Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-03-02

of any proposed law to a vote of the
people shall be in the power of a rea-
sonable minority of the voters as well
as in the legislative assembly.
No law submitted to the people shall
take effect unless it is approved by
majority of those voting thereon.
1t is not proposed to abolish any
legislature, but to create another law
making body, of which every voter
shall be a member by right of birth
and citizenship, and which shall have
supreme power to make or repeal any
law.
The objections most frequently Of
fered to our adoption of this system,
are about as follows with some of the
answers and reasons in it's favor:
Objection l. Our country is too big.
Answer. The idea seems to be that
because our voters are so many, are
scattered over so much land and so
far from Washington, therefore our
votes cannot be cast and counted for
NAAS SANNNiOi VI a AtlNs 1GA dAl LuCn III
the United States who choose to vote,
as well as many women, do have their
votes counted for Members of Con-
gress or Presidential Electors three
times every four years, not to speak
of the number of times they are count
ed for state and county officers. The
same officers who count these votes
can, at the same election, count the
votes of the same voters who choose
to mark their ballots for or against
any proposed law.
For a practical example, though the
voters of California have no power to
compel the submission to them Of any
proposed law, the legislature of the
state sometimes submits important
questions to a vote of the citizens. At
the presidential election of 1892 the
following nine proposals were so sub
mitted to the voters of California:
! CThe vote is given in thousands only.)
1. Should The United States sena-
tors be elected by the people?
Voting yes, one hundred and eighty
eight thousand; voting no thirteen
thousand. The vote was only to get
the opinion of the people, as advice to
congress.
2. Shall the proposed law take eff
feet as passed by the legislature, for
the building at state expense of a gen
eral ferry and passenger depot at San
Francisco by the State Board of Har-
Dor Commissioners, at a cost not eX-
ceeding six hundred thousand dollars,
bonds to be issued for the amount?
Voting yes, ninety-one thousand;
voting no, ninety thousand.
8. Should the constitution be
amended to require an educational
qualification of voters?
Voting yes, one hundred and fifty
one thousand; voting no, forty-one
thousand. This question was submit
ted merely to get the opinisn of the
voters for the advice of the state leg
islature.
4. Shall the proposed law take ef-
feet as passed by the legislature pro
yiding for the issue by the state of
twenty-year gold bonds, to pay its
debt of two million five hundred thou
sand dollars?
Voting no, eighty-six thousand; vot-
ing yes, eighty thousand. This bill
was submitted in all its details. .
8. Shall senate constitutional
amendment No. 10 be adopted limit
ing sessions of the legislature to one
hundred days pay, and prohibiting
the introduction of any bill after the
first sixty days, except by consent OF
two-thirds of the members?
Voting yes, one hundred and fifty
six thousand; voting no, thirty-six
thousand.
6. Shall assembly constitutional
amendment No. be adopted, prohib
iting the creation of debt by any coun-
ty, city, town, township or school dis
trict, without reference Of the ques
ton to a vote of the citizens and ap
proval by two-thirds of those voting
thereon?
Voting yes, one hundred and nine
thousand; voting no, sixty thousand.
7. Shall senate constitutional
amendment No. II be adopted, allow,
ing higher salaries to certain state Of
ficers?
Voting no, one hundred and twenty
nine thousand; voting yes, forty-four
thousand.
8. Shall assembly constitutions