Evening journal., 1915-03-06
REFERENDUM BILL
killed IN House
Seventeen Members Sup
port, Fifteen Oppose, Tire
quiring Twenty-four Votes
ITS ENACTMENT URGED
BY ]. HALL ANDERSON

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del. March 6.-Seventeen
members Of the House yesterday af-
ternoon voted for Representative
Shorts bill proposing an amendment
to the State Constitution to provide
for the initiative and referendum, and
fifteen members voted against the
bill. It required twenty-four favor
able votes to get through the House.
and even il it had received favorable
consideration from the present Leg
islature it would have to be approved
by both branches by a two-thirds vote
two years hence. Advocates of the
initiative and referendum after the
vote was taken said they had expect
ed twenty-five votes for it.
After the bill had been read, Repre-
sentative Short asked that the privl-
lege of the floor be given to J. Hall
Anderson, Dover lawyer, to explain
it. Representative Evans suggested
that as the time Of the session is
waning the speakers be limited to five
minutes each. Representative Down
ward seconded a motion to that effect,
which prevailed. Mr.. Anderson, how
ever. spoke considerably longer than
five minutes without anybody inter-
rupting him.
He pointed out that the bill would
amend the Constitution so that eight
per cent OF the voters by petition
could initiate legislation, either TO be
acted on by the Legislature or by the
people. and ten per cent. could pro-
pose an amendment to the Constitu
ton. Five per cent of the voters by
petition could cause any law passed
by the Legislature. or proposed by
the people, to be submitted to the
people by referendum for their ap-
proval or disapproval. majority of
the votes cast at the referendum cleo
ton for OF against the question at
issue would prevail. No bill passed
by the Legislature would become a
law until ninety days after its pas
sage, to give an opportunity to de-
termine whether a sufficient number
of people desired a referendum on it.
Appropriations and emergency meas
ures would be excepted from the
ninety-day clause.
"Under the initiative and referen-
DUN every voter would be a member
of his own Legislature" said Mr.. An
derson. "It provides for real democ-
racy, and puts into the hands of the
people the right to make their own
! laws"
Representative Grantland asked
how the Initiative and Referendum
advocates arrived at the eight per
cent and other percentages. "Do
they fit conditions in Delaware?" he
asked Mr.. Anderson replied that
eight per cent for iniatiating lcgisla.
tion is the almost universal percent
age adopted in other states, and III
supposed that was the reason why i
was put in the pending bill.
Speaker Grantland asked Mr.. An
derson If he did not consider that
there are peculiar conditions In Del
aware, where Wilmington is the only
city and has large population MT
Anderson said he did not believe Viii
mington would use its voting infiu-
Z ence for law that was not wanted
+ by the lower couties. He believed the
people of Wilmington and New Castle
county are as fair-minded as those OF
the lower counties, and any law good
enough for the State should be good
enough for all counties.
i Representative Downward asked
! Mr.. Anderson what bills in the pres
! ent Legislature be had in mind that