The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-02-07
2food River Glacier.
Initiative and Referendum.

Initiative and Referendum.
While the election laws are under dis
cussion it is good time TO remark that
we have proposed constitutional amend
ment to be voted upon the coming June.
1t is the proposal for the initiative
and referendum; and though the
subject is one which possesses for
most persons only faint and fictitious
interest, every proposal Of this char
acter should get attention enough from
the voter so that he can vote upon it,
informed Of its purposes and probable
effects.
The project is in the form OF an amend
ment to the frnt section Of the fourth
article of the Oregon constitution, and it
offers to reserve to the people "power to
propose laws and amendments to the
constitution and to enact and reject same
atthe polls, independent of the legislative
assembly, "and also to reserve "power at
their own option to approve or reject at
the polls any act Of the legislative assem-
bly,"
We have here two proposals--one is
the initiative, or power to originate legis-
lation ;and the other is the referendum,
or power to pass upon legislation. Eight
per cent of the voters, taking as basis
the latest popular vote for supreme
judge, may lodge proposed law with
the secretary OF state. Then this act
must be submitted to the people at the
next election, and if approved by ma
jority mot of the whele vote, but of the
votes cast thereon), it must be promul.
gated as a law, without any interven-
tion on the part of the legislature.
The referendum may be securedin the
way of petition, as with the initiative, or
in the present method Of submission by
legislative enactment, as we had, for ex-
ample, for free bridges, and as we are
to have in June for the new charter.
The referendum can be secured by an 8
per cent petition filed ninety days after
the legislature that passed the act in
question has adjourned.
With the general principle and pur'
pose of this measure the Oregonian is in
full accord, and it will not complain il
the amendment is adopted. The Ore
gonian has long ceased to have impatienc'
with any undertaking that has for it
object to curtail the power of polit
ical bosses and secure for the people
greater facility in expression Of their viii
and greater facility in compelling its rec
ognition. 1t is readily conceivable tina
obnoxious measures rushed through
legislature by pressure Of partisan ma
chimes might be benifcently set asid
through the operation! OF the referen
dunn, while reforms that party disciplin
could defeat in the legislature might b
achieved by the initiative.
Yet it is also recognized that tn
amendment is almost certain Of defeat
owing TO the failure OF such proposal
always make in an effort to arous
popular interest. In practice, more
over, the beneficial results Of tn
roposals would be problematical
A measure that can comman
per cent Of the popular vote wi
never lack for some one to introduC
it at Salem, and occasions when enoug
interest can be aroused to secure
reversal Of legislative enactment wi
be rare indeed.
The true and invincible remedy fC
bad laws, and for failure to enact goo
laws,is good men in Office. If we can eve
get our legislature chosen without refel
ence to senatorial ambitions, men ma
be elected with view to their fitnei
for making laws under which We ha,
to live and try to do business.-oregol
ian,