The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-07-22

and noble sentiment, az ~ Is, but II
is vain and idle performance to talk
about the right to do a thing az ainst
the doing of which insuperabte diff
culties exist To declare a general
policy is comparatively simple
thing; to contrive the legislative ma
chinery necessary to make the pol.
icy effective may be and often is an
exceedingly complex and difficult
task.
II is one thing to know that an
evil exists and denounce 1t. 1t is
on the cause of it, and still another to
devise remedy. After a late dinner
you may have perfectly competent
INSIDE information" that something
has gone wrong, but be altogether UNI
able to determine whether It was the
wine or the cigar, the hot bird or the
lobster salad, the olives or the pate
de fol grass. In such case you do not
submit the matter to a referendum OF
the neighbors. You send for the doc.
tor. All men, for example, may heart
lily agree as to the wisdom of regulat.
ing common carriers so as to insure
fair and non discriminating treatment
of all shippers and passengers, and
the exaction of only fair and reason.
able charges for services rendered
But, that much declared, we are only
at the threshold of the difficulty.
How shall II be done? What machin-
cry shall be provided? There may be
scores of divergent plans proposed
These are to be analysed, compared,
and contrasted, and in the end har-
monized. There must be deliberate
and intelligent interchange of views.
the yielding of detail here, the ac-
ceptance OF change there, amend.
ment and compromise Such a process
may call for weeks or months of la.
borious study, of careful sitting OF
conflicting claims as to law and fact,
for technical knowledge, for invest.
cation and thorough understanding Of
the prexisting legislation upon the
, subject. When all this is done and
the law referred to the people 20 be
adopted or rejected how many will
fit themselves to pass upon the CUES
ton intelligently? Knowing that the
law is to be submitted to the people.
there will be feeling on the part of
the Legislators that theV have 10 re-
sponsible voice in the matter, but
that The responsible rests upon the
shoulders OF the elec crate inevitably
toe same care in framing the pro
posed law will not ne taken as where
the final responsibility rests upon the
shoulders of the electorate. Inevitably
the same care in framing the propos-
ed law will not be taken as where the
final responsibility of enacting it in
| to an enduring statute rests ultimate
| ly and alone upon the legislature IT,
self II an Objectionable provision Is
found in the proposed law no method
will exist, and in the very nature of
things none can be devised by which
the Objectionable provision can be
eliminated at the polls. There will be
no choice but to adopt the bad pro-
vision for the sake of the good or to
reject the good provision for the sake
of avoiding the bad
And so no great objection to apply
ing the referendum to matters of gen.
eral Legislation is that, however desir-
able or however imperative the need
may he, no opportunity is afforded
for mutual concession. or comprom-
Use of conflicting views, and amend.
ment.
The weakening effect of the refer,
endum upon the fitness and RESPONSE
bility of the legislature was forc!bly
stated by MIR. Justice Johnson in the
case of Johnson VS. Rich GO Barb,
$3.50, where 1t was said;