The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-08-19
Substitution Price $a.oo q year.
THE REFERENDUM.


What is the referendum? Its intent
is seIf-eyident. Its purpose is plain.
Its principle and is functions can not
be disjointed by the demagogue or the
self-seeker. In brief, through the ref
erenduIn the citizens qualified as voters
may approve or disapprove the acts Of
legislators submitted for their considera,
ton. An act which is incomplete can
not be referred to the vote=. AT this
time great stress is being laid in certain
quarters on the referendum in connec,
ion with the proposition of the Traction
Company and its transfers, which, as
enumerated, would prove to be delusive
to many when practically applied.
AS the Council at its session Tuesday
failed to agree on an ordinance, apply
ing intelligently to concessions and tc
transfers, there is nothing for subnis,
sion to the people.
At this Council session there were
presented the Sco6eld ordinance and the
LowenthaI substitute, which failed Of
enactment.
Is Mr.. Sco6eld the authorized agent
of the Traction Company?
Did he have the legal authority tc
speak for that corporation?
Assuming that Mr.. Scofeld was no
vested with power to speak and repre-.
sent this corporation, could it be boune
by an act of his act as councilman!
AS matter of fact the Council should
have refused to consider the Scofelc
ordinance until its approval had beer
made plain by the signed acceptance Of
the Traction Company.
If the Scoheld ordinance had pre-
vailed in the Council and had been re.
ferred to the people and approved
would the Traction Company have beer
bound to its acceptance, unless SO dis
posed, and it could give the reasonable
excuse that the ordinance had beer
passed and submitted without its forma
acceptance and signature.
Assuming that he did represent thu
Traction Company, who was represent
ing the people in his stead while he wa
an agent for that corporation?
In the Scofeld ordinance the city am
the people are left practically at th'
mercy of the Traction Company. /
would seem sas if Councilman Sco6eld'.
sole ambition is conferred in the trans
fers, which do not transfer, and in moth
ing else. In his efforts for transfers HI
has neglected the requirements of TIN
repairs BY the Traction Company o.
that portion of the streets occupied b.
its tracks. The Sco6eld ordinance i!
not only incomplete, but is radically de
fective in so far as it is wanting in thu
proper safeguards of the city and o
the people.
Is this the ordinance which it is de
sired shall be referred to the people?
The Lowenthal substitute is not only
complete, but it provides every expect
ed reasonable safeguard for the city
and the people, and it provides transfer:
which would be transfers, besides FIRE,
ride privileges which should be accorded
orphans and their attendants, to of
hcers of the law and iremen. The sub
sfifute is such an enactment as woulc
be responsive to the square deal.
Why was il not accepted by tht
Traction Company and its champione
Would this substitute have received
the approval Of the Traction Company
This substitute, being complete, if j
had been adopted by the Council and &C
copied by the Traction Company, coulS
have been consistently subjected to tn
referendum for the approval or the dis
approval of those qualified to vote.
IT IS the rankest of nonsense for the
champion OF the Traction Company t
indulge in platitudes as the average citi
zen is possessed Of intelligence suficien
to distinguish the difference between
a shadow and a substance. In palmer
words, the great majority of the people
viii not be fooled when the issue is pre-
scented. not as pretense but as fact
Invested Of ali subterfuge.
The Caucasian has always been an,
favcrs the referendum whenever it i
applied or submitted inteiligently