Evening journal., 1907-03-30
LEGISLATURE
IGNORED PEOPLE
A. 0. CrOzier Declares Law
makers We're Not SeTv-
ants Of the State
WANTS A SPECIAL SESSION


Nows on the work Of trs Genera, AS
sensbly
He declined TO speak officially for the
League ON the subject. but had no OBJ
lection to giving his individual opinion.
There were some splendid men from
each county among the membership.
Those who felt their responsibility 10
the people and honestly tried to DO
their duty" said Mr.. CroMer.
There were others who cid not con-
slider themselves servants of the peo-
pie. They do not believe the popie
capable Of self government They told
me so frankly. 1t was but natural for
such persons to ignore the people in
their legislative work.
"Some good measures we're passed. II
is only fair that due credit be given
for these The submission OF local OPP
tion affording the people the oppor-
tunity to express their wishes on that
important question one way or the
other, was the right thing to do. The
League urged il solely because it was
the inherent and constitutional right
of the people TO express their wishes
direct thereon. 1t is an application of
the referendum thereto
1T would be a great pleasure to be
able unqualifiedly to approve Of the
work of the General Assembly. But IL
cannot be honestly done. In fact 1
have talked with many men Of both
| parties and all kinds Of people and
! have yet to find one man who is sat
| isfed or who does not condemn the
work Of the past session. As a whole,
they seem to consider It a failure. 1t
/ was their most common expression.
/ and belief that the Assembly was alb
/ sC,utely controlled by the corporations
for their own selfish purposes. II this
| be true. 1t is a remarkable state OF
affairs and indicates that our beauti-
ful State is being prostituted to cor
porate greed ana is tagging far behind
the other states in the great move
ment led by President Roosevelt to
shake off the grip of the corporations
so that the people may govern them
selves and justice prevail
"A special session should be called to
/ pass the Initiative and Referendum
] law. This measure was commanded by
/ the people by the enormous vote of 81
per cent. for. 20 13 per cent against.
/ To ignore this mandate OF the people
! was violence. No matter what our
views of the question may be, the peo-
\ pie have spoken formally by ballot and
should he cbeyed. That the corporations
/ defeated the measure. is admitted.
i "The anti-lobby bill was defeated.
This was a mild, reasonable measure,
such as other states have found 1t nec-
essary to pass to rid their capNols OF
| legislative bribery and blackmaiL IT
| only required paid lobbyists to pub
licly register ami state whom they rep
resent as is done by lawyers IN court
! How does the General Assembly JUS
tify the defeat Of this measue2
Wilmington wanted a charter ana
the rieht to require the millions Of doll
lars worth OF donated franchises to pay
a reasonable tax like other property
! Other states tax their franchises. Why
should they be exempt in Delaware
ana the owners and renters OF houses
and other real cstste be forced to pay
twice the taxes they would IL corpora
tions were Justly taxed? Why should
the state be run at expense Of the peo
ule for the benefit Of the corporations
it muat be humiliating TO the Board OF
Trade. the Council and the people gen.
orally to be so snubbsd and utterly
ignored by their public servants.
But the most amazing thing Of all
is the law passed taxing the slender
deposits OF widows. orphans and work
ing people in the savings banks so thai
IL would not be necessary to tax the
corporations. This S. a stupendou'
folly. politically and otherwise. 1t was
a vicious wrong. Somebody is COINS
to reap the penaNy for this stupidity
'Instead Of a franchise tax, or TN
tax on gross receipts which the cor
poratons agreed to and then had de-
feated. a beggarly tax on per mile o
streets occupied was formulated by ch'
cprp6ratfons themselves end easily pu
through. 1t is Of doubtful validity ant
little real value. It was passed onll
because the corporations wanted 1t 50
as to exempt them from all other taxes
8 .sThe enterprising and injured people
: Of Delaware are beginning 10 wonder'l
IL pavs year after year TO sit back an'
= nern't the corporations 90 nominat
, the candidates of both parties. secretly
pledging them I'm advance and then q
TO Dover and try and coax thcm to pas
laws regu'ating the corporations Tor IN
welfare OF the people of course tn
pecr;e fail to get anything The peopl
. lave a complete and perfect rened'
I'm their own hands. II they would g
into the primaries Of ,he city and tn
state and force the nomination OF onl.
those who can be absolutely trusted &
observe their oaths Of office by doin'
the will Of the people It would d
more 10 advance the material and mora
welfare Of the people and the homo
of the state than all other things com
bined. But this is their affair no
mine. The spirited young men. De
S ueva are ready to take hold ct tn
s.tuation and rescue their state iron
danger ana disgrace They could d
nothing which would give them
greater name and better entitle then
E 10 leadership in the great cause OF TN
I pec,le. In the past, thousands Of ou
a patriotic countrymen nave been VIII
ing 10 die for the cause Of the people
ebould we. then. not be willing L
live for that cause. 10 work for IL
The boasted strength Of pillagins cor
porations is n mere rope Of sand IN II
weakness because it is based on sci
aehness. greed and injustice. on
rcauv earnest breath OF .he people or
ganized and cooperating together 3
the primaries and at the polls can blo'
IL in pieces. The only political sirengt
- the corporations ever have is due {
: the indifference OF the people But tn
n spirit Of Roosevelt is changing this in
q difference to Intelligent concern an
ri ovir, Determination shall our goo