The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-17
BOOKS OF The WEEK.


DIRECT LEGISLATION. by J. w. SuLLI-
VAN. New York: Twentieth Century Pub
fishing Co.
In this pamphlet Managing Editor
Sullivan of the Twentieth Century has
grouped together all that can be said, by
way of illustration or argument. within n
modest compass, in favor Of the direct
reference OF laws TO popular vote. or as
his subtitle has II, "by the citizenship
through the Initiative and Referendum
the Initiative being the individual citi-
Zen's right to propose legislation, the
Referendum being the process by which
such legislation Is accepted or rejected by
the mass of voters
The New England town meeting is a
pure Democracy Any citizen in IL can
propose town legislation. and every citi-
zen entitled to vote can aid in deciding Ii.
That is TO say, the principle OF the initia-
tive is fully recognized in the institution
which is the very foundation OF political
New England. The referendum is known
in this country mainly through the prac-
constitutions to the people at the polls.
Mr.. Sullivan's proposition is that the
voter has as much right TO pass upon any
and all proposed legislation as upon "a
constitutional amendment; and further
that IL would he possible and expedient
for him to do this even in n large and
complete community. Thus, he holds,
the citizen would at once get rid or the
rings, and legislation become purer and
more satisfactory.
Switzerland, whose government is, next
TO our own. the favorite field of study for
cleaners of governmental experiments,
forms naturally Mr.. Sullivan's anything
but terrible example. Switzerland has
the town meeting, priceless boon, in its
communes. IL has.-besides, eantonal or
demi-cantonal or Landsgemeinde meet
ings, to which proposed laws, published
hat m = al a m
the larger assemblies the vote is yes or no;
no argument is allowed. Thus large
amount of business can be transacted in n
short time. Cantonal custom differs
much, but the principle OF the direct vote
il in some form OF other admitted by all.
Not all legislation (FederaD is submitted
to popular vote. IL is optional. The de-
mand for IL in any case must be made
either by 10000 citizens or by eight can
tonal assemblies. OF l49 laws passed
since the. act, twenty-seven were. chal-
lenged, OF which fifteen were rejected.
Federal init ative is recognized when So
600 petitioners favor a proposed law.
IL would be idle, however, to compare
Switzerland with the United States, or
Schwyz or Unterwald with New York or
Texas. We are less compact and our
necessary legislation Is greater in volume
and more complex in character. Mr..
Sullivan recognizes this fact, and points
TO the extension of the town meeting sys-
tenn in the West, TO the increase In the
number of propositions submitted TO vote
and TO the adoption of the referendum bv
big and widely scattered labor organiza-
tions as instancing the practicabIlity OF
the plan. Nor Is there any doubt that
the referendum can be considerably cx-
tended with advantage TO all, though
whatever is done in that line must nat
urally DO but small portion of legisla-
tive proceedings. The Swiss ability TO
club a bad measure TO death by petition,
submission and direct vote is too clumsy
for general use In big country, but
would be handy in emergencies.