The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-18
THE BOND REFERENDUM

Ten states of this Union, great and important states most of them, have adopted into their constitutions the full initiative and referendum, under which the voters of those states may initiate and adopt any legislation that is not in conflict with the constitu- ton, or they ma3 have referred to them for approval, or veto, any. act passed by a legislature. or local legislative body Thus is the will of the people expressed direct to the measure and certainly accomplished During the present session of the General Assembly Senator McNeil of Bridgeport presented in Hartford bills giving these broad powers to the peo- ole of Connecticut. These bills pass ed the Senate, but not the House. It looks now as if they would not pass. But partly as a result of the argu- ment in favor of the larger bills, something was gained.
 Bridgeport has the right to have submitted to its voters bonding bills that authorize an increase in the city's indebtedness AapproAehing~s $500, 900. There are five of the bills. One au- thorizes $400,0O0 indebtedness for a high school; another, $225, 1000 for an alsmhouse; another s10o,000 to re- pair a bridge; and two others, $40,- GOO and s1s,o00, respectively. for the construction of police building and a fire building.
 There is a great difference of opin- ion over the wisdom of these bonds. Some men think some of them should issue, but are against the issue of others. Leading citizens argued be- fore the finance committee of Bridge port. some in favor and some against pretty nearly every proposal.
 All of these gentlemen were hon. est and all were sincere. yet they all spoke in the name of the people of Bridgeport. .ss
 Now there is but one method by which the people can express their will with certainty and effectiveness upon such a matter. It is to vote up- on it..
 Largely as result of the argu- ments presented by this newspaper, and largely by the efforts of Bridge ports representative at Hartford, the bonding bills came through in differ ent fashion than any that ever be- fore left the Capitol, relating to this city.
 Each and every bill provides that it should not be effective until the expiration of 30 days from the time of its approval by the governor.
 But it is further a condition of each bill that, if within 30 days after its approval, a petition is presented for the submission of the question of the proposed bond issue to the vot- CTS, then there shall be submission 1f favor the bond issue it shall be law full. Otherwise, no bonds These petitions to be effective must be sig1l- ed by 15 per cent. of the' voters.
 Now here is the right. It is a very valuable right and it should be con- bonds ought to issue, under the terms provided, which is perhaps doubtful, II would be most unwise not to exer- else the prerogative of franchise up- on them, lest future legislat lures, con- taining men from Bridgeport who
  lar rights, should point to the present time and. say, that the people of Bridgeport, given for the first time power of the purse in matters of bonded indebtedness, were too sloth- full and too busy with their individual affairs to exercise their prerogative. Under these circumstances, and to this end, the Farmer has undertake en the task of supervising the prepara- {. tion of the necessary petitions. and the task of securing the necessary names. 19SE5sJk Three of these bills were approved, Aug. 8. The necessary names, so far as these bills are concerned, must be obtained within the next 21 days 1 There should be no difficulty in this. l