Natchitoches populist., 1898-05-20
POLITICAL PROGRESS.
THE MOVEMENT IN FAVOR OF
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
The Populist States Lead-Rapid ADJ
vances Made Toward Public Owner
ship of Franchises and Public Utilities
State Railroads and Income Taxes.


and municipal legislation, showing tina
the Peoples party has already been in
strumental in inaugurating importan
local reforms. The movement in favor
of direct legislation by the people
which has manifested itself of late
years in the increased practice of re
feTring specific subjects of state or loca
legislation to popular vote, and in the
increasing agitation for general USE
OF the initiative and referendum, has
at last eliminated in some of our west.
ern states. South Dakota goes furth-
est by proposing constitutional
amendment, to be voted upon in No
vember next, declaring that "the peo-
pie reserve to themselves the right to
propose measures, which measures the
legislature shall enact and submit to
vote Of the electors of the state, and
also the right to require that any laws
which the legislature may have enacted
shall be submitted to a vote of the
electors OF the state before going into
effect, provided that not
more than five percentum of the quail
flied electors of the state shall be re-
quired to invoke either the initiative or
the referendum"
The sister state of Nebraska has
meanwhile enacted law. to take i'm
mediate effect, introducing the same
principle for all local subdivisions
counties. townships, cities, villages and
school districts but not for the state
government ITSELF A petition of Is
per cent of the voters is necessary to
initiate measures, or to demand the
reference Of proposed measures to the
people. The question must then be
submitted to vote at the next general
election, but If the petition be signed
by 20 per cent of the electors and con-
tain a request for a more immediate
vote, special election must be held.
The local legislative body may sug
gest amendments to measures proposed
by popular initiative. In such case the
original and modified propositions
must both be placed on the ballot. Un-
less a majority declares itself against
both forms, the form receiving the
most Affirmative votes becomes law.
The recent and growing popular agi-
tation concerning the management of
municipal property, works and privil-
eges is beginning to bear fruit in legis-
lation. A large proportion of our
states now allow cities and towns
themselves to construct and operate
lighting as well as water plants. Wash
ington last year went further and au-
thorized the establishment of munich
pal street railways. Especially is there
:endency to regulate the granting of
franchises to private individuals and
csr1panies. The chief advances are In
limiting the duration of such grants. in
demanding some commensurate pay
inent for them, ard in making them
subject to popular control. The pro-
visions of the new charter of New York
IS an instance in this regard. Far
more radical is a Kansas law OF 1897.
which, however. applies only to light.
heat, power and water plants. This
act requires the grantees Of franchises
to report in minute detail the exact cost
Of constructing their plant and semi
annually thereafter the exact receipts
and expenditures of every sort. A
profit of 6 per cent per annum is to be
allowed on the actual investment
shown by these statements, and the I
sntire surplus of receipts is to go to
he public treasury. unless higher al
owalce be made to the holders of the
franchise By conaent of three-fifths Of
he taxpayers. No grant may be for
more than twenty years, and after ten
ears the municipality may buy the
liant at an appraised valuation. This
aw imposes terms even more severe
han those regulating public franchises
Y Ally LII iOpCaN SlLy.
Several other states have adopted the
ractice OF requiring franchises OF all
orts to be disposed of upon competi-
I've bids. Willie this system may pre- |
ent jobbery, in part, experience shows | i
hat 1t does not ordinarily win for the 8
ublic a reasonable payment for PRIV t
eges granted. Real competition Is /
sldom possible. especially in the case t
renewals or additional grants after
be corporation has become thoroughly q
California, adopting this c
ractice in 1897. prescribes further that I
le minimum payment TO the munich Il
81 treasury for any kind of public :
anchise shall be three per cent of the
ross receipts, No payment whatever
to be made. however, during the first
re years Of the grant. Wisconsin b
is passed a somewhat similar law. a
hose adoption Is left to local ontion v
be municipality Is to Ak such eondi- n
ms as 1t sees fit as specifications III h,
vertising for bids. Annual reports al
gross receipts must be made by b,
autees Of franchises. whether per "
ntgges upon them ara demanded or =
r. The terms Of franchises may not
aisarea without consent Of the hold. /
1ewardls,p . ftrt,t as,A s,nSea .ef.m4s ~