The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1910-11-25
Phases of Initiative Vote
(Oregonian. J

(Oregonian)
Except instance the Oregon electorate November
rejected every bill of purely local character Eight of the
adopted Of interest the state large In this result
may be found emphatic decision by the people that miscellaneous
legislation is out Of place on the general election ballots
Every county division bill defeated by decisive vote the
voters thereby plainly indicating that they had not the time patience
or opportunity to determine the merit of such bills
The approval of normal school bill and the rejection of
others logical outcome of the normal school controversy
There general sentiment expressed that Oregon needs but
such institution Monmouth had the advantage OF beng the best
the three and probably the fact that its location readily
accessible from the y settled portions of the state also
huenced the action of the 1t will be observed that the
against Ashland school bill greater than that
against the Weston bill Undoubtedly this feature may be accounted
for disposition the part many favor normal
schools Preference being given Monmouth the of this
opinion naturally believed that the easter portion OF the state should
have the other school,
In the defeat Of one local measure-the County judge
ship bill the may be presumed believed they we're striking
at gross abuse of the initiative referendum While pu
pose was audabe the possibly be the opposite of what
The failed distinguish between abuse off
the initiative and ab,e of e referendum Had the bill been pre-
by initiative petition its defeat by great majority would
have been proper ebuke to its promoters The BILL however had
been adopted by the Legislature after investigation into its merits
of the question possible for the ordinary dissatisfied
faction Baker County invoked the referendum this and
submitted to the state large although outside OF Baker County
the matter of the salary of the Judge OF the Eighth Judicial Dis
rct was absolutely OF no consequence 1t was pronounced abuse %
the referendum and the only buke it to approve the
the BILL thereby dscouagng future efforts to have the electorate pass
questions OF solely local Importance once decided by the eg
Baker County however voted did the other portions OF the
ganst the BILL and far the individual merits OF the
concerned we may all be satisfied with the result Baker
County IS content
than $4,000 the Otlcal Gazette
bill may be properly ascrbed lack of merit attempted
imposition burden 100000 annually the taxpayers for the
free disposition sociasc ideas and failure fix the salaries
the inspectors of government provided for in the bill
The Of the constitutional amendment embodyng the
proportional representation plan another rebuke to attempts at
miscellaneous through the initiative This the most
sweeping measure proposed contained than of rad
cal amendments the constitution almost OF which could
have eliminated without destroying the feature OF pro-
porona The Oregonan does not believe that the
electorate would proportional representation INTO pac
ce if it we're presented distinct individual and thor
oughlv discussed all points of view True constitutional
amendment permitting the adoption of laws providing for proper
ona representation previously approved but the words pro
orona representation appealing when attached to the
visionary working plan presented in the defeated measure
But the face of wise action such large number OF mea
res the approved the obnoxious county taxation plan They
elected to give taxation theorists each county opportunity to
bege the experimenting with untried methods
OF providing public and opened wide the way for chaotic
state in tax regulations and exemptions The soundest reasoning
that tey were by the wording of the amendment
The final analysis of the virtues of the initiative and referendum
must consideration OF the complete results oregon
has demonstrated this year that rule sqarey and
honestly presented in that yes no will be COM
nete answer TO presented will tar cosdera
ton and wise decision Measures complicated by amlcaions IN
o subjects not properly contemplated the OF the Dill
are likely TO be defeated And has also demonstrated that power
SO lacking in safeguards that undesirable laws may be carried by pre-
nng them under may be dangerous implement in the
nave plain and open of the power of the people were
contenanced proven often asserted by The Ore
on that some protection needed in the law itself against the
designs of those who would the initiative and referendum as
other than higher appeal from the ncompeency nd
ference or corruption of the Legislature.