People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1895 — Direct Municipal Legislation. [ARTICLE]

Direct Municipal Legislation.

When Rensselaer is made a city, and it now has the requisite population to entitle it to such an estate, let it be incorporated by a special act of the legislature which shall give it the benefits of the Initiative and Referendum system in full, coupled with thelmperitive Mandate. These terms may not be fully understood by all, but the combination of these three features places the government of the city always in the immediate control of the people, prevents legislation not* wanted by the majority of the people, enables the majority to enact any new law desired, and gives the people the power to remove any incompetent, unworthy or objectionable official at any time that it becomes evident the public good demands it, and not wait until his term of office expires. This system has been finding favor very rapidly in this country for the past three years, and has been endorsed in different states by all political parties. It has its most perfectly organized system in the Swiss republic, where it has been steadily developing for hundreds of years, but with the past fifty years it has been most rapidly extended to all parts of the nation, being the central principle of government in the Commune, Canton Federation, which corresponds to the American township, county and state. Once give the people of Rensselaer an opportunity to have a direct voice in municipal affairs and it will be impossible to deprive them of that right. It is a mistaken idea that it is more expensive than the representative system, or that it will makethe transaction of business less expeditious than at present. Briefly stated the Referendum is submitting to popular vote the acts of the city council or the petitions of the people. The enacting power being reserved to the people themselves. This changes the character of a city council from one of law making to that of law proposing. If the council fails to propose desired laws the Iniii uive gives the people the power to do so themsslves by petition. If officials become distasteful to the people they can by petition require a vote to decide whether th< y shall serve longer or not, which provision will be a healthy incentive to the faithful performance of public duties. " The Referendum will relieve council men from embarrassment in the passing of ordinances that are oonoxious to their friends, for they ca>n shift the responsibility to the people, and the man with a "pull” is no mightier than the humblest voter.

The question of prohibition, high or low license; few, many, or no saloons; waterworks, grav, el roads, fire department matters, telephone, electric light works, public park and all matters of business pertaining to the running of a city can be pyt into shape for a vote by the people on each-proposition, and decided, yes or no, a hundred dr more propositions at a time if necessary, by the use of the Australian ballot, crossing the yes Or no squares as is now done in voting for officers. The expense of taking such a vote can be reduced to a trifle, and can be held at the same time that elections of officers take place, for the disposition of important matters that by the nature of thins: s come up for cons deration annually. Other votes be taken quarterly, or by S| e ial call < r petition of a given per cent of the registered voters. The m »re this system is investigated by the student of economic matters the more fascinated he becomes with the beauties of this truly democratic foPm of government. It tends to stimulate general interest in public affairs, it makes of each voter a statesman and calls forth the best brain and genius to the common good. Those who would study the system should read Sullivan’s Direct Legislation.