Evening journal., 1917-02-21
FAVOR Initiative
AND REFERENDUM
House at Dover Passes Rep
resentative Killen's Bill
by Vote OF 29 10 8
MR.. BURRIS VOICES
OPPOSITION TO 1T

stan Correspondent
DOVER. Feb. 2i.-FolloWng long
and interesting discussion, Tho House
Yesterday afternoon by vote Of ~ ~
nassed Representative Nilen's bill
n,o,idmr for the Initiative and Refer
sudnm. The hih aucnas the Cpnsutp
ton and thereby viii require "a Two
thirds vote OF both the House and sen
ate I'd two consces7JiNc sessions % ire
Legislature before II becomes s''l
Tho vote in the House Yesterday after
noon was three more than the Two
thirds required. AN,
HE principal fight against the ply
WAS made by Representative Martin III
llur,.is. Of Niddletnun who argued
that the passage ol such measure
,,onId mean a. hloodlcss revolution
MANY other members did not agree with
air. Bnrris. and Representatives 'lpss .,
Downward, Connolly. McNalp' feet
sovce and Wclch urged its passage heI
only members 20 vote against the MI
were Mossrs. Bpwis pnd Gregg anu
Speaker Hall
Political lines We're not drawn IN af-l
finn on this hnl Seventeen Democrat
aud twelve Republicans supported the
hin and two Republicans and one Demo.
crat opposed a. Two Republicans ana
one Democrat were absent
After the bin had heen read, 49,.
Downward stated that two years ago he
opposed Che hill. but De WAS now ready
70 support d.
Alr. Cross also spoke for the bill and
said IL gave the people the opportunity
a. decide whit they want
Deprcsoniatirc Connolly. in iaYoring
tho bill. said ID put The final passage Of
ali laws MP to the people Tie said y
was good Democratic measure and
hopod tie House wofd unanimously
support 10.
Mr. Bprns Opposes IT,
Mr. Burris In a long speech opposed
tho bin and urged the members To-
nausc before supporting such meas
nre. fie said be had the honor 70
participate in the framing OF the pres
cnt constitution 20 years ago. ne
spoke OF the spirit that was abroad
AZ that time but he said that const-
tution.was not submitted TO the peo-
pie for their ratification.
Mr. Burrls urged again that the
members stop and pause before SUP.
porting this measure lie declared
II would DO the entering wedge 70 q
hloodloss resolution. IT would be the
overthrow of representative govern
ment," said Mr.. Burrls.
"1here ~ no condition here that
demands this revolutionary thing.
There being no demand, let MS wait
awhile until we see clearer, but do not
40 70 now. This proposed amendment
transforms the constitution into a
code concluded Mr., Burris.
Mr. Boyco took issue with Mr. Bur.
ris and claimed that IN states where
IT. has been tried ~ has worked good
20 the people and no harm.
Mr.. Welch, who favored the bin,
said 81 States have the initiative and
referendum and States have the re-
call II has worked no harm in those
States, no said.
when J am afraid for the people
OF my State TO rule ! will have TO 90
to another State" said Mr., WEIGH.
Referring to the present state cons
stitution Mr.. Welch said n there had
been An initiative and referendum
when n was adopted there would not
be such constitution today Tie
said he was tired of hearing tho re-
mark OF ''wait until the clouds roll by
aud stop. look and listen.'
Alr. Poet said he had learned that
lawyers as a class are opposed 10 the
Initiative and referendum, although
ne could not understand why. lie
thought his colleague (Nr Bnrrls)
WAS unduly exercised over the matter,
Is he did not think It would do away
nttfl. ..o,raonpfnffNa roNarnmouf nur.
lng his remarks Mr. peet SAID Tor
many years all laws in Switzerland
we're made by The people
delaware IS not Switzerland,
liafed Mr. Burris.
Il hone we are as progressive and
civilized as the people OF Switzerland, 7
stated Mr.. Peet
Not by a long way replied Mr.
Bngris.
Mr.. McNabb also spoke ia favor o
he hill The vote WAS as follows;
Yea-BOyce, Buckingham, Chapman
Collins Connolly, Cross, Culver, DAILY
Downward, Ellison, Green, Gruweli
b. c. Hall. Hutchinson, Jones, kersey
Lewis. Loose. Marvel MCAabb, Mes.
sick, Peet. Pretiyman, Rash, Iarbur-
ION, Tindall Webster and Welch'
Nay-Burris, Gregg and Speaker
HALL.
Absont-Ahern. Pritchett and Swain.
Employ Kent Prisoners.
The House by a vote Of 81 TO N
passed Representative Jones bin pro-
gidlng for the employment of Kent
county short term prisoners on the
roads and al other work and the paw
ment Tor such work by the county.
inc term Of prisoners who serve
TIME IN the Kent county iail does not
exceed six months. MIR NcNabb
who voted against the bin opposcd
y because Of a section that gives the
Judges authority 10 refuse To- dis
>harge a prisoner for one wear even
though his term has expired n he has
refused TO work. Mr.. McNal,h ala
not think so much authority should he
-----~----------------------