Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-26

cessary for the preservation of the
public peace, health or safety. II also
provided that upon the written petit
ton of not less than 10000 electors.
which means persons qualified to vote
for governor, addressed to the COVER
nor and filed in the office of the see
rotary of State within 80 days after
the recess of the Legislature request
ing that one or more acts. bills re-
SOLVES oil resolutions. or part or parts
thereof, passed by the Legislature De
referred to the people, and that tho
same be voted on at the next genera.
election. not less than 50 days after
such proclamation. or In case of no
general election, within six months
thereafter. the governor may, and if
requested. shall, order such measures
submitted to the people at a special
election: and that such measures can
not become laws until referred to the
people, and adopted by a majority vote
and proclamation of the same made
by the governor. This same resolve
also provided that not less than II, 900
electors may propose to the Legisl1-
ture any bill, resolve or resolution. not
including an amendment to the con-
stitution, by filing the same in the of
flee of the secretary of State or pre-
senting to either branch of the Legis-
lature. at least 80 days before the
close of its session, and in case the
Legislature does not adopt such meas
ure, it may be submitted to n popular
vote, and be initiated. or become a law
by majority vote of the people, and
when so proclaimed by the governor,
have the same force and effect as If
passed by the Legislature. These two
methods are called the referendum
and the initiative. They are, in sub
stane. 1.-THE peoples veto and direct
legislation
partment or column of government.
Perhaps it might properly be called
the real power. or the people" II
may be the most useful and beneficial.
1t may be the most dangerous and
harmful. 1t may be used to initiate
and pass laws which could get no sort
of consideration by II Legislature. al
though they might be right in princi-
pal or wrong and unjust. Every
emotion of sentiment and popular
clamor can be brought to bear under
this method. II can be made to well
serve the statesman and patriot or he
d6magogue and one seeking only
selfish interest. It's use and abuse
may become of the greatest import
ance. The protection of our property
rights the preservation of our liberty
and the security of our lives may be-
come involved by this method or
legislation. 1t was migrated into our
constitution by minority of our
electors, and / feel that very small
minority of our citizens have little or
no comprehension of what it means
in our system of government. Thus
far 1t has been used but little. An
unpopular direct primary law passed
by the 18th Legislature was set aside
by our present direct primary law
initiated in its place. and enacted by
popular vote.
The last Legislature passed an act
creating a public utilities commission
prescribing its powers and duties, ana
providing for the regulation and con-
troll by it of the public utilities or the
State 1t was in substance, the ere
alton of new court. ] understand II
is now proposed by some that TINS
measure be referred to the people, and
that petitions are being circulated TO
obtain the names of the necessary
10000 electors for that purpose; that
paid agents are in the field soliciting
the necessary number of names. One
OF the reasons given why this law
should be referred and defeated is that'
it is expensive. 1t has been SAID that
1t would cost a hundred thousand DOL
lars a year to carry its provisions INTO
effect, and | think the general appfo-
priation bill of the last Legislature
provided that sum- but the act ltsei
declares that such commission may,
expend such sums of money as may oe
necessary for the purchase OF DOCKS,
maps, stationary. office furniture ana
supplies, for procuring statistics ana
information. and for defraying ex-
penses incidental to the discharge OF