Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-22


choose. and II the lords disagreed the
would send To the people with the mc
sage that they must take that bill q
nothing.
The first purpose OF the referendum.
to insure that laws passed 10y an assen
hly should be in COZ
PURPOSES of formty With the vi
Referendum. Of oa.o the ~ nat - INSTR, "a
liza. is the termination OF deadlocks b'
tween the two houses OF parliament
4 direct legislative league WAS forrne
in America as long ago as 1894 10 secuf
the introduction of the initiative or popt
lar referendum according 10 the Swis
form. The Direct Legislative Record
the organ OF the league.
In the Contemporary Review an .Amei
| lean writer discusses the subject OF fefel
endum under the title of "lnitiative-Re
erendum in the United States Mr.. to'
| craft advances the idea that the init;
| tive-referendEm Strengthens the move
ment toward direct popular legislation
| He says that one reason for Its adoplid
| is the growing fear of graft in co
| porate interests. which has reached sue
disquieting proportions that II shape
| legislation.
| The American writer cites the fact tn:
South Dakota and Oreson. the first
| 1898 and the latter i'm 1910 adopted 4
| ative-referendGm. by which the pc
| pie expressly reserved the right to rr
pose measures to the legislature. Nhit
was held to enact them and subseauent
| 10 submit them 10 a vote % the elsctn
| of the state. This machinery was n
in motion by n petition signed hr r.
cent of the electors in South Dakota q
8 per cent of the electors in Oregon. u
| governor could not veto such m"aslrr"
The American writer urges an iEHo
| tant objection To tie intia;ive-refer
| dum-namely. the possibility Of there y
ing presented at the same elect
through different groups al voters 90
flicting proposals. and that both mi"l
| be adopted,
The American Political Science Revie
for November. 1905 indeed contains I
/ Illustration of this unfortunate conflict.
! The salmon fisheries of the Columt
river are OF great Importance. The 4
terests of the lower river clash with u
upper river. The loWes. river isherm,
proposed an act To abolish all the &c.
of the upper river fishermen. The pro
| osition was adopted by the people by
large majority. The Upper river iishe
men in turn proposed law limiting Il
length of seines ana abolishing fishing
the navigable channels of the lower rive
and stopping night fishing IN all 9th
portions of the river. This also the pc
pie voted by a large majority 1t W.
manifestly contradictory, and the lcIi
latiIre will find no little difficulty i'm "a
tangling the tangle and preserve the 4
terests of the rival parties.
| < X
To the objection or the adoption
crude and conflicting laws there may
added another. The d
Inadequate itiative-referendum Civ
| n:. no opportunity for ad
bill is before legislature under Il
right of petition and with the oppors
nifty afforded for public hearings there
a chance for the presentation of arg
ments for and against. The hearina
debates and discussions in The press 4
form the public of what is taking pla
and the reasons therefor Under ii
Initiative reform in Oregon four mont
suffices for the whole process from n
Hing of the petition to the adoption
an amendment, which goes INTO ,ffc
immediately.
In the Initiative referendum the peorI
take the work of legislative and cons 4
handS and ignore or override the legis
tors whom they elect To represent the
The sense of responsibility ON the part
| legislators is weakened for il beean|
easy to shift responsibility from legisl|
ture to the people.
The referendum in all lis nina SOS =,
| native of Switzerland. which is it's PROF
| home In many ways. Switzerland mis-.
attempt almost any government VIII
her fancy might suggest. because Ui n
restricted territory and population I'll
perience proves that tie larger the popI
| la ton and territory the more difficult
problem OF free government. Democrat
| has had a peaceful! existence i'm SwitZc|
| land. The inhabitants have learned
regulate their affairs in a patriarch
| manner, and their patriotism, love
| country and religion has cemented Ind
| happiness. The success of the ihitiativ|
| referendum in Switzerland does not prnI
| it's applicability To nations with val
populations and territories.
The Swiss citizen first of all is Il mel
Der of "A commune. then of a canton "A
| finally "a member of the federal govrr
ment The 5000 connuneS into Wild
| the country is divided arr the found
| tons of the Swiss constitution. Ii
| only by being "A member Of cpmmu !
| that "a Swiss becomes a citizen uf u
! republic. Each commune, whether lar
, or small. is practically state in mini
ture. with an organized government col
| sisting of deliberate ami exccutit
body.
NJ. Numa DroZ. former president of 4
Swiss confederation. an able constit !
tional writer, expresses grave doubts
to the possibility of successfully introdu|
ing the referendum in other countries, uI
less certain parts of the Swiss constit
ton should be adopted Indeed"
writes. lit is only by realizing the pee
liarities of the Swiss constitution thu
the referendum appears in its true lig |
as part and parcel of the Swiss ideal
democracy
Lowell. writing of tho Swiss confcder}
ton. said it was OH the whole the mo
successful democracy in the world. m
people were contented. the Sovernme'
, patriotic. farsiGhted. efficient. econou
cal. steady in its policy and not chang |
by party fluctuations Corruption in Du /
lie life was nnknown-the evils u
bureaucrary did not exist. The profile
of self-government among small, stai
and frugal people has been solved 10y q
Swiss. And, il may be added, they Won
have solved the problem even If they hs
never instituted the MISUNDERSTANDING
Gil. CIiAILLE-I.ONG.