The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-01-05
GOVERNOR DENEEN
TO LEGISLATURE
REVIEWS WORK or FORMER SEES
SION AND URGES NEW RE-
FORM MEASURES.
M|AlR|Tl LEGISLATION
System Stopped--carry Out
Peoples Wishes as
Expressed.

Springfield, H., Jan, 4--Gov. De
neen delivered his anaua- message e
the Legislature today, making man,
important recommendations, among
others tile following:
Illinois Central.
The governors message gives
briefly the history of the Illinois Cen
trail investigation. EJe shows that
since the beginning of the investiga.
tion in which the state has expended
$68, 8,70906, the increased revenue ac-
crning to the state, as SHOWN by the
reports OF the certified public ac-
countant has been $792, 2,706.S4. The
accounting is made by the governor ol
the expenses and at the same time
the sources OF increased revenue are
pointed out. The result of the ease
under the ruling Of the supreme court,
in which the state lost on three points
and own on fourteen. Is given.
TO take advantage of the findings
W
says the, message, "to gather ftrtaer
information TO he presented to the
court upon the treatment Of this inn
portant ease. The preparation Of
this ease Aas required more labor IN
the way Of investigation OF accounts
and its legal representation has in
volved the consideration OF more in
tricate and important questions than
have ever been presented to the SUI
pfene court in this state"
Initiative and Referendum.
The message gives the vote on
the question Of adopting const5u-
tional amendment establishing tne
initiative and referendum Continu-
ing the governor says:
The object of the initiative and
referendum. is NJ provide more di.
rect avenue for the expression OF
public opinion both by way of APP
prevail and dsapproval of the meas
ure by the general assembly and by
way of the initiative and passage of
the measure directly Oy the people
Within the last twelve years the
initiative and referendum has been
adopted in South Dakota, Utah, Ore
gon, Montana. Oklahoma Maine, Mis-
souri,, Arkansas nd Nevada.
THE intention of this system does
not contemplate the diminution of
tho power OF the general assembly
in connection with legislation, but it
is intended, as | understand, permit
ting recourse to its provisions in mat
ters of great and unusual public i'm
portance, especially those in which It.
becomes manifest or highly probable
that the views or sentiments OF the
general assembly are out of harmony
with. or does not properly reflect wet
defined public opinion.
In my judgment, therefore. care
should be taken in the framing of
any contemplated initiative and refe.-
endum measure to adopt ills provis-
ions to the concentration of public
opinion upon very important pup
lie measure rather than to dissipate
and confuse it in the consideration OF
many measures of minor importance.
The subject is one which will demand
most careful consideration by the
general assembly in attempting to
meet the votes as expressed at the
polls"
Minority Legislation.
On the question of minority legisla,
ton, the message says.
The attention Of the general as
sembly is directed to the subject or
minority legislation and to the pro
posed submission TO the people of
constitutional amendment for its
abolition. Illinois is the only state
in which this system obtains the con.
ditions which led to its Introduction
mere no longer exist, and the contin,l-
ance OF the system Is now attended
with many Objectionable practices
and harmful results. This is espec
aally the case since the passage of
the direct primary laws, because uu-
IeI the minority legislation system,
men whose candidacy Is Objectionable
to the greater mass OF the minority
or majority parties are nevertheless
able to secure nomination through
the practice of pumping made pos.
sible by the system.
Since nominations under this sys-
tenn are practically tantamount to an
election Of the two legislative nomi-
nees Of the minority party in each
Of the senatorial districts OF the state
there rs no opportunity afforded to
tie voters a the general election to
correct this evil which can only be
removed through the abolition OF the
system itself. The question of
amending the constitution for this
purpose is therefore submitted to
the general assembly with Me recon-