Evening journal., 1912-05-28
MR.. KURTZ GIVES HIS
VIEWS ON THE INITIATIVE
To The Editor Of THE EVENING

To the Editor of THE EVENING I
JOURNAL:
Sir:--l would like a few words with
those who do not favor the proposed
charter because it does not contain
the initiative, referendum and re-
call.
agree that these measures are
absolutely necessary in what hasI
come 10 be known as the commits
sion" form Of government, because inI
that form Of government, such extra
ordinary and unlimited powers havel
been placed in the hands OF three or
five men But ] submit that this rea-
sonlng does not apply to the pro-
posed charter with the same force
There is n distribution and a check
on, powers granted which largely OBJ
viates the necessity for these new in
struments of popular government
My study and thought on the sub
ject have led me to the conclusion
that the referendum is a useful in
strument OF popular government
within well-deined limits. II is en-
grated in our present state consti-I
tuition relative TO the question of
local option" Our General Assem-
bly,, at almost every session, includes
a provision for a referendum to the
voters, Of the charter itself, in those
charters granted TO towns and vii
lagos.
On a question OF sufficient import
ance or those on which public opinion
is so equally divided that it is diff
cult to apprehend it's trend, ! can see
the usefulness for referendum.
| Granting that the referendum is both
useful and desirable on occasions, It
| necessarily. | think, involves recog-
milton of the initiative under sim
! liar circumstances. can, however,
hardly conceive condition in munich
| pal affairs where public sentiment,
properly expressed, can not force tho
consideration of question desired
| by a great preponderance Of public
sentiment The usefulness of the re-
call. fail to appreciate, except IN
rare instances. and its few adyan-
tages. are, in my opinion smothered
under it's manifest disadvantages.
The chief benefits to be realized FROM
the introduction of the initiative and
referendum into our present form Of
government, is the implication ofl
| power contained I'm the fact that they
are there to be used when needed, and
not that they should be used fire.
quently, as we'll as the educational
! influence which they should exercise
on the citizens by tending TO make
| them more critical and watchful or
their public servants in the perform
ance of their duties. AS Governor
Wilson SAYS, 'it is the gun behind the
door, But I would not permit these
instruments OF government to bel
| tr.t. nncratfnn the
instigation of a mere FIVE or ten per
cent. OF the voters.
When the new charter commission
was appointed. these subjects had not
become burning questions in ourl
midst. They did develop into ques-
tions and issues while the proposed
charter was being drafted. They have
not been properly passed upon by the
people as distinct issue in a cam
paign. In the form and manner in
which they have been adopted, and
used in some Of our Western cities,
they constitute such radical de-
parture from our existing form of
representative delegated government
that they should be passed upon by
the people as a distinct issue before
being permanently engrafted on our
governmental system. II they had
been placed bodily in the proposed
charter, they might have alienatedI
as many voters as they would have
attracted until the people understood
their own minds. The discussions
which have taken place during the
past year have enabled many citizens
to reach definite conclusions on the
subject. The objections to their in
discriminate use are patent to auy
one who thinks. Those optimists who
now advocate these remedies so en-
Enthusiastically as the panacea for all
our political Ills. will be the first
who will be disillusioned by the fact
that, after their adoption they will
find that we will still have the same
political problems to solve as befors
and that the political millennium will
be as far off as ever. II the people
should decide that the initiative and
referendum should be placed i'm the
new charter, that could be done by
the election Of members to the Leg
islature favorable to such an amend
ment, and the insertion of a single
clause in the new charter. Because,
after all, the Legislature is the body
which must finally pass upon this
measure and the vote 10 be taken on
Saturday next is simply advisory.
merely desire to note the fact i'm
passing, that Of the five questions sub
mitted TO and approved by the voters
Of Wilmington az the city election I'm
1907. four of them as thus approved,
are contained i'm the powers granted
in the proposed city charter. Those
included are the following PROPOSE
tions:
shall the Mayor and Council me-
morialize the next Legislature Ia
enact a law providing for Wilmington
a system OF assessment which is now
in operation in New York;"
Shall such an ordinance be passed
as will require the publication oi
minute and accurate detailed state
ments Of the receipts and expenditures
Of the city2"
Shall such an ordinance be passed
as will require the bonding of assess
ors and collectors by reliable surety
companies and the prompt settlement
of the accounts of said assessors and
collectors?"
"Shall such ordinances, rules anC
regulations be adopted and enforced