The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-13
DIRECT LEGISLATION
(Complled by d. M. L.awrence.l

Compiled by II. ". Lawrence-)
Is direct legislation practicable? Has
II been employed to the advantage of
mankind on earth? is a question fire.
quently asked by many honest men seek
ing light to guide their future life.
Direct legislation is employed through
out Switzerland, and the people have de-
stLoyeo Tie power of the legislator for
personal ends; they have made it easv
al any time to alter or change their feG-
eidi CONSTITUTION, and have signified their
FORM or government; they hold their pub
~ olilcefs responsible direct TO their con-
SItuencleS as servants, and not as tools
70 legislative cOrruptionists who main
tam an expensive lobby about the halls
o. the legislatures to buy mems souls md
SSIsiave the people through vicious legls-
They have defeated monopolies. inn
proved the methods Of taxation. reduced
the rate. avoided national scandals grow
ING out or exJraVagances unWarranted
Win no otner object in view than the
enrichment of a legislative ring and their
IaVofIteS; they have husbanded the pub
nc domain Tor the benefit of their own
cl1zenshlp, they have established home
rue IN TACT IN every community, they
nave destroyed partlsanship, and estab-
llShed government OF the people; they
nave Quoted disturbing political ele-
nents, oisarmed the politician, enthroned
me people, by the vote of the people they
have assumed authority over the rail-
EoauS, express companies. telegraph and
telephone companies, reducing freight
rates, express charges and tolls more
than - per cent below the cost for like
service under private control
In our country IL has been endorsed in
thlrty-eight state platforms, more than
5000 newspapers and magazines are ad-
Vocatlng II as a primary reform AL
labor organizations have adopted it as a
part OF the organic laws for their gov
eminent. The National Woman's Chris
tan Temperance union has unquaHnedly
endorsed It, many Catholic and Protest
ant societies have approved it. In the
United States, constitutional amendments
so direct to the people for q vote in eV-
cry state but one.
In fifteen states the location Of the cap
ltal cannot be changed by act Of the leg
iSlaCure, bat must go to the people direct
In seven states banking institutions
can Snly be organized by vote Of the
In eleven states no debts can be in
CURED except such as are provided
specifically in the several constitutions
In many states no rate of assessment
exceeding q figure proportionate to the
aggregated valuation of the taxable prop
erty" can be imposed without the consent
Of the people by direct vote.
Without the referendum certain south
ern communities may not make harbOl
improvements, and other communities
may lot extend local credit to railroad
water, transportation and similar cor
porations. The prohibition of the liquor
business in a city or county is often left
to popular vote; indeed, local option Is
tee cenmOneSt form of the referendum
In California, any city with more thar
10000 inhabitants may frame a charter
for its own government, which, however
must be approved by the legislature IN
der this law, Stockton, San Jose, Los
Angeles and Oakland have acquired new
charters.
In the state of Washington, cities Of
10000 may make their own charters with
out the legislature having any power t
vote; largely, then, such cities make theil
own laws.
The city of Bussey, Ia, employed the
referendum in voting for a bond issue
to establish an electric light plant.
In Ohio the referendum is employed By
municipal corporations in voting Tor i'm.
prOVement Of Streets sidewalks and fol
bond issues for sewerage, electric light
ing, etc. With this form Of the refer
endum the people are already familiar
They have witnessed the people going tC
the polls and voting on a measure OF
mutual interest; craftsmanship has no par
in the contest, politicians are ignored
the goaI of the community only is the
object to be attained.
The klatform of the Union Reform
party cdntemplates the extending of this
system 20 state and national affairs. Il
means to give the people the right TO De
clare what burdens Of government they
shall bear instead Of being bound through
INSCRIPTIONS and unprincipled politician:
to the money power that now control:
the legislation of state ald nation.
Public opinion IS being aroused in ev'
cry stats OF the Union against legisla-
lures ard city councils whose members
are only elected for two years, granting
franchises TO private parties and increas.
ing the public debt; binding the present
and future generations without the con
sent or direct vote of the people. Re
forms and changes for the better vii
come when the people get an amend
ment to the state constitution whereby
they can force a vote on any matter OF
public interest and this power is in the
hands OF the industrial classes, who con.
troll 20 per cent of the vote of the country