The Caucasian., 1897-07-08
q SENATE COMMITTEE
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We clip lhe sollesiss from the
CosgrsssseaL Reesrd traxs .ssl es
Jass the 23rd.
rHs isfriATiNs AMI EsrskxxbrN.
The vicr-Pnssiptxr. The CAa.,
lays esfoes the SsnAis. ss q rar, of
the morning bssisess. the rssolstien
submittsd yesterday by the R~ns,.t
froo North Caroiisa Mr.. Brsisr.g
The rssoluiioa vas read. a. f.i
lcvs:
Resolved. That th. Con q i,see .s
Privileges asd Elset,ous bs. asd %
hsrsby. isstraeted to isau auirs isss
ID. feasibility OF appiyiss the pr,u.
cipls OF direct l~gislat,on, throurh
the Initiative and res~rc nd an. To ,h.
legislatiou OF the FEDERAL govern
mcns. and report TO the s~uais a,
the opening Of the regular s~ssaou
OF Congress N Decsmbsr. or as saon
thereafter a. prsetieable. by tall OF
otherv,se. the result OF sald an
quiry."
Ar. BrrLEk. I had iutended.d "a
speak ~ some length ;his morning
upon the resolution. and To shou
that direct legislaiiou 10 the eys~ncs
OF democracy and that our rspr~ssu-
tativs for N Of govern meut nigh, b.
improved and broaght nearer th.
people by the Application of the
methods Of direct legislation hrsua
as the initiative Aad r~fer~pdum so
Federal legislation. I inieua~d q.
show hoe the ancient right Of p~,i-
tiou could be made effective bv th.
initiativs-how . given per cent of
the voters could by petition com
mand Congress or the Legislature to
heed their petition. I intended TO
show how through the rsfercnd uu .
certain per cent Of the voters could
demand that . Law passed by Con
gress or the Legislature deemed Co bc
oppressive or grossly upj just be sab
mitted 20 . popular vote.
l intended 10 enumsrase q number
OF Laws passed by Congress and the
various State Legislatures which the
people would now repudiais and r~
peal II they had she opportunity 10
pass upon them. I intended 20 shou
how the referendum would destroy
the pernicious influence aud sfY .cfs
Of the trust and monopoly lobby
that infssts Legislative halls and too
often indaeucs the peoples repre-
sentatives TO vote for measures
against the public welfare. I in
tended 10 show hov the system
works in the Swiss Republic, and
how N . modified way IL 10 nov en-
ployed TO . greater or less extent in
nearly every State in this country.
And finally ] had intended TO shou
that the principle Of the initiative
and referendum could not be op-
posed BY any Democrat Who indorses
the declaration Of Jefisrson that the
people Are capable Of self govern
ment, nor could il be opposed by
any Republican Who holds TO Lin
coln's ides that this should bs gov
ernment Of the people, by the peo-
pie, and for the people.
However. l sLall not take the time
Of the Senate this morning TO discuss
these matters. bat will be content
that the resolution be adopted and
60 10 the Committee on Privileges
and Elections. will reserve ny re-
marks until the regular ssss,on next
December, whom the committes
named in this resolution makes its
report. l do this. in view Of the dis
cussion on yesterday about Efforts
being made TO delay the tariff bill. in
order that the Peoples Party may
not bs responsible in the least for
such delay. i am anxious for the
Republicans 10 pass their tariff bill
and have an opportunity TO start up
the promised wave Of prosperity.
] ask that the resolution b actsi
upon nov.
The VICE PRESIDENT. Does the
Senator from North Carolina move
that the resolution bs referred 20 the
Committee on Privileges and EIec-
tiopsf
Mr. BurLER. No, Mr. President.
The resolution instructs the commit
tee TO inquire and report how far the
principle Of direct legislation can
practically be applied 20 Federal
legislation. The Senate must pass
the resolution n order to ius'ruet
the committee TO do this work. ask
that the resolution b nov adopted
by the Senate instructing the con-
mittee TO make the report.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The ones
ton 10, Will the Senate agree 70 the
resolutionf
The resolution vas agreed to.