La Junta tribune., 1912-06-15
Some Observations on the
Initiative and Referendum
By the Roosevelt Editor


making thorough investigation. We
have several shining legal lights In
La junta, however. who have passed
upon these laws and say they are all
fight Needless of expense, MIR. Stew
art procured the services OF train
ID professor OF economics-a man
who has made 1t his business for
years TO investigate reform laws and
measures calculated to represent
the modern ideas of the people.
'Round up all these various laws
now seeking signatures for initia-
uon," said Stewart See that there
= no Joker In them to fool the peo-
pie and spare no expense In getting
q the very bottom Of everything"
3esult-two OF these measures have
been forced to the junk because Of
the fact that they were conceived In
political sin and drafted with the
purpose Of fOolinE the people and
perpetuating politicians In power.
Two others will follow from present
Indications and the people will be
thankful to Phil Stewart when the
disclosures regarding the intent Of
the politicians who framed the bills
are made known.
In the state OF Wisconsin, which
has become literally laboratory of
wise experimental legislation, they
have an initiative and referendum
law that is as near perfect AS any
experimental law can be. II is q
vast improvement upon the Colorado
law. and II the only really sane and
truly progressive law Of that kind Of
which We have knowiedSe. II wss
\ nunu161v' s1nDns st1np1 olDea1SVhS
WlIDastA Initiative and refersndum
law that u the Oregon plan was
adoJ&ed. crude legislation. which
would receive harsh criticism from
the courts. would result Time after
time Il has been found In the draft.
Ing oe Wisconsin's strongest laws.
that they were somewhat modified
under the fire Of criticisms made
by attorneys and experts appearing
before the legislative committee. With
sufficient expert help for the legisla-
ture there Is little TO fear and much
to gain from strong. clear argument
presented by opponents Of the bill.
The Wisconsin railroad commission
bill. Tor Instance, which Is said to
be the very best law OF It's kind
In the whole United States, was com.
pletely redrafted twenty different
times.
The Wisconsin initiative and refer.
endum law retains the advantage
gained By subsection OF proposed laws
to severe criticism. AZ II provides
that any bill. which has been In.
troduced into the legislature with.
In the first thirty days Of the SEES
sion. whether Il has passed the
Legislature or not. may bc called out
by petition and submitted to the
people at the next election. The
criticism 10 made that the Wisconsin
proposal II no initiative st all;
that Il the legislator does not wish
to Introduce the bill he Will not do
80 Laws can be Initiated by peti.
tion, however. Just ~ they are under
the Colorado law. and under this
method II 10 practically impossible
10 kecD = ~ a he legislature. The
petitioners who have secured lcs's-
lator willing 10 father the bill have
at their command. through this leg.
isla,or. the services OF the icsisls.
tive reference department. with It's
skilled draftsmcn. who will aid them
In the technical construction Of the
bill TO b. introduced. Tho lcgisla'
turc is thus q convenience. u sort OF
COMMITTEES Of the whole Of the pco-
pie II the legislature does not full.
nll the Will Of the people the pco'
pie have . right to assert their will.
An orsaaisation which puts \ bill
before the legislature can take Il out
just rs Il vas put In.
Naturally 4 q part ol the lsgisla'
ture 10 1olsatsd on some big propo.
sition. tiks the platform democrats
In coIoea1e wses in attempting 10
put threegA tAs seven paramovnts
II the feoGae eesetoa Of the late. u.
mensed 1olasuss. he p,atlorm dsa-
ocrats een ~ - tAs rest os
The bunSA. we VIII % 70 Tie pso.
~ ~ - ~ Dsspsss sspDert
sDoa ~ aDs1ess ssl tAsy wiii q.
cs1s bseotgh ~" II that Nv
every - g. ~ ssvsa pasaaesats
sssA - nsa =
49, sgsssd = ~
u - ~ 11SSS5