The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-21
FOR DIRECT LEGISLATION.
Initiative and Referendum Bill Passes
Committee of the Whole.

Initiative and Referendum Bill Passes
Committee of the Whole.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena, Feb. 2O-Stantons initiative
and referendum bill passed the senate
committee Of the whole to-day by a
vote of II to 10. AS the bill contem-
plates an amendment to the constitu-
ton, wo-thirds vote is required on
third reading. Stanton and Anderson
made able speeches in advocacy of the
bill
Senator Stanton said: Mr.. Chair
man and Senator's: l desire to preface
the few remarks l may make in adVo-
cacy of this bill by an assertion that |
trust win give relief to certain pro-
fessed suspicion in the minds of a few
opponents of direct legislation touching
the sincerity of the democratic advo-
Gates of the measure. 1t is true that
few members of the legislature are
morally bound by ante-election prom
iSeS of support AS to myself l was
elected upon a democratic platform that
favored direct legislation. I have con-
tidence enough in the friends Of this
bill to believe that there will not be
vote cast for it that does not have
back of it a determined desire to see
the principle Of direct legislation made
operative in Montana. No man can
honestly accept a public office when
elected upon platform of political
principles that do not accord with his
settled convictions and which princi-
pies he is reluctant to have Incorporated
into the laws of his state. Nor is any
man warranted in emulating the polit-
ical example of Mr.. Cleveland by max
ing the platform come to him after
election. Whatever doubt there may
nave been in the minds of Montana's
legislators as to the wisdom of direct
legislation ought now, it seems to me,
to be totally dispelled.
The recently made state history
ought to suggest convincingly to
safe majority the Importance of an ap-
proving and rejecting power reserved
to the people. The legislative wisdom
and political integrity of the peoples
representatives are seldom known until
the test is applied. If legislators can
possibly be swerved from the path of
rect1tude in respect to any particular
duty, and some people think they can.
then logical course of reasoning would
imply that the most vicious legissla-
ton is not only possible, but probable,
under proper conditions. There can be
no danger in going to the people and
telling the truth. They may make mis-
takes, but they viii have no motives
for wrong doing. l look upon direct
legislation as I look upon a life preser-
VERT will never be used unless there
Is danger. So long as wisdom and in
tegrty constitute the moving spirit of
our legislators there will be no demand
for review of legislative action. The
constitutional right to propose or re-
ject legislative enactments would prove
a strong incentive to just and proper
legislation in accord with the wish of
the people. With this right reserved
to the people there could be no purpose
in corrupting legislature. for beyond
that would be the superior and incor-
ruptlble tribunal, the people. Il can see
no harm and l can see much possible
good to come from greater reserva-
ton of these powers that are inherent
in the people. There are just two rea-
sons apparently that are advanced in
opposition to this bill. One is that the
populists advocate it. the other that 1t
is fad. 1t should not be forgotten that
our democratic leader, William J.
Bryan, is an avowed advocate of direct
legislation. If there is virtue without
vice in it then 7 am in favor of it, even
though it be advocated by populsts,
republicans, anarchists or Indians.
Fad is the term applied to all re-
forms that we don't like. All reforms
have been compelled to first put on
the swaddling clothes called fad All
progress has first mastered and then
passed over conservatism. From the
so-IdllSu lduS nave come pillars OF
strength in American institutions, and
a general betterment Of mankind Di-
rect legislation in reality is not re-
form, but merely an expansion of
common principle of fundament law
1t is an extension of a right reserved
to the people by constitutional pro-
visions.
Let us pass this bill and submit the
question to the people, and if it is un-
wise. l1njllSt thew will IN N
Through an expression of their will at
the next general election"
The following bills were introduced:
S. B. 81 by Misunderstanding the
time of liens for service.
S. B. 9S, by Geiger-Granting the Mon
tana State Fair association, corpora
ton, franchise for holding and con-
Quoting the annual state fair of the
state of Montana for a period of 20
years at or near the city of Butte.
S. B. SO, by Courtney-Authorizin city
councils to establish and maintain free
public libraries and to levy a tax of
not to exceed one mill upon the dollar
Wnen authorized by vote to make
such levy.
S. B. 100. by Anderson, (by request of
Women's Christian Temperance Union
or Notwithstanding the political
code defining assault by changing the
age OF consent from l6 to is years.
Inc senate in committee of the whole,
with Senator Hannah in the chair con-
sidered four measures.
II. 3. No l (Shovlin's co-tenant meas
ure), was recommended for concur
renee.
substitute No. l for H. B. No, SO,
which had been introduced by the
judiciary committee and which per-
mits foreign surety companies to do
business in the state. passed the com
1eSS
The judiciary committee renorted an
amendment requiring that before for
eign surety companies can transa ct
business in Montana they must deposit
with the auditor $1,000 in government
bonds. This amendment was beaten
after discussion. Section of the bill
permitting the fidnciary receiving the