The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-21
A GOOD THING; PUSH IT ALONG.

Ninety-nine per cent. of public and private business is routine which is properly distributed through the var ious members of the business organ ization. This leaves one per cent to cover extraordinary matters, which do not fall within the settled things, and about which there may be de- bate. If one should scrutinize such an organization as the New Haven railroad he would find a mass of de- tail distributed among 33,000 men, trainmen trackmen, lower and high CT officers and over all a group of stockholders.
 A few matters need the attention of the directors. Very exceptional matters get the attention of the stock holders.
 If one of these exceptional matters comes down from the stockholders to the directors we have a case of ''the initiative" If it comes up. from the directors to the stockholders we have an example of 'the referendum" How simple this is, when considered in connection with private business. It is the usual and ordinary course.
 But there are some who do not re- cognize these accustomed principles. when they are applied to public busi- ness; that business in which the peo- pie are the stockholders. But these principles are as valuable in public as in private business. The. occasion for their use will be seldom, but those occasions will be important. Stu dents of government now generally see the value of these social inven- tions for political use. The so called commission form of government de- rves it's value from two features. The first feature is that responsibility is placed in small group of men who can see a city as a whole and admin fster it as a whole. The second fea- ture is that these men, through the initiative, referendum and recall, are Immediately responsible to the stock holders.
 So much for a general discussion, which leads up to the present case. strong demand for both initiative and refer rendum powers. It got mere fra gment of what was sought, but this fragment is valuable, both as 1o f0 nf 1o eso, thing. and for its practical advan- tages in settling important uesqtions of extraordinary expense and bond ing.
 right of referendum on proposed bond issues totalling ssO0,O0O. The right cannot be exercised unless 15 per cent ofssthe peoples,petition for sub mission. This done the measures will come to vote in the November election. Citizens. during the period after submission is demanded and be- fore it is made, will have month or two for consideration. argument and interchange of opinion. Then ali voters who have an interest in the question will ballot and decision upon each proposal will be by their matur- ed decisions.
 How fair, how satisfactory, is such a course,
 Every man who :. has convictions may express them to his fellows, may assist in making up the collective mind.
 Those who have no interest will go their ways. ignoring the whole mat ter.
 Settlement will be by those who have convictions, plus those whom they can convert to their views
 So, MT. Citizen, here's a good thing! Push it along! It will make you feel good and everybody else feel good. Even those who are a little in clined to resent new methods will feel good after a little while.