The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-01
SILLY BILL
SAYS DEFOREST
OF Referendum
Opposes Right of PeO-
1Ie 10 Override Com
mon Council
Mayor, City Clerk and President
of Council Against M'MuTTay
Bill
tspecial to The Farmerl

T
Hartford, May 1.-The initiative and
referendum had it's day yesterday al
Hartford In the. morning a resolution
To amend the constitution came into
the House on an unfavorable report
Of the majority committee on constitute
tfona1 amendments
Representative Wilson of Bridgeport.
the author of the bill, spoke against
accepting the report. He said this
was a Democratic platform measure
ana described it the oregon plan.
Under the amendment the people
would have power to veto a law made
by the General Assembly, or to pass
a law which the General Assembly
should refuse to make.
There was a division of the House.
The Republicans voted solidly against
the amendment. The Democrats vot-
ed solidIy for it. The vote was 100 to
182: and the amendment was beaten.
In the afternoon an humber appH-
cation of the principle was tried be-
fore the committee on Cities and Bor-
oughs. the issue being a bill introduce
cd by Rep McMurray of Bridgeport
Rep McNurray, being unable to be
present. had asked Rep. Wilson to ap-
pear for. his bill. The latter did. so.
and was engaged in a lively discussion
with Alderman r. G. DeForest,. Mayor
Clifford 3. Wilson. City Clerk Stephen
Z. Boucher and Judge Al. B. Beers
Alderman DeForeet said he was new
er more opposed to any bill in his life
than he was to-this bill. 1t was a
silly BILL II the people didn't like
what, the aldermen did. they could
elect new aldermen.
Rep Wilson. What good did it do
TO discharge the aldermen after they
had made the twenty year contract?
Aldermen DeForest. That is a speci-
fic matter that occurred sometime
ago. lam talking about general mat
ters-
Rep. wilson Do you think the
people would have approved the recent
increase in the police department,
when fifty new men were added2
Aldermen DeForest. I never heard
OF any criticism of it.
City Clerk Boucher. Isn't 1t a fact
that nobody appeared against the ordi-
nances. when they were heard in COM
mittee2
Rep. wilson. That is true. Every
body knew. that the thing Yves cut
and dried and the goods delivered.
bill q ridiculous bill if you knew that
in eighteen States such powers were
given to the people of every city
Alderman DeForest- That would not
change my mind
Judge A 3. Beers opposed the bill;
He said it was freak legislation. It
was q reflection on the Common
Council and the mayor.
Rep Wilson, replying to fudge
Beers said. When these gentlemen
call this silly legislation, they do not
characterize this bill, but their own
state of mind. They are like men who
20 to sleep before there are railroads,
automobiles, telephones or flying ma
chimes They awake in the midst of
those things and are amazed by what
they see Their ignorance Of this bill,
it's purposes and its history, is monu-
mental
The principle of the bill is embod-
led in the platform Of the party to
which Mr. DeForest and Mr.. Boucher
belong Only this morning every DEM
ocrat In the House stood up to be
counted for a bill like this. only that
bin gave to the people the same pow
ers over legislation passed by the
General Assembly, which this bill
gives over the Common Council of
Bridgeport.
My distinguished friend, Judge
Beers. does not know, that this bill
has the approval of the people OF Con-
necticut not as applying to a Com
mon Council alone, but as applying to
the General Assembly itself The
Democratic platform declares for the
Initiative and referendum
Judge Beers. That is only a minor
ity OF the people.
Rep. Wilson, The point is well
taken tBut T-say to Judge Beers that
the same principle, and so did the
Socialist platform, and SO did the Pro-
hibition party platform.
For the platforms declaring for the
principle Of this bill 10000 men voted
in Connecticut. and for platforms in
which this principle was not endons-