Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-15
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from Page Eighty


IN their platforms in the last campaign
had plank favoring the passage of the
initiative and referendum. I favored the
measure when I was a member of the
House two years ago. I have favored it
ever since. and the more have studied
the question the stronger has become my
belief in it. I believe that the more tru-
ly democratic we make our State govern
ment the more certain We are of peaceful
progress. I believe the people of Mama
can be trusted. I believe that Lincoln
was right when he said that the great
heart of the world beats true. T believa
the great heart Of the people OF Main,
beats true and that n can be trusted
upon measures of public importance.
believe in it, too, because it enables us
to vote for measures and not for men.
1t enables me to vote with my ncighbor
who may be affiliated with a different
political party-to vote with him upon
measures in regard to which we agree.
The Initiative and referendum enables
men of different political Affiliations to
vote upon public measures, their honest
convictions, without regard to party or
to party candidates. 1t Is n great edu-
Gator, and will be. I know You realiZ.
as well as I do that there is too little in
terest taken in public affairs among the
people of the State of Maine. 1 think
the people of Maine are largely indebted
to that great organization, the Grange.
for great and increased inter-
est in public matters. Bur thera
IS still too little. Our time at
this session is too largely taken up
with matters of a private and special
nature. Your hearings on the great
questions are more SHINY attended
than hearings in regard to the granting
of a charter to some great private cor
poratiOn. l believe the initiative and
referendum will be a great educator OF
our people. 1t puts before them queS-
tions Of a public nature upon which
they are to vote and it will require
from them study to inform themselves
in regard to those measures and to
make up their minds how they shall
vote. The press. of course, will assist
in doing that, public speakers may as
sist; but when men come to vote they
can then vote upon measures and for
measures of interest to our State hav-
ing no connection with political par
ties whatever. For that reason l am
heartily in favor of the principle AMI
us duOptiOn III the state OF Name. i
have no gloomy forebodings which /
hear from some quarters as to the flu
ture, that we are starting a revolution,
if we adopt this great public principle.
and that the people of Maine may. be
carried off their feet and that revolu-
ton may follow. / say l have no such
gloomy forebodings. ] believe the peo-
pie of Maine can be trusted and that
"a no 70
ures of great public Importance.
Now, brifly, as to the difference be-
tween these two resolves. They are
exactly identical in language and pro-
visions except in this particular: the
resolve reported by tho minority of the
committee provides that the initiative
and referendum may BE- applied to the
Constitution of the State of Maine as
we'll as to the statutes which are en-
acted by the Legislature. l am heart
lily in favor of the majority report, but
I do not think it goes far enough. |
therefore joined in the minority report
because / believed it is as neces-
sary to good government in Maine
that the people have an opportunity to
vote upon constitutional Questions as
upon those contained in our statutes.
We are proposing many amendments
to our constitution. We have before
our committee at the present time /
think five or six to be submitted to the
people of Maine, to be voted upon if
two-thirdS of the Legislature cOncurS
or course | realize that the answer to
this position may be that now under
the constitution two thirds of each
branch of the Legislature concur rIne,
amendment n
be submitted to the people But ! be-
lieve we should adopt the principle of
the initiative and referendum. I be-
lieve that the people themselves should
have right to propose an amendment
to the constitution if they see fit, and |
believe they should not be compelled
to wait for two-thirds of each branch
of the Legislature to concur in pro-
posing to them any amendment. In
the resolve proposed by the majority
provision is made that no statute en-
acted by the Legislature shall become
q law until ninety days after the final
adjournment of the session of the Leg
fslature which enacted it, and if within
that time. within the ninety days. a
petition signed by 10000 of the voters
of the State requests that any statute
which has been enacted be referred to
the people it shall be referred by pub
lie proclamation by the Governor not
less than four months or more than
six months after that at a special cleo
ton. if so requested in that petition;
or If there is no request for a special
election it is to be voted upon at the
next general election. That is the pro-
vision for the referendum. that it shall
go to a vote of the people. The prin
Ciple in regard to the initiative is that
the people themselves upon petition
signed by 1900 at least of the voters
of Maine may propose certain meas
ureS to the Legislature by filing a pc
tition with the proposed measure with
the Secretary of State or with either
branch of the Legislature at any time
thirty days before its adjournment
The Legislature if it sees fit may enact
that provision into law. If not. it
must submit that question to the peo-
pie to vote upon. The Legislature may
submit a measure competing with that
but it goes to the people. taking 10000
e., s,it toft