Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-24

1
State; that is the taking of the first
or initiatory step to call upon the citi-
| zens Of the town and ask them to do
what you want them to do; that Is your
| constitutional right. When that article
is inserted in the warrant, the people
of the town assemble, and then
the article is submitted to the vote of
| the people Of the town, whatever IL
may call for. and il decided by a ma
jority vote. That is your right today.
Now, when the people vote upon that
article. and the majority vote for it or
the majority vote against 1t, that de-
ternlines the question, that is the refer1
endum. I.
Now. gentlemen, there are the prir,cl-
pies involved in this bill, asking Of this
Legislature to extend that same prin.
ciple of initiative law in this State, and
asking for the referendum Of those laws
to the people of the STATE. Now, In town
matters I ask You, gentlemen, has it
net always been a success, has 1t not
always met with the approval of every
law piding citizen, and should this
Legislature attempt to take away from
the people of this State the right to
initiate a measure in the town meet
ings? Would you grant it for a mo-
ment? This law simply asks that this
Legislature extend that principle one
step further: 1t asks that the people of
the State, instead OF limiting it to the
individual in the town, it asks that the
people of the State. upon petition sign
ed by ten or twelve per cent. of the
legal voters of the State petitioning
and initiating a bill, when signed by
that percentage Of the legal voters,
reckoned upon the last preceding vote
at the State election. signed by ten per
cent OF the legal voters of the State of
Maine asking that a bill be considered
by the incoming Legislature of this
State. by their representatives. when
that ten per cent. OF the voters of the
State ask that law be presented To
this Legislature. then it becomes the
duty Of this Legislature under this law
to introduce that bill, and then if the
Legislature passes It. well and good;
and then it becomes a law.
Now, gentlemen, 1 want to read
some of the provisions of this bill in
order that you may understand more
fully just what it is. That the follow
ing amendment to the constitution OF
this State be proposed for the action Of
manner provided by the constitution,
to wit:
Article 4. Part third is hereby
amended by adding thereto the fol-
lowing sections:
Section Is. No act of the Legislature
not passed to be enacted by two
thirds vote of each house. taken by
yeas and nays, shall take effect until
80 days after the recess Of the Legisia-
lure passing it," Or, in other words,
when measure passes this House, or
both branches Of this Legislature by a
twO-thirds vote, taken by the yeas and
nays, when it becomes a law without
referring it to the people; but an act
not so passed does not become the fixed
law and go into effect until after the
expiration of 30 days, and during that
period of 80 days certain rights are
granted to the people. 1t follows, ANY
act, if ten per cent OF the voters cal
culated upon the vote at the preceding
general election for governor not mora
than Is per cent. of whom shall be from
any one county. by petition signed and \
filed with the secretary of State within
said tire. shall 80 request. shall be sub
mitted to the people, on a ballot by it.
self, not later than the next general
election and shall only go into effect 10
days after the governor and council
the vote thereon shall de-
clare majority Of the votes upon such
act to have been cast therefor
Now. after it has been passed and
ten per cent of the people sign peti-
ton. then it must go to the people to
pass upon that law as to whether or
not they want it. Now. gentlemen, IA
that right? What is the fundamental
the bed rock. ard the founda-
ton stone upon which true republic
or a true democracy is based 1t Is a
by for and OF the people. 1t
does not interfere with our representative
iE any respect. 1t simply
goes a step further than it has up to the
present time and increases the rights OF
all the people of the State. When was
the Child of Liberty first born. as It were.
and where? It was when the barons OF
England confronted King John at Runny-
mede and demanded certain rights and
privileges for the people, that no longer
would they submit to the tyrannical rule
Of a king without any rights whatever
hut the single declaration of a king that
such and such should be the law. 1 say,
gentlemen, then ana there was born the
Child of Liberty: it was then and there
hat the parents of that child. the barOns
IF England, wrunS from King John that
yrent charter, the Magma Charta, under
which and to which every republic and
very people now have to go and find In
hat charter the principles that give to us
he liberties of today.
Now, Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen OF the
House, what does this bill ask for? 1t
simply asks that you still give to the
,eople Of the State of Maine more rights
or themselves the law by which they
hall be ruled; it refers to the people the
avs passed by this Legislature, and why
shouldn't it? Some gentlemen have said
n conversation with me, "Why, we are
ent here by our constituents to pass
Avs, and we know better than they do
What they want" 1t was wise saying
If Abraham Lincoln and which has been
% often quoted that 1.-THE good plain peo-
lie Of this land are safe to rule It," And
10 you, Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen. pro-
,ose to say to the people OF the State or
haAk hot