The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-06
NAMES INITIATIVE
AND REFERENDUM
Wisdom of Amendment
Discussed
Predicts That Measure WIN Not he
Successful.

The following article Is from the
Civic League Record:
Maine has put into its constitution
a provision for the Initiative and Ref
erendum. This provision was adyo-
Gated by the labor unions with the
thought that II would greatly aid the
working man.
BY the provisions of this amend
ment NO act of joint resolution of the
Legislature" except such as pertain
to legislative business or appropria
tions for salaries fixed by law, shall
take effect until ninety days after the
recess of the Legislature passing II,
unless In case of emergency"
Sec. II of the act provides that a
written petition of not less than TO-
200 electors, addressed to the govern
or, and filed In the Office of the Sec
rotary of State within 80 days after
recess of the Legislature, will pre-
vent any act or resolve not excepted
In this provision from taking effect
until ratified by majority of all
electors voting on 1t in a special or
regular election, and announced In a
public proclamation by the governor.
Sec. Is provides for the presenta-
ton of any bill at least thirty days
before the adjournment of the Leg
islature on the written petition of
10000 voters.
This measure seemed SO unwise and
so out of keeping with our form of
government that the writer voted
against it.
All the legislators are elected
by the people. The presentation
of any bill which the public good de-
mands can easily be secured without
the initiative. No measure is PASSED
until hearing is given by the COM
mttee to whom it Is referred, and
any citizen can appear before these
committees and advocate or oppose
any bill, and can associate with him
self as many people as he can in
duce to endorse his views. Only af-
ter such hearings are bills reported
back to the Legislature.
In both branches of the Legislature
these bills are publicly discussed,
they must receive a majority vote of
both branches and be signed by the
governor or passed over his veto to
become law. All the legislators are
dependent on the people for election
and reelection. 1t would seem that
all this is as ample safeguard as can
be thrown about the enactment OF law.
Our recent Legislature adjourned,
and the people were so we'll satisfied
with the 265 public and the many pri-
vate acts and resolves passed, or
were so Indifferent to them, that the
referendum was invoked for only one
public and two private bills.
The bottlers and soft beer vendors
secured the required number of petit
TONERS to hold up the Milliken bill, a
much needed provision providing that
Alcoholic liquors which may not be
sold except by the payment of rev.
enue tax to the United States govern
ment are hereby declared to be in
toxicatipg liquors within the meaning
of the statutes of this State"
The city of Portland, dissatisfied
with bridge bill presented by a
Portland man and passed by the Leg
islature; and certain part of the
town of York dissatisfied with the
bill for the division of that town have
seized on the referendum to hold up
these bills and compel their final set
tlement in a special or regular cleo
ton by a majority of the electors
voting.
At the hearing on the Milliken bill
the bottlers and the soft drink deal
ers had every opportunity together
with those favoring the bill to be
heard. After the hearing the COM
mittee favorably reported the bill, 1t
passed both Houses and was prompt
ly signed by the governor.
The Portland bridge bill and the
York division bill were referred to
committees who held advertised public
hearings on the bills, and visited
Portland and investigated the bridge
question Both bills were reported
favorably, they were discussed in the
Legislature, and the representatives
from both places had opportunity to
in the discussion. and in
the light of all facts both bills were
passed and signed.
Now dissatisfied parties have Sc
cured petitions under the referendum
and ask the electors at large In
Maine to decide in a State election
as to the wisdom or unwisdom OF
these measures. BY what process
can the voters of Maine become in
telligent as to the merits or dement's
of the York division or the Portland
bridge bill? They were passed by a
small group Of men who acted after
the most careful investigation with a
definite knowledge of the facts from
friend and foe alike. Now the cleo