing in our
legislation, and he was not in favor of making it so ab-
solute a power, and thought a majority of the members
should be sufficient to pass a bill over the Governor's ob-
jections.
Mr. Carter concurred with the views of the gentleman
from Somerset, (Mr. Rider, ) but thought a majority of
the members present should not be sufficient. He would
therefore move to amend by providing that a majority of
the members elected to each house shall be necessary to
enact a law over the Governor's veto, and that a bill shall
become a law if not returned by the Governor within five
days after it has been presented to him.
Mr. Nicolai fully concurred in the views of the gentle-
man who had just spoken.
Mr. Rider then accepted the amendment of Mr. Carter.
Mr. Stoddert opposed the amendment. The section as
reported by the committee was a literal transcript from
the constitution of the United States.
Mr. Dent was not satisfied that it would be judicious
to confer this additional power upon the Executive, but he
desired merely to express his opposition to the amend-
ment, and to call the attention of the Convention to the
section of the legislative department, as reported by the
committee, which provides that a majority of all the mem-
bers elected shall be necessary to pass a bill and thus the
amendment now pending placed no additional checks on
legislation.
Mr. Garey understood that the great object of the veto
power was to protect minorities against the oppression
of grinding majorities. The veto power had been the
salvation of the country. Men could look back and sec
where the veto had stayed trouble and ruin.
183
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