Milford chronicle., 1949-01-28


/ that p particular
proposition, it becomes a part Of
the state constitution, including all
the details Of operation. ThroughmIt
tne state are organizations that
make a business Of getting, at a
price, the needed number of sig
natures.
Regardless Of what the prou-
OsItiOn may be or what its enact
ment may cost the state
neither the legislature nor anv
state official can voice either
approval or disapprOVaI. When
a majority Of those voting ON
the proposition have registered
approval the proposition be-
comes a part Of the state cOnssi-
tuition and cannot be written off
except by another amendment
FOURTEEN SUCH proposed
amendments were on the ballot at
the last general election. No voter
understood what all of them meant
and only those Of the interested
minority group proposing it un6er-
stood the meaning of any one. Each
was described on the ballot bv a
brief paragraph which gave no de-
tails OF explanation. Three of four
OF those proposed received the
needed majority of affirmative votes
to make it part of the state con-
stitution.
Let's take one Of those as an
1t provides for a consider.
able increase in the pension Dafd
TO the aged. It takes the admin
lstratiOn Of that part Of the well
rare laws Of the state out Of the
hands of county welfare officials
and places that responsibility
IN the hands Of q state organ.
izatiOn which it sets uD. II
names the personnel and pro-
Vides the salaries they shall re-
Ceive.
The proposed legislation also
would provide that the pensions
shall be paid out of any money in
the state treasury to any and all
oeneficiaries named by the bureau
he amendment has created. Those
ana other details have all been
written into the state constitution
Nothing the governor, the state
reasurer or any action On the part
u the legislature can do will change
his IN any particular. II is not
fundamental, but it is made a part
I the fundamental law Of the state.
ven to the smallest detail.
IN CALIFORNIA the people elect
state legislature, but there is EttIe
9r the legislature to do. The Ipeis.
lture can have nothing to saw on
le things the state constitution pro- e
ldes for, and such things are mn. \
lerous. The method gives to the S
lnorltieS an opportunity 10 mt q
yer class legislation that would n
ave difficulty getting through anv a
glslative body The amend s.
ents get by because the mass Of 81
e voters do not realize what the r.
nendments mean or what they do. in
The increase in the old-aee u
pensions, the method Of disfribn. 81
ton and administration, etc. =
may possibly bankrupt the state .
Or force the leVying Of heavy ~ !,
additional taxes-but, whether q
reasonable or otherwise, whether
shere is money available or Dot
hose pensions must be naiH.
pet they were decreed by onlv
small percentage OF the total
7oters Of the state. n
t is the application Of the town en-
'etlng system as a meane of We
Iulating the affairs Of a state az
told the idea originated N the
nd OF Sen. Hiram johnson Hs de
lsldered it as progressive ak
lslation' a way to determine the lei
hes Of the people. cr,
he Constitution Of the United rin
tes should have place in the Tin
rlcula Of every school. The chill ins
Il OF the nation should be taught dr.
meanings as applied to them sui
,es as individuals; they should bel
lie the advantages it provides ns,
many children Of today can the
r a descriptive meaning Of its 70
visions. It is not a popular sub
with all to many Of our.teachers
,, too, would profit from a stIdv 4
nat immortal document. Il wouId S
the trend toward Communism, Q
he nation. 8