The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-11-18
REFERENDUM AND LNIITA-
TIVE.

From the eE Nation.
We have received several inquiries
concerning tile Swiss system or refer
eHdum aud Ihs initiative, and we
re prUdues portion Of an article upon
this subject by Mr.. Sylvester Baxter,
printed ia the Nelg Nation last year.
'-COnciseIy stated. tine principle OF the refer
sudum is 20 give the people potentially the
decisive vOios In the enactment Of laws.
Originally tails popular Drerogstivo WIS linn
itsd 10 matters affecting ths sUiss-cOusLiru-
tiOn, but since Ig.s IL has been extended 20
AL Law, whenever It's exercise may be de-
mandsd. All questions OF constitutional
amendments must thus De submitted 20 popu-
lar ratification. aud no amendment Of the
constitution can bB adopted unless approved
both by majority Of the people Hui q NIT
5Urity OE the UGBtOus.
In yhe case Of ordi nary laws not Affecting
the constitution, Whenever either 81. OJu
vOters Ur eight cuatOns may 80 demand, with
in - certain period after their passage, any
such laws must be submitted To the people
iUr approval or rcieGJiOn In this case =
majority OF che popular vote decides, and q
majority OF tho CuntOnB 10 NOT necessary
This hitter is called 'facuILaJivs Or optional
referendum. Laws are sometimes submitted
| in such form that tho voters may accept them
sItGer wholly or IN part.
supplementary 20 tho referendum Is the
pllsAGAllD u tue pDp44AE 4ulllHtlhGV 4nuGE
which 5000 voters may demand Jhe prepara-
I zion aud submission Of an amendment or OF
amendments 90 the constitution. Il will 10
/ ssou that ia . lluiitsd way and incomplete
form We already have the pFiciPls Of the
1 rSEereRdum in tbis country, In the shape or
the requirements sEisuuE ia many, II not all,
Of our states, that amendments 10 the C0usti-
tuition must be accepted by popular vote
before becoming elective. And in EIassa-
chusetes, for instance. occasionally general
| law Is SO cUudIiiunsd, as in the question OF
local OPriUn. while certain laws HReoting cities
or towns do not take eject until accepted BY
the community that chooses 10 act upon it,
Hut in Switzerland the system Is well and
logically rounded out. In the matter Of con
8lttuIiOiEat amendments alone its operation
/ Is OF rsF more Importance than With us, for
the reason that the Swiss constitution EN-
bodies q mass Of detail which, with US, is
cIVered only y statute law Therefore, the
range Of subjects Tor ordinary Legislation 10
more limited In Switzerland than iTrthIs oouu-
try either in national EiIsfrs or matters con
SsrInB shs individual states. The popularity
OF the referendum - "a institution in sv7irz-
sriand Il indicated BY the fact that &c applies
/ 90 local legislation veil. in the govern
menJ q ala bur Ous Or taU oautDua-
''rhe latest instance or the application Of
the PRINCIPE ia Switzerland Is g very inatruc-
tive one fOF IL Appears 20 have been a 8urt or
continuation OF the rsierendum aud initia-
live sud &c also shows how iE tmpeis those IN
authority 90 ascertain and act according 60
ths popular wIll,-Which IS quite the contrary
I 70 our own case, " here our syaten appears
I TO be developing a tendency toward dslibsr-
ute defiance OF popular will, Encouraging
both IssgialatuFes and executives TO sst up q
/ dangerous PFeroEative Ia assuming 90 be the
Judges Of what is needed Tor the bu0Iic wei
l fare regardless OF the peoples deaIrs.
'rhe instance IN question occurred vFithin
. 6sW EioDthq, When the tederst council, hay-
[ ing Eaaen into cungideFatioh The Subject OF Q
Hs2iOnai system OF life Insurance. "A national
are-lnGuEzuCo system has long been In vogue
/ IN sUitEsrlaads-submitged 20 the people tbs
5r0ad question ~hslher the federal assembly
shOuid 30 ahead aud prepare such q law a.
uas outlined. Il was decided In the angina
tive by AZ OvsrWhoininss vote.
/ Another asFec@ Of tsis institution 81 called
| aiasntioa 90 ~ Prof DiGey In q r1csnE article
I In the COutem soraEy Review, raVorably con
| sidsEtng the question Of the introduction of
TIE FefeEondnM IN E1Giaud. That IS Etg
! eject la removing the p0Ugr OF appEuVzi Sc
| rejection OF issislaton from the executive,
Who, ~ pEuaidsnss ElUnGEGk. guvGFnJE CT
| mayor nay bo iunDsIlsd 50 exercise q srbl-
! Erarti2s possibly from motives u1l or q public
[ nature. and even due 20 personal sonsILsFa-
] ttous OF corrupt and ughoryEfsa taaproper uuau-
! eacsa. From 5oiuE an executive prsrIHstive,
! -hia power il iUdEsd with the people them
/ selves. 20 vhom. ~ the zourgr OF l7ugsrn-
| meat. a riEhrftzllE bslouEs- says Fruf. Dlceys
- he FsEuFsaduan s. revival OF The uliaczlIIuli
veto. 1uE & 3 veto lodged In the aands. nos OF
a sovereign monarch, but OIL a soveroiiga PEG
| pie such q veto FrOaus es tie sane egeeta
| Uhatsvsr be the PoHsE BY Which 70 Is eEer-
l 2iael- Il secures tEe constitution against any
/ change WhtGh ths aVVarslgu dosa not deiIDer-
sEe4y aRpEoVes it tends % produce perma-
I lglco "a ths Eeuura % oGleas &c IudsrmIuas
I the atrensth % taat a-aDoEats paFtl syauslu
Uhieh, In E1slan5, Lee az tns bass 1aor Of par
[ ii-llssltlTy- lEoFeruuaznEs but q government
! % paEliarzant''-
]