The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-05

alton by the Pennsylvania Bar
association was the advisa-
bility of constitutional amendment
looking to the establishment of refer
| endum in this state, and thereby placing
the acceptance of acts of the legislature
| directly in the hands of the people, who
| would vote in approval or disapproval
! of the laws, at general elections. The
| resolution embodying the proposal of
referendum was presented by Judge
White, of Indiana, and is as follows:
Whereas, The referendum principle in
legislation is engaging the serious atten-
tion of thoughtful public men and many
Legislatures, and has been adopted by con-
stitutional amendment in the state of
Oregon by more than Il two-thrds major
ity at the general elections there June 2
last: therefore,
Resolved, That the committee on con-
stitutional amendments is hereby in
structed to examine and report to this as
| sociation at its next meeting as to the
wisdom and practicablity of suggesting
an amendment to the constitution of this
commonwealth, embodying the principle
of the referendum. as shall be deemed
most practicable. thus having certain
bills passed by the Legislature referred to
the people for u vote before they shall
become the law.
To representative of the Public
Ledger of Philadelphia, Judge White
explained the system as contemplated
in Oregon. Under it the people reserve
to themselves, he said. the power to
propose laws and constitutional amend
ments and the right to reject or ap-
nnfy r;,Ia
The proposal, or initiative and demand
for the referendum, he continued, is ac-
complished by petitions by a percent
age of the voters. The referendum, or
decision Of the people as to acts of the
legislature, extends to all laws except
those of certain classes referring to the
immediate use of the police powers of
the state, and the governors veto does
not apply to bills to which the people
have applied the referendum test. In
Oregon a referendum petition is legal
lied by the signatures of 5 per cent. of
the voters. Judge White, as pre-
caution against an excess of petitions
touching freakish and faddish meas
ures would not have the percentage so
sHioh III ieHllSy ylNuuld. re DelleNeS tndC
If it were fixed at 25 per cent. of the
voters 1t would shut out this class OF
petitions and yet provide a way for
popular action upon measures of vital
public concern. The judge gave this as
his reason for suggesting the subject:
There Is discomfort among our people,
as we'll as bitter criticisms and denuncia-
"a ~ Is, NOT ,ft,x,l
merely to the metropolitan newspapers,
but finds utterance and sympathy in very
high quarters. II is wise that the bar as
sociaton take cognizance of this public
discomfort. 1t is said pressure and in
fiuence are used in the passage of acts in |
the Legislature, and some say there is cor
rIption. do not affirm that, but l do
say that suspicious are current that such |
influences are used in the passage of ini- |
quitOus legislation. What would be the |
result II statutes should be left to the
votes of the people by the referendum? | |
do not think the result would he either |
anarchistic or confusing, or tend to de-
throne our constitution.
The main objection to the initiative
and referendum is that when they have
ii the people do not use 1t. This has
been the case in South Dakota, where
the plan has been on the statute books
but inactive for q number of years 1t |
is difficult to educate the people of an
entire state to take an active interest
i'm legislative measures OF general |
character not directly connected with |
partisan politics.
However, it will do not harm to have |
the bar association consider the matter. |
out of the consideration some good |
may evolve.