New-York tribune., 1894-03-29
THE REFERENDUM PRINCIPLE
MR. RYDER WISHES TO INTRODUCE
THE SWISS PLAN INTO THIS STATE.
HIS BILL is FAVORED BIZ THE DIRECT LEGIs-
LATION LEAGUE - COLONEL wAGsTAFF
SECURES THE PASSAGE OF AN ACT
PERMITTING HIM TO co FISH
ING on SATURDAY.

PERMITTING HIM TO GO FISH
ING on SATURDAY.
Albany. March % (SpeclaD-The bill introduced in
the Assembly to-day by Mr. Ryder, of Sing Sing.
embodies. he says. the principles Of pure democracy
being advocated in different parts of the
country by the Direct Legislation League. This bill
gives to all voters of cities or villages Of more than
10000 inhabitants the right TO take part in much of
the legislation for the community and Incidentally
enforces many Of the principles OF home rule. 1t
is intended TO apply only to those communities which
accept its provisions by majority vote. 1t per
mits any per cent of voters to introduce measure
which must either be passed by the city council or
Town Committee or submitted to a vote at the polls.
be had at the next regular election II special
election is asked for the petition for the measure
must be signed by 10 per cent OF the voters. In
like manner. petition any OF the measures passed
by the council or committee may he called TO vote
at the polls. such measures excepting few classed
uTgenO not going into effect until thirty days
after their passage. The council or committee may
also call for popular vote on any measure pending
before 1t.
The effect Of this measure would be to return TO
the people in the communities 10 which II should
apply the sovereignty which they now place In the
hands of their local legislative bodies The idea Is
an extension of the town meeting principle as prac-
tised in New England. according TO which every
citizen IS a legislator.
The men behind this bill assert that It goes back
10 first principles in American government; that its
provisions will incorporate in New-York law
mechanism operated for years In communities
larger than to any which II would apply In
this State: that the system is the needed remedy
for the abuse of representative government. and
that their reform. which is non-partisan and Is al
ready supported by many daily papers, is the only
political method yet adopted 10y the trades unions,
and is rapidly attracting the attention Of the coun-
try.
colonel Alfred wagstaff. of New-York City and
sf,~a r In 10 a 6
sembly Chamber this morning in his efforts to get
through bill by unanimous consent which Will per-
nit him and some OF his friends TO 70 fishing on
Long Island on Saturday Of this week 1t seems
that the fishing season. under the law as II STOOD
until to-day opened Long Island on next sun
permit fishing on Sunday. and. as some OF Colonel Colonel
they did not wish violate the law simply tCr thc
Season Colonel Warstaif thought that 1t would be
a great deal easier to get bl passed which wonld
set the opening back one day The Colonel ana
some of his friends brought up such blll ths
through the upper hoHse me n%ror hnt onna,nn h '
The clerks quickly engrossed II ana sent IL over
to the lower house but here several snags were EN-
prospects Of the colonel and his SupIetme DQIrt 3l
Sulzer explained "hat II dd ana is"i why nd ,nJ
haste necessary for us immediate pasSise anu
he asked unanimous consent to let the OIL nave
An objection came from an unlooked-ior quarter'
YORK civ objected the immediate consideration
of the bli lie said: The Assembly recently re-
fused TO pass a bill TO permit the masses to go ish,
ing on Sunday and don't propose to permit a OH
Hsb7ng on some other day" Both Mr. Sulzer and
Colonel Wagstam were astounded az the hulacll!
OF the Tammany Hall member In DARING 70 inter
fcre with a measure which Mr.. SuZer had taken
the contract to pass. " c-,.., v-oos.ac
wants this bill Withdraw your objections'' com
mandcl Mr. Sulzcr. 49,, ,.,,
Colonel WaCstan WAS sitting on the other soc oi
the chamber and he went to FpIeY u,,Sk am
objections. Mr. Foley finally consent'7l 10 I'iVe tie
Assembly Chamber while another attempt va iliue
10 get the bill through. and after le" more ooJc0
Mr Wrlv this morning called up his bill abolish
ing the De.a rtnent Of Shore lns2rcll) re 9luI
inspector lad secured for his chief defender ana
champion Mr Taylor. OF Irookyn. NE sIe'o'd GA
which were made by Mr. nsworth. MI fiSA am
Nr Vacheron in favor OF the bill were 50 c.etr
and convincing that Mr. Taylor's motion 70 sirikee
on, he .nacting cause was defeated by a vote Of
c2 10 #. The bin then went 10 thlrH ic"'.nE;
The bin will probably pass the ASS'npy, ana
/ whether Il does not there VIII De no WpHey I"'
the Shore Inspector. inasmuch as the ahhuhi hp
preparation usually made TOT ms ,'iii a. va -
hnl on, ont Of the Supply bill. which is special
order in the Assembly for tomorrow .
Bv the defeat Of a single bin In the Assembly TO-
night the taxpayers Of the state saved an Hhih'
diate arnroprat0n Of $4,000 and an ultimate cost
| or rrniablv sl2 100000 or slf.00p1 The bil was
/ ~, rnndrced In the Assembly by Mr.. OGrady. Of
Rochester and II provided for the construction OF
a dam on the Gencsee River for N" ostenslbc pur-
nose OF restoring to the owners or wateI-lpwcr on
~ rirer the mower which taken from them
only "A members voted for the biIi ana of Vo'ed
/ .f,cf