Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-23


ment in favor Of the initiative system as
a means OF securing this end.
AZ the election held in Oregon this
year, initiative petitions were submitted
for i've amendments to the State Consti-
tuition as follows: For initiative and
referendum for ordinances in cities, towns
and counties, and the referendum for
single items in appropriation bills; giving
cities and towns exclusive power to enact
and amend their own charters, subject TO
the Constitution and the criminal laws;
permitting the State to control at all
times the cost Of public printing; giving
70 one legislative assembly power 10 pro-
pose constitutional amendments and re-
quiring the peoples consent before a Con-
stitutional Convention can be called;
prohibiting free passes and discrimina-
tions by public service corporations. All
these amendments we're adopted by large
maiorities. The State Grange likewise
secured by petition a vote upon two bills
for the taxation Of public service corpora
tions. One was for an annual license
tax Of 3 per cent on the gross earnings
Of sleeping car companies, refrigerator
car lines, oil companies and express COM
panies; and the other called for an annual
tax Of 2 per cent on the gross earnings
Of telegraph and telephone lines A
woman's suffrage amendment was sub
mitted, but was rejected by the people.
The friends Of more liberal Excise law
submitted an amendment Of tho stringent
Local Option law approved two years ago,
but were defeated, as was the attempt Of
the toll road company to sell its property
70 the State.
Whether there Is a demand in Della
ware for any of the measures upon which
the people Of Oregon have thus placed
the seal of their approval is an open ques-
tion. But Of this fact there is no doubt;
These, or any other changes in the funda-
mental or statuts law, or any new laws
that the people may demand, are obtain
able in Delaware under tho existing sys-
tenn, without the necessity Of resorting
to the initiative. Given any measure in
which a majority OF the people are inter-
ested, and the enactment Of which they
insistently demand, and no two Legisla-
lures in succession would dare to stand
out in opposition. The people have il
In their power 10 elect a Legislature which
will enact any legislation demanded by a
clearly manifested public sentiment. And
public sentiment Is not manifested by 5
OF 10 per cent Of the voters.
As we have said before, it will be incum-
bent upon those who arc advocating the
initiative and referendum to point out
It's merits and show tho people wherein
they will be benefited by the change be-
fore they can expect favorable response
to their appeal. And in doing this It will
not be sufficient TO point to what has been
accomplished in Oregon, for, as we have
said, nothing has been accomplished
there under the initiative and referendum
that is not already in existence, OF
cannot be accomplished in Della
ware, under our existing representative
system, If the people so demand II is
incumbent upon the advocates Of the
proposed innovation to show that it will
accomplish beneficial results which will
more than counterbalance the evil OF
frequent and costly elections to which
the new system would subject us.
When the test Of the vote at the next
election il taken n will hh vnll 20 heat