The St. Louis Republic., 1903-03-23
Referendum Amendment Tackled
On to Civil-Service Bill for Sole
Purpose Of Killing 1t.
INDIGNATION MEETINGS HELD.
Walls of Wrath Are Being Poured
Out Upon the HOuse-GovernOr
Will Sign Bill, as 1t Would
Be Passed Over His Veto.
By A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
Springfield. ILL.,, March 22.-Use Of the ref
erendum has become new. effective and
not too obvious method of defeating legis-
lation. That Is, such a referendum as was
last week tackled to the civil service bill.
requiring a majority Of the total Of all
votes cast at election. In this case. the ac-
ton Of the Illinois House deals a body blow
both at civil service and the referendum.
When the amer dment referring to the
people this important matter unexpectedly
cropped UP, many of the friends OF the
referendum urged its adoption. unthinking
Of the consequences. 1t looked very plaus-
ible. 1t seemed Difference to the people in
connection with a bill lauded as a peoples
measure.
Now, the generally accepted belief as to
the naked truth IS that much Of the en-
thusiasm for the referendum in this in
stance was the merest sham used to poniard
civil service once and for all. Those who
whooped along the amendment, on the
ground that 1t was recognition of the
referendum icea, were. putting it bluntly.
dupes.
YATES BETRAYED.
As has been stated in The Republic, many
influences and men strong in the Legisla-
organization. though civil service, professed-
ly, at least, was the Governors hobby, were
uncompromisedly against 1t. They could not
afford to vote down the bill itself. So they
amended; and their final coup was the
referendum amendment They are politi
clans. AS such they are as much against
referendum, covertly. as against civil serv
vice: and II they kill two birds with one
stone, SO much the better, In their esti-
nation.
AS to the members who were genuinely
for the referendum amendment, they are
are pledged to the referendum. They realize
and admit that a mistake was made. For,
II the referendum kills civil service. it will
not conduce to increased faith In the effect
iveness or practicability Of the reference Of
complicated iaws to popular Vote.
WILL KILL BILL.
That the amendment will beat the bill
seems certain. In the first place, all the
Secretary OF State Rose. who halls from
All the row about it comes from few
Chicago fellows who wear silk hats and
He voices the sentiment Of the Southern
part Of the State.
But the Governors bill is not accepted on
every hand as a bona-fide civil-service meas
ure. A sentiment for the bill as a ground
up between now and election. Nevertheless,
a large number of voters undoubtedly will
be disinterested. Others will give up in de-
spair the job OF passing judgment upon
6.000-word law. Consequently the handicap.
that requires a majority Of all votes cast to
carry. is enormous
EXECRATE HOUSE.
The civil-service organizations are pour
ing the walls Of their wrath upon the House,
that first took the meat from their bill by
striking out the penalties for uansgression
Of the rules which may be created by a
civil-service commission. then completely
paralyzed the project by the referendum.
Indignation meetings have been held and
protests published. The effort will be made
to undo the work somehow.
That the referendum clause will be stricken
out, is highly improbable. The bill, which
Is now on third reading and will come up
on its passage Tuesday, might be referred
back to second reading for further amend
ment, but the necessary majority in the
House cannot be obtained.
So far as the Senators have expressed
themselves, they have indicated decision
to concur In the House amendment and
House bill. And the Governor. when asked
for an interview on the point, said that II
the bill as 1t stands comes to him. he will
sign 1t. since It appears that the House
majority Is sufficient to pass 1t over q
veto. HASTINGS MacADAM.