The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-25
M'NE|L FOR
 INITIATIVE
 REFERENDUM
Judiciary Committee Hears Bills Increasing Power of People to Enforce Their Will
Special to The Farmer.)

N0fOONe~A
 Hartford, May 25.-A lively hearing before the judiciary committee on bills to establish the initiative and referendum took place yesterday aft ernoon. The bills were introduced into the Senate by Senator McNeil, who made the first speech in their favor. One measure proposes an amendment to the constitution along the line of the Oregon constitutional provision. The other measure is a public opinion law like that in Illinois.
 Rep. w. W. Bent made a strong speech in favor of the bills.
 It is probable that the bill for a constitutional amendment will be re- ferred to the committee on constitu- tional amendments of which Senator McNeil is chairman.
 Mayor Fisher of Middletown wrote a strong letter in favor of the bills, being unable to be present.
 Lynn w. Wilson spoke in behalf of the bills. His remarks contained a remarkable review of the situation that existed in the 25th Senatorial district during the Banks-Judson con- troversy. Judson was in his place and got the benefit of what was said, but Banks was absent and failed to receive the benefit of an inter- resting discussion. MT. Wilson's speech ap- pears on page g of the Farmer. Sen- ator McNeil spoke as follows:
 This bill which provides for the advisory, initiative and referendum if enacted into law and placed upon our statutes, would give the voters and indirectly the people of this state, an opportunity of expressing themselves should they so desire up- on all important public measures, and to instruct advisorily, their represen- fv, f1 tr 11rr rir1a ures on which they especially desire to be heard. As far as it goes. con- slider this bill desirable piece of legislation in the interest of the gen. eral public. The bill is an exact duplicate of the Public Opinion" bill just passed by the legislature of New Jersey. Other states have similar law, while Oregon, South Dakota, Nevada and Utah have gone further than this bill and have provided for and adopted the full initiative and referendum, a duplicate of which I have introduced into this legislature and on which there will be a hearing before this committee or the commit tee on constitutional amendments.
 ''The Ohio legislature recently passed measure of this kind and other that Connecticut, should she adopt this law, will only be following in the center of the procession that is lead ing toward progressive legislation.
 "The right of the people to instruct or advise their representatives seems to me can never become a party issue. Experience shows that the mere pow CT in the people say what they want in the way of laws is enough to insure good government The passage of this law would be of especial benefit to the large municipalities of our state, and would aid to a great extent in bringing about local home rule which is so much desired. The ad- ministration of local public affairs and public policy favored by major ity of local voters could best be ex- pressed through the advisory, initi- ative and referendum.
 Under our present method of rep resentation in this state the wishes of the majority of the voters of the cities are often ignored and trampled upon with apparent contempt. This bill simply provides that the people may, by their votes advise legislators The best illustration of how this bill would work could be had at this time on the public utilities question. Many members of this legislature are unde- cided as to the wishes of the great majority of the people on this import ant question. Were this bill @ law at the last election, the question would have been voted upon and every member of this legislature would know without the question of doubt just how the people felt towards this great question; and little time would be necessary in discussing it, holding hearings or consuming the time of this committee in forming a bill satis- factory to all"