People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-01-30
The Referendum.

OnS vi tue uccpcSt thinkers IN
this county is W. A. Tilton, Of Ok.
ford. He has been a merchant there
tor years, makes no special preten-
slons as a writer, but is the author
OF some splendid ideas. Every once
in a while he gets cut a small leaflet
containing some new thoughts. He
is the first man in the United States
10 advocate the Initiative and Ref.
erendum," which of late years is at
tracing so much attention. In 1881
he published in the Oxford Reflex
proposed amendment to the consti.
tuition, involving the principles Of
the referendum, but which at that
time had not been named. He also
had it printed in a leaA.t, copy of
which he incidentally showed US
while in Oxford recently. We asked
him for permission to copy 1t, and
we give it below:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Every bill which shall have passed
the House Of Representatives and
Senate shall, il unanimously approved
by each house, become a law. and the
names OF the persons voting upon such
bill shall be entered upon the journal
OF each house respectively.
But II not unanimously annrovad
by both houses Of Congress, and is an
proved by one-titth, or more, of the
house In which it originated, it shall
be presented to the President OF The
United States who shall, as soon as
practicable, send copy OF the bill to
the governor OF each state and terri.
tory in the United States, or to such
officer or officers as may be duly
elected by the voters of each state
and territory in the United States
to carry into effect the provisions of
this article as is herein set forth. who
shall furnish copy Of the bill. as il
is received from the President OF the
United States, to every voter In the
state or territory by which said official
was elected to perform this service, at
least one week previous to the time
appointed for voting thereon; and at
the expiration Of that session of Con.
gress, during which session the Hill
was passed upon by Congress, the gov.
ernOrs, or other authorized officials Of
the states and territories of the United
States, shall call an election of the
voters of the state or territory which
they may be authorized to represent,
at which election it shall be made
obligatory for all voters to record
themselves as for or against every
bill so presented, by writing his or
her name upon blank left within
the bill for that purpose, with either
yes" or mo written under the name
And each state or territory shall
through provisions Of its own making
summarize the result Of such election
and present the same to the Congress
of the United States, which body
shall, as its first business after its
organization at its next session. deter.
mine the number OF votes cast for
and against the bill; and the number
Of votes received by Congress from
each state and territory shall be en-.
tered on the journal Of each house
respectively, as so received, and il
approved by a majority Of The votes
so cast it shall become law.
But the President of the United
States shall have power to, and NAV
On extraordinary occasions, call an
election through authorized channels.
10 every state and territory in the
United States. designating the time
OF holding such election. and the time
OF making the returns thereof.
Copies Of all bills originating In the
Congress Of the United States, that
shall be voted on by the electors of
each state and territory Of the United
States. shall be provided by that state
or territory wherein said bills are
voted upon, and they shall be printed
upon good, substantial paper, in a
plainly legible manner. with a blank
left on the face side OF the bill, near
the middle thereof. of not less than
Two inches long and three.fourths OF
an inch wide; and the uame of the
county and the name or number of
the city, town parish and precinct
wherein such bill shall be voted upon
shall be printed on the back of the
same.