The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-05-08


dress than at the beginning. MI
Sims apologized several times for hay
ing neglected to bring important dati
which, he said, would have throw
more light on some of the dark place.
in the measures
Mr.. Sims is member of the salmon
packing trust of the Pacific coast
which fact may explain why he is now
so solicitous about the welfare of the
t overwhelmed taxpayer
Introducing his message of import
ance," Mr. Sims declared the initia.
tive, referendum, and recall measure
that is back of the Seven Sisters
bills will be the cause of the states
principle troubles if they manage to
get through lie Contended that the
proper method would be to first give
the legislature opportunity to pass the
bills at the next session, and if that
body refused to act favorably on them
the people should then have the OPP
portunity to initiate.
Twelve measures are to so on the
ballot if they receive 31.S56 votes. In
other words, "A small minority vote
of the stae will thrust upon you the
initiative and referendum" he said
MANY of the methods of putting this
legislation into effect are weak" but
he neglected to point out the weak
places.
He suggested an amendment that
would permit the petitions to be To-
Gated at some convenient place
where the people could go to sign
them and thus dispense with the work
of circulating the petitions by means
of persons who are not permitted to
receive pay for such work and that
the petitions be sent direct to the sec
rotary of state 50 as to avoid posi-
bility of fraud"
The appropriation for conducting
this initiative legislation is only $500,
600. yet it will cost the people not .
less than 100000 to set these meas .
ures on the ballot" he said. OF this .
sum approximately $4,000 will be for
postage. Checking signatures, print
ing and circulating pamphlets contain
ing arguments will bring the total cost
Of each bill close to $4,000, or S76S,-
200 for the twelve measurs. 1T will
cost 100000 to send one letter to each
voter in the state Why this expense?
Why didn't they say Take this bill to
he legislature and if that body re-
used to pass it, then refuse to re-
elect any member who voted against
u" Mr. Sims asked. The answer will
)e found in the records of proceed
ngs of the legislature where stand
,at" majority did all it could to make
he law ridiculous. II
One of Mr.. Sims strong objections
O the initiative and referendum is
One-third OF the people can carry
hese measures" He expressed the
,eIef that there is no emergency in
his proposition and that no one is
for want of these particular
measures. Possibly they want to see
low the thing works. but you pay the
ills" said this new convert to the
policy of economy as now advocated
~ Big Business.
Mr.. Sims insisted that friends of !
Iirect legislation had taken the wrong /
ction and he criticised them because
they did not define the objects of the
ills"
Referring TO a circular letter sent
nut by Mr.. Buck of the Eight-Hour t
eague he said: when they take over
ur industries, I'm going to work.
He admitted he didn't know much
bout the drugless healing measure,
nut one Of his objections to it was a
PROVISION for board of fifteen exam
ners
He declared that if the Blue Sky
dN ldN bttH III effect Nltu the state
vas organized, 20 per cent OF our in
ustries would not now be in opera
ion. for the reason that outside CAPT
al had been necessary to develop our
atural resources. In his individual
ase, guardian wasn't necessary TO
,eep him from investing in wildcat
toCks. he said. One of his objections
o this measure is the proposed regu-
alton by public service commission.
'he question of securities should have
zone to the bank examiner. ne be-
ieves. h
Mr. Sims would correct instead of
bolish the employment bureau sys-
EN-" He argued that employment
bureaus are necessary and that the
'mplOye and not the employer should