The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-08

llNtSllSdllbli anu jdatSAoa consideration which Is essential to the enactment of wise laws is secured by those provisions found in every consu- tution, which in mandatory terms re- qures each and every bill to be submit ted not alone to one deliberative body but in turn to each of two, and to be con sidered by each on three successive days.
 Legislative Division
 ''The division, therefore, of the legisla- tive department into two separate and independent branches constitutes one oi the most important features of our system of government. One is generally com posed of men who, by reason of thelf short terms and frequent elections, are always fresh from the body of the peo- pie and are readily responsive to every pressure Of public opinion. The period ot their delegated authority is too brief foI their independent Judgment to overcome their susceptibility to the popular will The members of the other body, selected by a larger constituency. representing more varied interests and further removed by their longer terms from the passions or follies of the hour may justly be ex- pected to exercise with courage. inde- pendence and judgment a corrective ill., tiuence upon legislation born Of denla- gogical prejudice, inspired by unwise or NlSltdlS pOltlltdi AlttbllGlsg Oi HdSVd hhSii some Utopian dream. The tendency Of the one is 10 impulsve action, and of the other to conservatism: and out of this contest of opposing forces and this clash of conflicting thought illuminated by debate and informed by investigation, comes of necessity laws, into the con- struction oe which there enters not only the will of the people but those elements of moderation, justice and wisdom and that due regard for the rights of the minority which are inseparable from wise and just legislation.
 ''Yet we are asked through the sys- tenn of initiative and referendum. to abandon every safeguard with which ex- perience and wisdom has surrounded the making Of our laws. We are invited to substitute for these representative bodies whose members through the usually re- quired qualifications of a fixed period of residence and the attainment of a cer- tain age are presumed to have some fa- miliarity with the spirit of our institu- tions and to have reached maturity of judgment, and to possess at least average ability and characteristic principle of direct legislation by the whole body of the people, including the criminal. the adolescent, the indifferent and the re- tainers of special interests.
 '"On the false and spacious pretext of restoring popular rule and correcting the evils of the representative system we are asked to exchange for the deliberate examination to which legislative bills are subjected, and through which fatal de- fleets and artfully concealed dangers are so frequently discovered, the passions, the prejudiees and the partisan bias which every popular campaign develops, substi- tuting for the information of debate the appeal of the demagogue. and exchang- ing for the opportunity of amendment the categorical yes and no with which under the initiative the voter must meet the subtle and involved proposals of special interests or the wild schemes of visionary reformers.
 We do not betray dstrust of the peo- pie by needing the unequivocal language of experience, and by refusing the ex- change for that deliberation independence and conservatism which comes from sub jecting every law to the critical and jeal- ous revision of two legislative chambers, and by which unwise and dangerous meas ures are less apt to proceed to the sol emnlties of law, the independent, unre- and unrestricted action of the majority.