Bisbee daily review., 1911-10-24
FORMER ARIZONIAN
 WRITES OF REFORM

[ The expedieEey of the initiative Is
 likely to be tested sooner than ex-
 pected here in San Diego, and the agi.
 tatlon of some og those who favored
 this innvoation would be amusing if the matter were not Of serious iul- | port to the future Of San Diego and
 the development of her fine harbor. The state legislature last spring granted to the city of San Diego tide lands of great value. This grant was made upon the expressed eOndi.
 tion that the city should within twelve
 months from the approval of the act issue its bonds for harbor improve ment purposes in an amount not less
 than one million dollars, said i'm.
 prOyement tO be of a character 10 furnish and maintain accommodation
 for ocean going vessels Of the largest class. etc. Plans for the improvement of the harbor as specified in the act have been drawn np by the city en- gineer, approved hy tho city council,
 chamber Of commerce and the really progressive citizens. and the council has called an eleeteion for November
 14 10 vote on the issue of bonds.
 Opposition has developed, however, among a small coterie who are advo- cares Of The City Beautiful" as dis. tinguished from great port Of entry and industrial and commercial metro polls. These cayilers object 10 the building cf unsightly wharves, and of factories with their smoke and noise
 They are content 10 have the city
 remain as 1t Is. delightful place oI 1 residence and resort for tourists. and | limit public expenditures 10 the con struction Of boulevards. and besutify- | ing streets and parks of the city. These people comprise 30 small a minority that they recognize the flu. ', tility of attempting to defeat the yot. ing of bonds for harbor improvement,
 and now threaten to invoke the ini. { tiatiye in order 10 delay the elec | ton and If possible defeat the council | plan for the improvement of the water front. which would. in all probability prolong the controversy until the op. ! portunlty for the city 10 gain conuo [ Of the harbor will have passed.
 | This contemplated move by these 1 opposed to the city's plan of harbor i improvement has so disturped. the | San Diego Sun, which has vigorously ! advocated the Initiative. referendum | and recall. and other features of the governors legislative program, that ! it has been impelled 10 sound a warn. | ing 10 voters not to sign any petition ! invoking the initiative in the harbOr ! controversy. The Suns apology for ! opposing the employment. of this ! cherished principle or direct legisla.
 ton is amusing Maintaining that l while "an initiative petition on the 1 harbor matter Is the right Of any { citizen or citizens, and the prin. ] ciple Of the initiative is right in eyery
 way" yet. it is also certain that to i invoke the initiative successfully at ! this time means that the harbor i'm pTovement pan will be blocked" and ] it would certainly be some years be, fore it could again be taken up. i Therefore" says the Sun. think twice before you sign any petition i concerning this harbor improvement. ! Don't be a catspaT in any scheme
 10 tie the citys' hands"
 | So it Is begineuing to dawn upOI
 some enthusiastic supporters of the freak amendments voted into the ! Constitution Of California that after
 all these measures might be turned
 against the public welfare; and it will be so iu Arizona.
 It Is deyoutly 10 Dc wished that the United States supreme court in the i case from oregon now before it, will
 render a decision that will put 6 ! quietus on the enactment Of initiative and referendum legislation.
 Jos. H. HRmill
 San Diego. California.
 Oct. 20, 1911.