The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-11-18
TO Vote ON THE LAWS.
Proposed Adoption of the
Referendum in New
Jersey.
LIKE THE SWISS SYSTEM.
The Project to Be Urged on the
Next Legislature Details
of the Proposition.
Special to The JERSEY oftp Ne,us.


erendum." 1t is an American adoption
and modification of the law as 1t exists
in Switzerland, where nearly all leglsla-
tive measures are voted upon by the
people at large This bill, if 1t becomes a
law. will aHect not only enactments
by the Legislature. but also or
dinances adopted by Boards of Freehold
ers. Common Councils, Boards OF Works,
Township and Borough Committees.
The bill is very far.reaching In its effects,
and there can be little doubt OF its bene-
1cial character upon the people and
legislative bodies If it can be enacted and
enforced. Several lawyers have ex-
pressed doub BITS as to the constitutionality
nclal knowledge of It's section and gave it
as their opinion that In order to become
effective, it would have to be submitted to
the voters as constitutional amendm ent.
This Referendum bill, as it will prob
ably be known, was prepared by a num-
Der OF advanced thinkers and political
economists of this city. They quietly
to consider the question how the people
could be given an opportunity to enact
their own laws and break the powers OF
political rings and grasping corporations
who usually control the men elected to
represent the people In legislative odies.
but large in culture and expert
ence, had weekly meetings and con-
sidered the Referendum in all It's
phases. A close study was given to the
popular voting system in vogue in Switz-
erland. and its application to New Jersey
was discussed in detail. The result of all
this study and discussio is the drawing
up of the following bill. which is SUBJ
mitted to the public for the first time.
The organization Is still at work on sup
Elementary bill on the same subject. The
men who prepared this bill belong TO both
of the great parties, and they will have it
introduced In the Legislature as nom
partisan measure. The proposed bill reads
THE REFERENDUM.
Be it enacted. etc.:-
I. That the qualified voters OF the State
of New Jersey shall have the power to
veto certain of the bills passed by the
Legislature, the method to be employed
in exercising this veto power being tnat
form of popular vote known as the Re-
ferendpm.A
That with respect to the Referendum
all bills passed by the Legislature shall
fall within two classifcations, yiz..-ur-
gent measures and measures not urgent,
That no measure shall be classified as
urgent excepting suoh as relate TO the
Immediate preservation Of the public
peace or the public health.
That q two-thirds vote OF the Legisla-
ture shall be necessary to place any bill
in the classification of urgent measures.
That urgent measures shall go into
effect Immediately upon their approval
by the Governor.
That all measures not specially ciassi-
fed by the Legislature as urgent shall
be considered as measures not urgent.
That matters not urgent shall go into
effect.at the expiration of sixty days after
the date of the adj ournment of the Legis-
iature passing such measures. unless a
petition for the Referendum, as herein
after provided for. shall in the interim, be
filed with the Secretary of State.
That within the said sixty days the citi-
zens of the State shall have the right to
file with the Secretary of State petition to
submit any measure not urgent passed by
the Legislature. whether signed by the
Governor or not, to vote of all the citi-
zens for their rejection or approval.
That said petition shall contain the title
zens, and TO be mandatory shall be signed
bv at least 5 per cent. Of the voters Of the
State; the percentage TO be based on the
whole number of votes cast for members
of the Assembly at the election imme-
diately preceding the fling of said petit
tion.
That the Secretary of State shall,
within the thirty days preceding the en-
suing day of election for mem ber5 of the
Assembly and at least ten days before
said election, cause said measure to be
published in at least two newspapers pub
lished in each county of the State, with a
notification that on that day of election
the said measure is to be submitted TO the
Referendum.
That It shall be the duty Of the Secre-
tary of State to cause the ballots Tor the
rejection or approval Of the measure in
question to be printed; the said ballots
shall contain the title of such measure;
that the words Eyes or no'' shall be
printed in the margin of each ballot op-
posite such title; that IL the voter shall
approve of the measure. he shall erase
the word no, and If opposed. he shall erase
the word yes.
That the Secretary of State shall also
cause such ballots to be forwarded to the
County Clerks of the various counties of
the State at least five days before any
such election for member of Assembly as
aforesaid. and the County Clerk of each
county shall distribute said ballots to
the Board of Election or other election
officers in each voting district in said
county.
That the votes for and against such
measures shall be counted, returned and
announced by the respective officials as
in the manner provided in the case of
the election or members Of the Legisia-
ture.
That unless the said measure shall on
the aforesaid day of election receive the
affirmative vote of a majority of the ball
lots cast for or against said measure, 1t
| shall not become law.
H. That no law. ordinance or resolution
passed by any city. county. town. town
\ ship or borough, or any other body cor
porate having the right to pass laws,
ordinances or resolutions for the regula-
tien of the affairs of such county, city,
town, township or borough, or other body
corporate as aforesaid. except such as are
! Tor the immediate preservation of the
public peace or the public health, shall
go into effect until thirty days after the
passage of such law, ordinance or resolu-
tion.
| RIGHT OF PETITION.
| That the legal voters residing in such
! city. county, township. borough, or other
body corporate, as aforesaid, may within
| the said thirty days file petition with
the clerk thereof requiring him to submit
| any law, ordinance or resolution to vote
OF the citizens Of the corporate body afs
| fected hereby for their rejection or ap-
i proval at the regular election OF said city,
| county, township, borough. or other bod J
corporate, Immediately following the Ill
ing OF said petition.
/ That said petition shall set forth the
title Of such Law, ordinance or resolution