The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-11-15
The Initiative Referendum ana Recall"

! 'lDltldblVe leltIcuu utl duu lNc
CALL" is receiving more or less
attention at the present time by
the constitutional convention.
Whether this question will be
submitted in the draft of the con-
stitution is question. 1t would
seem to The Northerner objec'
tionable for three reasons: First,
it is contrary to true represen-
tative form of government; sec
ond, it is too expensive when
carrying such a plan into prac'
tice; third, we doubt that the
body polite of our state will ev-
er inform themselves sufficiently
upon legislation submitted, to
act with the degree of intelli'
gence desired.
The present constitution pro
vides for a representative assem-
bly, composed of two bodies, the
idea being that one body acts as
a check upon the other in pass
ing hasty legislation. These as
semblies are composed of men
who ought to be able to enact
laws for the common good. The
history of our country goes to
prove that such a system has
worked wonders in popular gov
eminent. When the time comes
that the people cannot rely up
on the personal honesty and
well meaning of their represent
ativeS elect-in other words.
when they cannot delegate their
powers in the making Of laws to
those whom they choose for
such purpose, it is a reflection
upon the form of government
under which we are working
The "initiative," as we under
stand it, permits the people, or a
certain per cent of them, to petit
ton the legislature, who in turn
are obliged to submit such petit
ton in the form of an act for APP
proval by the people. 1t prac-
tically takes away from our leg
islative assembly any alterna-
tive in the matter, although they
may be convinced that the pro-
posed enactment is i'll advised
aud would work harm if placed
upon the statute books. For in
stance, less than year ago, the
temper of the people of our state
was such, relative to life insur-
ance, that no matter how restric-
tive the legislation proposed,
had we been working under an
initiative and referendum, it
would undoubtedly have been APP
proved by the voting masses of
our state. Thus system, which
properly controlled is a great
benefactor to the people, could
have been practically eliminated
by the prejudice of our body po-
little. When a bill is reported
out of its regular committee un-
der our present system, it goes
before the members of the house
or senate to be considered in
what is known as the committee
of the whole, before it is passed
to third reading and final pas
sage. 1t is a we'll known
fact to those acquainted with
legislative matters, That at that
time members are very apt to
propose amendments, because OF
their not being acquainted with
the merits of the proposed bill,
that are not only foolish, bu,
that oftentimes prevent the pas
sage of what was an excellent
committee bill. How much more
then, if you make a Legislative
body of our whole people, would
they act wrongly in passing up
on proposed legislation which il
has not been their opportunity
to properly consider? Again,
legislation, which might be ben.
efcial to populous centers, but
which might not be the best
thing fer moral communities Oh
the state as a whole, would be ia
danger of being voted in if sub.