The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-07-25
NITZA TIVE AND REFERENDUM.

Much attention has recently been
attracted by the action ofthe State of
Oregon in adopting an amendment to
the Constitution applying the initia-
tive and referendum to State legisla-
ton. tt is is perhaps one of the
most important steps that can be
taken by a State in the radical
change Of the fundamental system of
government The theory of our
government is of a representative
nature and if this be carried to a
logical extreme it would turn the
nation or state where it has been
adopted into a big town meeting,
such as is oftentimes done even in our
little hamlet. 1t has been the custom
of Town Commissioners in times past
to call citizens meeting whenever
any legislation of a radical nature is
contemplated and get the views of
the inhabitants to guide their de-
alterations. We have it also in a
modified form, as for instance the
present local option law, as well as
when a city, town or county con-
templates an issue of certificates of
indebtedness. The law for a sewer
age system in Baltimore City was
also somewhat on the same plan.
When the question of a proper place
for the county seat of Hartford county
was agitated, it was decided by vote.
1t is also the custom to submit the
ratification of a constitution to the
popular vote although this is by no
means necessary, as has just been
shown in our sister State, Virginia.
1t has often been charged that when
the legislators were afraid of passing
laws about which there was some
dispute, they took this means of
lodging responsibility.
Oregon's new constitutionalam amend
ment provides that whenever eight
per cent of the voters petition for the
passage ola specific act of legislation,
it must be submitted to a popular
vote, and it will become law if APP
proved by a majority ofthose voting
for the proposition. This we think
could be improved by requiring a
majority ofthe whole number ofvotes
to be cast in favor of the measure.
Enactments of the Legislature may
be referred by it to popular vote for
approval, and this must be done
whenever five per cent. of the legal
voters of the State petition for such
a referendum, and the law cannot
take effect unless approved by a
majority of those voting for it. The
Governors veto power is thus more
or less submerged by these new pro-
visions, since it does not apply to
measures submitted to the people
under the initiative and referendum.
This may be move tending in the
direction of Populism, but, in the
abstract, it would certainly seem the
fairest method that could be devised
if the government by the people is to
remain as one of our cherished land
marks. Whether or not it would be
practical if carried to the extreme
that Oregon has gone remains to be
seen. For all plain and practical
issues it will unGualifedly recon-
mend itself, but it would be a doubt
full movement to apply it to the adj
justment Of intricate matters that
must he worked out by specialists.
In this state, it would be an open
question whether or not the people
would take sufficient interest to vote
intelligently. The recent amend
ments that have been adopted to our
own constitution have in most cases
received only a small percentage of
the actual vote cast. There was
very important amendment which