The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-16

in Oregon, and this, or one similar,
adjourns: Following is the full text
OF the proposed law:
An Act entitled, AN Act tor submit.
ting to the qualified electors of the
State of Montana, amendments to
Article V of the Constitution of the
State of Montana, relating to the
legislative department, and provid-
ing for direct legislation.
BE it enacted by the legislative as
sembly of the State of Montana:
Section 1. There shall be submit
ted to the qualified electors of the
state of Montana at the next general
election, the following amendment to
Section l, Article V of the Constitu-
ton of the state of Montana:
"That Section 1, Article v of the
Constitution be, and the same is here
by amended so as to read as follows:
Section 1. The legislative authority
OF the state shall be vested In a leg
~islative assembly consisting of a SEN
ate and a house of representatives,
but that the people reserve to them
selves power to propose laws and
amendments to the Constitution and
to enact or reject the same at the
polls, Independent of the legislative
assembly, and also reserve power at
their W option to approve or reject
at the polls, any act of the legislative
assembly. The first power reserved
by the people is the initiative, and not
more than five per cent of the legal
voters shall be required to propose any
measure by such petition, and every
such petition shall include the full
text of the, measure proposed. Initia-
tive petitions shall be filed with the
secretary of state not less than four
months before the election at which
they are to be voted upon.
THE second power is the referen-
dunn, and it may be ordered Except
to laws necessary for the imn.ed
ate preservation of the public peace.
health or safety either by the petit
ton signed by five per cent of the le-
gal voters, or by the legislative as.
sembly as other bills are enacted. Ref
erendum petitions shall be filed with
the secretary of state not more than
ninety days after the final adjourn
ment of the session OF the legislative
assembly which passed the bill on
which the referendum is demanded.
The veto power OF the governor shall
not extend to measures referred to the
All elections on measures
referred to the people of tn state
shall be had at the biennial regular
general election. Any easur re-
ferred to the people shall take effect
and become a law when it is approved
by a majority OF the votes cast there
on, and not otherwise.
"The whole number of votes cast
for justice of the supreme court at the
election last preceding the
filing of any petition for the referen-
dunn o. for the initiative shall be the
basis on which the number of legal
petitions and the orders for the initia-
tive and for the referendum shall be
filed with the secretary Of state, and
in submitting the same to the people
he, and all other officers, shall be
guided by the general laws and the
act submitting this amendment, until !
shall be especially provid.
ed therefor.
Sec. 2. That Section 20, Article V
Of the Constitution of the state OF
Montana be, and the same is hereby
amended so as to read as follows:
"Sec. 20. The enacting clause OF
every law shall be as follows: BE 1t
enacted by the people of Montana.
This section shall not be construed to
any member of the legislative
assembly of the right to introduce any
measure.
Sec. 3. That separate official bal
OTIS be used at the general election to
be held in November, 1906, and shall
have printed thereon the words: For I
the amendment to the Constitution !
providing for direct legislation and
the words: Against the amendment
to the Constitution providing for di- (
rect legislation
Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect
and be in force from and after it's pas
sage"
GOOD FOR ANY PURPOSE.
Minneapolis Journal: Two Boston