Evening journal., 1910-10-04
IS THE CITY REFERENDUM
MEASURE CONSTITUTIONAL! f.!
Editor OF THE EVENING JOURNAL. !

Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL.
The city fathers and so-called Dem
ocrats are questioning the validity of
the Initiative and Referendum for the
city Of Wilmington. It was first ques-
toned by Eugene Sayers who pos
sesses the sinecure Of assessor Of the
southern district. At the city election
previous to the last one. the question
was submitted to the voters 10 make
the assessors and collectors bond with
surety company to cover any dis
crepancies or shortage of funds in
stead of freehold bond. the former be-
ing the safest bond to protect the tax
payers, but the surety bond being more
costly than the freehold. Mr.. Savers
brought the matter before the Superior
Court, and they decided the referen-
uum was unconstitutional. because the
legislature had not the power to pass
such legislation, It requiring an
amendment to the state constitution TO
be submitted to voters Of the state at
a general election.
Now come the sturdy city fathers
Messrs. Dempsey and McGovern who
claim ift it was invalid in MIR.
Sayer's case il was likewise with the
. expenditures.
another question submitted to the vot-
ers at the aforesaid election, and like
II, endorsed by 10 TO / vote.
They claim II is a costly and need
less expenditure, but mention nothing
of junketing trips and Ford land deals.
which by the way, had it been submit
ted to a popular vote would have been
squashed with a vengeance.
Tho Qffv rafarandfr,, me-
compiled by one of the citys leading
attorneys. as an amendment 70 the
city charter. Dozens OF other cities
pass new charters with the Initiative
Referendum and recall, and there is no
question as to their validity, and it Is
in vogue in about 20 or 25 cities in the
United States.
Now whether it is constitutional or
not matters little, as the city is gov
erned from Dover anyway. But there
will be a determined attempt made at
the next egislative~session to pass a
measure for a constitutional amend
ment to be submitted for the manda-
tory Initiative and Referendum for the
state
At the session Of the legislature
measure was presented for the advis-
ory Initiative and Referendum, and
passed by the lower house, passed by
the Senate and voted for by Senator
George W. Sparks and Alvin b. Con-
ner, Pennsylvania Railroad employe
with the avowed purpose of having It
reconsidered the following day, which
they did. and killed the measure. which
by the way did not require a constitu-
tional amendment, and the people
could only advise as TO legislature
measures, but have no mandatory
power The immortal de Tocqueville.
the French economist, has well said:
The cure for the evils Of democracy
Is more democracy" and the Referen-
dunn league is now mailing 10 every
voter IN the state a copy Of u. =. Sen
ator Jonathan Bourne's speech i'm the
United States Senate. entitled Oregon
has the best government In the world. &"
a broad assertion but an equally true
one nevertheless with a thorough
elucidation of the Initiative and Ref
erendum, so that no one can claim
ignorance of the measure to be sub
mitted TO the legislature. and any res
ldent OF the state, not receiving a copy
can do so by applying to the /. and r
League, p. o. box No. "a.
This form of government is in
vogue IN about seven states of the
union. with likelihood of being pass
ed by about the same number at the
coming general elections in November,
and It behooyes the citizens OF Della
ware to wake up and not be the last.
Do you know how the representative
who expects you TO vote for him will
vote on this question? Is it not your
business 10 find out?
Initiative aud Referendum League.
Box 50, VII. Del.
Wilmington. Del. Oct 3. 1910