The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-11-14

lature, the bill can b. referred 20 the
| people by the lower OF are popular
house, or by either. Sometimes the
law must be twice passed in the lower
house. This form ia quite exsensively
advocated in Australia, where bills 60
put L. into effect have been introduced
in all of the colonial legislatures. In
New z ,aland such bills have passed
the lower house and probably in the
future will pass both houses. 1t was
strongly advocated for Incorporation
in the Constitution for q Federated
Australia recently drawn up and sub
mitted to a referendum OF the people
and by them defeaJed. 1t is what is
usually understood by the word ref
erendum" in England
A curious variation Of this has arisen
in Australia IN the discussion OF this
form. It is called the dual referendum
and means that any la v referred 20 the
. ople must be passed by both a ma
jority of those voting on ik, and ma
rrities in a maj Irity Of the States
comp sing the federation. This il is
thought would preserve States rights,
but IL ia a useless precau6ion as the ex
p~erience of a c. injury shows that Ease
has never occurred where a maj lrity
Of the States Were on INT side, and a
majority of the people we're on t he other.
Usually the m rrity is very decisive
la both methods Of counting.
6 The judicial referendum provides
that wherever q la " or a part Of q la "
is declared unconstitutional by a su
preme court, that law mus be submit,
ted TO a vote'o of the people at the next
election, and If q me lrity, some say a
two thirds or three rourths M )rity,
vote in favor Of it. in be yomes a law,
anything IN the Constitution to the
contrary not WithstsDding, although it
does not repeal that part Of the Oonsti
tuition with which it comes in contact,
save for the specIaI instance mentioned
in the law voted upon. This is W ry
generally advocated among q certain
class IN this country as being a control
over the courts. It has never been ad
voc9Led elsewhere, because the power
of declaring laws void on account of
unconstitutionsiiEy is not vested in
United States. Certain other bodies
are sometimes invested with the power
OF the referendum ia certain cas- e.
sunh So the Ct A r in certain matters
in Iowa. But tne above are the main
forms
What are the main arguments for
the ad rption Of direct legislation9
1 It is In clear aud perfect harmony
WI n tire spi iC Of our Institutions, the
Ce4chings Of che fathers OF our country
and Che lines of our national develop
ment 1t would have been nearly i'm
possible to have had a national refer
endum injury Ago., but the progress
OF invention has not only made it pos
aI0ie but practical. and absolutely
necessary IN the near future. One
nunHred years ago iG took a week Co go
from NeS York to Washington; now
nnlN five hours chen the representa-.
tive system was sufficient, and the
one are in touch with the people.
Of any existing 81 stem; now we have
ned for 'ome system which will be
clnser in touch With the people and
NOR efficient. T..dsy people are not
afraid d new inventions in art, science,
or industry We adopt al once new
DIOushs and reapers. the telegraph,
telephone and oil the many inventions
OF this age of ma 1erIal things. But
macy people are afraid to adopt any
thing new IN government.
2 IL is necessary. So much work
has e forced on our legislatures that
they are breaking down. So much
irresponsible power has been centred
IN their hands because Of the gro
lnGerdependence of the many brapcaes
of III economic life that the people are
rPp9 Ating and OelIrvIng what Senator
Smith, of New Jersey, recently SAID on
the floor Of the Senate: The great
majority Of the people are dis 4usied
win Congress, " and repeated oy Sena
tor Villas, of Wisconsin, when he said:
"ParGlsanshiO and im6ecili5y have
again stricken Congress with p4raly-
Sis" TIE same IL true of our subordl
nate legislatures. 1t IS often loo ked on
as a disgrace t. be IN a city's common
couucll. Direct legislation would make
all Iesisl4tIve halls true council cham
bers TO the people and their mem ere
councillors to the people. 1t would
lift them above corruption becauee
there would ba no gain mr. mead NJ If IL