The Cairo bulletin., 1911-01-05
REVIEWS WORK or FORMER SEES
SION AND URGES NEW RE.
FORM MEASURES.
MINlR|Tl LEGISLATION
Receives JoIt--Would Have PIumpna
System Stopped--carry Out
Peoples Wishes as
Expressed.

Springfield, H., Jan. 4--Gov De-
neen delivered Ills anHuaI message 10
the legislattl'e today making many
important recommendations among
others the following:
Illinois Central.
The governors message gives
briefly the history Of the Illinois Cen
trail investigation. Fje shows that
since the beginning of the investiga-
ton in which the state has expended
$6S,709.06, the increased revenue ac-
cruing to tae state, as SHOWN by the
reports OF the certified public ac-
countant has been $792, 706S4. The
accounting is made by the governor Of
the expenses and at the same time
the sources OF increased revenue are
pointed out. The result Of the case
under the ruling of the supreme court,
in which the state lost on three points
and own on fourteen, is given.
TO take advantage OF the findings
OF the court 1t will be necessary, :
says the message "to gather furtaer
information 10 be presented to the
court upon the treatment Of this Inn
poTtant case, The preparation of
this case @as required more labor IN
the way of investigation OF accounts
and it's legal representation has in
volved the consideration Of more In
tricate and important questions than
have ever been presented to the SUI
prone court in this gtate."
Initiative and Referendum
The message gives the vote on
the question Ct adopting ccnstau-
tional amendment establishing the
initiative and referendum. Continu-
ing the governor says.
The object of the initiative and
referendum is 10 provide raore d.
rect avenue for the expression of
public opinion both NY way of APP
prevail and disapproval of the meas
ure by the general assembly and by
way of the initiative and passage OF
the measure directly by the people.
Within the last twelve years the
initiative and referendum has been
adopted in South Dakota, Utah, Ore
gon Montana, Oklahoma, Maine, Mis-
souri,, Arkansas nd Nevada.
THE intention of this system does
not contemplate the dminution of
the power OF the general assembly
in connection with legislation, but Il
is intended, as ! understand, permit
ting recourse to its provisions in mat
ters OF great and unusual public i'm
portance, especially those in which It
becomes manifest or highly probable
that the views or sentiments of the
general assembly are ont of harmony
win, or does not properly reflect we,
defined public opinion.
In my Judgment, therefore, care
should be taken In the framing of
any contemplated initiative and refe.-
endum measure to adopt its provis-
ions to the concentration Of public
opinion upon very important pun
lie measure rather than to dissipate
and confuse it in tlc consideration OF
many measures OF minor Importance.
The subject is one waich win demand
most careful consideration by the
general assembly in attempting to
meet the votes as expressed at the,
polls"
Minority Legislation.
On the question OF minority legisla.
ton, the message says:
The attention OF the general as
sembly is directed to the subject OF
minority legislation and to the pro-
posed submission TO the people of a
constitutional amendment for its
abolition. Illinois is the only state
IN which this system obtains the con-
ditions which led to its introduction t
here no longer exist, and the continu-
ance OF the system Is now attended
WITH many Objectionable practices
y and harmful results. This is espec /
ially the case since the passage of
the direct primary laws, because uu-
der the minority legislation system.
men whose candidacy is Objectionable
10 the greater mass of the minority
or majority parties are nevertheless
able TO secure nomination through
the practice of pumping made pos,
sible by the system.
Since nominations under this sys-
tenn are practically tantamount to an
election of the two legislative noni-
nees of the minority party In each
of the senatorial districts of the state,
there is no opportunity afforded to
tie voters at the general election to
correct this evil which can only be
removed through the abolition OF the
system itself. The question of
amending the constitution for this
purpose is therefore submitted to
the general assembly with Ne recon-
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