Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-12-30
The REFERENDUM,
Original System in Force
in Switzerland.
TRANSLATED FOR The JOURNAL.
Now Made Public for the First
Time in Oregon,


ative mandate as it is found in the
Swiss constitution. IL is document
we'll worthy Of study and preserva-
tion
We believe that the referendum at
least, and possibly the initiative, in
some form will have TO be adopted as
a final means OF protection TO the
people OF Oregon. At present there
is no limit, effective control, or
practical check upon the extravaganza
Of legislat are In the hands of the
people.
The writer, Mr. Burgholzer, is
Swiss-A and has promised
our readers a series of articles to give
practical illustration to this pro-
posed reform, that will be valuable
for direct legislation clubs.
THE SWISS SYSTEM.
EDITOR JOURNAL; in conformity
with your suggestion that Direct
Law.making by the people shall be
given due prominence In the next
state platform, wish TO lay before
the many readers of your patronage -
deserving JOURNAL "Direct Legis-
lation State Law" which has been in
operation In the Swiss State of Berne
since June 4, 1893.
Berne is the largest Of the twenty
two Swiss states and resembles Ore
gon somewhat. Its population is over
nalf million but the number of
voters is about that of Oregon because
in Berne quite number Of crimes are
punished with disfranchisement.
In point of area Berne is about
equal 10 some Of Oregon's largest
counties but nevertheless Berne has
more taxable wealth than all Oregon
| Among the 1l3 articles of the state
cOnsJitution of Berne / find the fol-
lowing important provisions concern
ing direct legislation:
l. REFERENDUM, toBLIGAToRY.)
The following acts have to be re-
ferred to the voters for decision, a
majority of those voting deciding.
1. Amendments TO the constitution.
2. Laws passed by the lone house,
legislature.
8. Laws inflated directly by the
people.
4 Appropriation calling for a total
expenditure of oyer 100000 francs
for any one object.
5. Propositions for contracting state
debts. From this rule are exempted,
debts contracted to pay off existing
debts, and temporary debts which
at the latest can be paid out of the
rgular state revenue OF the following
fiscal year.
| 6. Increase of the direct state tax
to more than double unit amount.
AS the constitution fails to give
the unit amount, it must be that
such unit amount is fixed by law
| 7. Peoples demand imperative
mandate) for the premature dis
charge Of an unsatisfactory legis-
lature and the election OF a new
legislature
II, INITIATIVE.
The people of Berne can use the
Initiative:
1. To introduce laws. When l2,000(oT
more) legal voters sign a petition in
favor of the passage, repeal or amend
ment OF any given law and deposit
such petition with the state officers
said officers have upon finding the
required number Of signatures, etc, to
present such petition or demand to
the legislature.
The initiatOrS can make their de-
mand for law either by giving only
the main features of the law desired
! (leaving the preparation of details TO
the legislature) or by presenting a
complete bill. Initiative demands
are referred to the voters as handed in
by the initiators and If such demand
is presented without details and the
voters endorse 1t on election day the
legislature has to provide the neces-
sary details and declare the measure a
law.
If the sentiment of the legislature
does not conform to the sentiment
embodied iq an ihitiatiye demand
said legislature can make its adverse
opinion known TO the people through
a message.
2, Total or partial REVISION of the
constitution can be proposed either
by the legislature or by u petition
from $4,000 voters If total revision
Is demanded the legislature has to re
fer the following two questiC ms to the
voters of the state:
First, Shall there be revision OF the
constitution
Second, Shall the revision be pre-
pared through the legislature or
through a constitutional cOnven-
tion ?
III majority OF voters vote yes upon
the first question, revision has to be
undertaken. AS TO the second ques.
tion, the method receiving the en-.
dorsement of the most voters Is to be
adopted
If the legislature has TO prepare the
revision, it shall proceed in the same
manner as upon preparation ofa law
except that the second consideration
OF the measure shall not begin until
three months after the close Of the
hrst consideration
After the first consideration the re-
vision then outlined has 20 be made
known to the people.
II the voters decide that revls ion
shall be prepared through constitu
tlonal convention then the state oni-
GERS have Immediately TO arrange for
the election Of delegates to such con
ference.
Each district entitled TO a member
OF the legislature is entitled TO del
egate 10 such convention.