The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-10

erendum enables the people to ex-
press themselves and to undo the OBJ
jectionable action. This dissatisfaction
is usually required to be expressed by
petition of a certain number of vot-
ers. In Oklahoma five per cent of the
voters may require the submission of
any matter throughout the State.
Twice this number is required on To-
cal petition. Ten per cent of the peo-
pie is a great many. No body Will
take the trouble to get this number
of names without there is grave rea-.
son. But the proposition to have any
other determination than by majority
rule, by a majority of those voting,
is subversive of the established prin-
ciples of our government, dangerous as
a precedent and cumbersome in fact.
The President of the United States,
the Governor of the State, the Mayor
of the City are chosen by majority
of the persons voting. In Connecticut
a constitutional amendment requires
for it's adoption only a majority Of
those voting. If this public meeting
should propose any other rule than
that it would discredit its own patrio-
tism, would invite the people to beat
its measures because an un-American
principle would be embodied in Them
and would jeopardize the influence of
business men by making it appear
that they are out Of touch with Re
TENS of government. In this country
the people are sovereign. The man
who denies that fact has failed to
grasp the meaning of the Declaration
of independence and the purpose of
the great movement now sweeping
over this nations
In reply to Mr.. Wilson, Attorney
Phelan defended the action of his
league upon the ground that the pro-
posed constitutional amendments, af-
ter receiving the sanction of such an
important body as the Taxpayers
league, and the endorsement of other
civic associations, and passing the
General Assembly, would be too i'm
portant to expose to defeat by a hand
full of people.
ut is a fact that only small num-
Der will vote" said Mr.. Phelan; land
their vote will not express the will of
the people. A large number would
vote nthese measures, not knowing
what they are voting about. These
am endmentS represent the brains of
the best people in the community and
are too important. to expose to de-
feat by a small number of ignorant or
selfish voters.
'The Taxpayers league is not seek
ing to enforce these amendm ents con-
trary to the will Of people, but has
arranged this kind of a referendum
for the purpose of making sure that
the amendments can only be defeated
by large and representative vote"
Mr.. Phelan's remarks were greeted
with applause.
NJ w. Manwaring seconded Mr. |
Phelan's remarks and called atten- |
ton to the fact that when the last
charter change was adopted by a
referendum vote of the city, only a |
small proportion of the people voted |
upon it.
Representative Bent called atten-
ton to the very peculiar form. taken
by the proposed referendum, in that
it is to be called by the board of al |
dermen, and not by a petition of a
number of voters as is the usual prac-
tice.
Suppose there is some amendment |
in which the Democrats happen to be !
interested said Mr.. Bent; ''then the !
Democratic members of the common
council can prevent the calling of a |
referendum and can stop the people |
from having any say in the adoption |
Or rejection of the proposed amend |
sments. Of the same is true of the |
Republicans. E" .a5S |
81 believe that it is a very unwise /
as well as unusual method, to leave |
the calling of the referendum in the |
hands of the common council"
''The only proper method" con-
tinued Mr.. Bent; lis to leave the call |
ing of a referendum in the hands of |
the voters themselves
Mr.. Bent showed that the Taxpay- |
ers' league referendum contained so /
many bars. as actually to block the |
object Of a referendum.
AS the hour was late, S. E. Vim /
cent moved a vote and the proposed |
amendment was endorsed, with the /
wording changed to read that one
third of electorate is required to de-
feat any OF the amendments
The public meeting then adjourned,
without discussing any more of the
proposed amendments. The question
of firemen's and policemen's salary,
and a four year term for the mayor,
did not come before the meeting be-
cause of the lateneSs of the hour.
At the adjournment of the public
hearing, President Bolande called an
other meeting of the Business Mems /
association.
Mr.. Bolande announced that he will
call a meeting of the board of direc-
tors for Saturday morning and on
that" occasion, action will be. taken
relative to calling another meeting of |
the Business Mems association for the
purpose of taking official action on /
the proposed amendments, if the d.
rectors think it wise to do so.
Damages By Fire
At Norwalk, Wednesday, fire in the
two family house owned by Mrs.
Sophie Parketon, nearly Quilted her
apartments on the upper floor and did
otbor DAMAGE aynoupfinC IN III