Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-03-14
THE THING TO DO

CllG ICSoA Oli1S ViiN esot iNes~oJ -
invoking the referendum in the
way Of Strengthening out certain
features Of the general appro-
priation bill passed by the last
legislature. The advantages and
disadvantages of the referendum
are understood by comparatively
few citizens. That affairs are
not to their liking many are GER
tain, but in the matter OF cure
there is g. eat diversity of opinion.
Should the people force an is
sue and make use of the referen-
dunn as means Of correcting
certain evils that our legislators
have bequeathed us, what has
been done with regard to the
general appropriation bill would
simply be nullifed, and without
special, election, which does not
seem advisable, the matter would
not be finally settled until a year
from next June.
That the practice of failing
something that people do not
want onto something that they
must have and 'log-rolling" it
through the legislature is wrong,
there is no denying. A change
in the methods of our legislation
is not only desirable, but neces-
sary. The people are justified in
rising en- nasse against the prac-
tice of heaping unnecessary bur-
dens upon tn n. The only thing
to consider is what is best, and
work to that end.
If the referendum is invoked,
what has been done is simply
nullifed and such matters as are
proper are held up along with the
Objectionable items This is scarce
ly fair for progress. The only
possibility for immediate relief
lies in a special session of the
legislature, the legislatorsto toserve
without pay. In view of the gath
ering storm, it is only fair to pre-
sumo that the state senators and
representatives would be willing
to do this for their constituents.
So much stir has the proposed in.
vocation of the referendum al.
ready created that there is little
doubt but the moral effect would
be apparent upon our Legislators
were they to convene again. Ir
order to deal out strict justice te
all, a special session Of the leg.
islature is necessary. If we can
not have that, then by all means
the referendum. The time is
ripe for action.
Many people advocate the ini
tia5ive instead Of the referendum
in this case. The referendum il
efsectsays to our law makers, 'yol
shall not. but the initiative
makes it possible to say not alone
you shall not,'' but you shalP
in certain Instances, according Il
the will Of the people. The evi
of "log-rolling'' certain thing!
through the legislature is not new
to the people; they have long re
belled against this practice. If
in the present instance, the mat
ter is not Strengthened out by ;
special session or use of the. ref
erendum, then as a last resort
to make the matter clear to ou
legislators, it may be fitting tt
invoke the initiative.
The people have a right to in
sist upon every bill that passe
up to the governor doing so Of
its own merit. They may, and
would be a wise thing to do, in
sist upon the governor havin.
the power to veto any separate
item of general appropriation
bill without efecting any othe:
item of the bill. After the gov
ernor's veto, if considered wise
the legislature could pass thes in
gle item over his veto. Some
thing is necessary in the presen
instance first, a special session
of the legislature; next, invok
ing the referendum, and as a las!
resort, the initiative.