The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-09
WEST EXPLAINS
HIS PROPOSED
LEGISLATION
SANTA ROSA REPRESENTATIVE
wILl Observation-Disclosures
ENo INITIATIVE AND REFEREN-
DUN IN FLORIDA.
BY J. n. Reese


TIT
By J. Il. Reese
Tallahassee, April SIN regard TO
the resolution which he win present
early next week providing for the IN
itiative and referendum, Repregeuta-
tive West of~Eanta Rosa, said;
For the past few years there has
been considerable discussion OF the
measures proposed by this Constftu-
tional Amendment, and assume that
most people understand the meaning
of the terms initiative and yeferen-
dunn
-The4fnitiaftvese enables the people to
initiate legfsla33on.-4haf n 20 say II
enables them 30 originate. propose
and adopt legisaa<1on, Independent Of
the legislature. It does not, however
withhold or withdrew from the fegis-
Ature fts power or right to legis1ate
upon any subject.
The referendum means the suffer-
ing Of q law % the people for dects-
lon ct the polls.-tha$ n 70 cay n the
legislature shall pass. an act that is OBJ
ject1onable, q n1ed number. usually.
five, eight or ten, Per cent Of the
qualified electors OF the state may by
petition have the act submitted to the
people for ratification or rejection, and
In the meantime It's operation Is sus-
pended.
'The purpose and object OF these
measures are TO bring the people and
the government nearer together, and
recognize the sovereignty OF the peo-
pie.
SHOULD TRUST PEOPLE.
MY faith in the intelligence and in
tegrfty of the paOple of this state Is
such as to lead me to the conclusion
that thcy may be trusted IN meters OF
legislation. II they may select legis-
lators, who will urge that they may
not pass upon legislation.
These measures are non-partisan
IN character.
Governor Harmon Of Ohio was
elected upon a platform committing
the democracy Of Ohio to the initia-
tive and referendum.
Governor Foss, the democratic
Governor Of Massachusetts,, in his first
message to the legislature Of his state
In January Of this year, after speak
ing Of other matters, said: Important
as these steps are. It is Of far greater
Importance that the people keep their
power over legislation through the in
itiattve and referendum. Under tie
conditions which exist today. as / see
them. these are the only true safe
guards Of representative government
There can be no valid objection to
these measures II we believe IN the
capacity, and therefore, the right of
the people to govern themselves.
EFT should be noted that this If from
II ~ 90 he Cfo - -
chusetts, wherein is located the city
Of Boston and some Of the oldest and
greatest institutions of learning In the
nation.
"The people Of Massachusetts, elect
ed this governor, and II they have
ever been accused of being radicals,
I haven't heard OF It
Governor johnson, republican gov
ernor Of California, in his inaugura-
ton address delivered in January OF
this year, strongly endorses these
measures, as do also q number Of
other governors whose addresses
have
"a number Of states have written
the initiative and referendum in their
constitutions. In Oregon It has been
| tried for q number of years with
great satisfaction.
ADOPTED ELSEWHERE.
Tn a number of states, including
Oklahoma, Missouri, South Dakota,
Maine and others, It has been adopted,
and is no state where. It has been
| adopted, II my Information Is cor
rect has It been abandoned
~The tendency and spirit OF the
times is to bring the people into closer
touch with the affairs Of the govern
ment- II they support It, and they
do, why should they not directly par
ticipate In it2
TN my judgment, the people Of this
state are at least ready 70 consider
this matter, and I have, therefore.
put 1t In the form OF constitutional
amendment to be submitted to them"
RESOLUTION PROPOSED.
The resolution proposed by repre-
sentative West is as follows, though
| 1t is possible that some slight modi-
| f1cation may be made before 1t is
offereds
| Resolution No. Joint resolution
Proposing Amendment to Section One
of Article two Of the Constitution of
the State of Florida, Relating to the
Legislative Authority Of this State.
Be 1t resolved by the legislature Of
the state of Florida, that the following
amendment to section one Of article
| two of the constitution Of the state OF
Florida is hereby agreed to. and shall
be proposed and submitted TO the cleo
tors Of the state for approval or re-
| lection at the next general election
hereafter. that Is to say.-said section
one OF said article two shall be amend
ed so as to read, as follows:
Section 1.-() The Legislative au-
thorfty Of this state shall be vested In
a legislature consisting Of a senate
and a house Of representatives, and
shall be designated, the legislature Of
the state of Florida, but the people
4 reserve to themselves power to pro-
pose laws and amendments 20 the
constitution Of the state, and to en-
/ act or reject such laws and amend
ments at the polls independent OF the
j Legislature and also reserve at their
own option the power to approve or
reject at the polls any act, item. or