The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-03-08
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1906.
THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
The initiative and referendum meas
ure passed by the ninth legislative as.
sembly does not materially differ from
some of the other bills that failed to
receive q %two.thirds vote. 1t requires
s per cent of the legal voters in eleven
counties to initiate and 5 per cent to
refer, and does not give the people
power to initiate amendments to the
constitution. In the event that defects
appear in it's provisions, they cannot
be remedied by the people unless the
legislature permits them to do SO.
The measure, which has been ap-
proved by Governor Toole, Is in sub.
stance as follows:
1.-The first power reserved by the
people is the initiative, and not less
than 8 per cent OF the registered
voters of the state shall be required
TO propose any measur by petition;
provided that at least two-tifths of the
whole number OF the counties Of the
state must each furnish as signere of
said petition at least s per cent OF the
registered voters in such county, and
every such petition shall include the
full text of the measure SO proposed.
Initiative petitions shall be filed
with the secretary of the state not less
&Lo, fD,,, ,,n,thc hafnn. IN, a1a.tinn
at which they are to be voted upon.
The second power Is the referendum
and it may be ordered either by petit.
ton signed bysnot less than s per cent
of the registered voters of the state,
provided thatiat least two.fitths of the
whole number Of the counties of the
state must:each furnish as signcrs of
said petition at least 5 per cent of the
registered voterssin such county, or,
by the Legislative assembly a. other
bills are enacted. Referendum pcti.
tons shall be filed with the secretary
Of state, not later than 30 days after
the final adjournment of the session
OF the Legislative assembly which
passed the bill on which the referen.
dun is demanded. The veto power Of
the governor shall not extend to
measures referred to the people.
IAN elections on measures ~referre.
to the people Of the state shall be hat
at the biennial regular general cleo
ton, except when the legislative as
sembly, by a majority vote, shall or
der a special election. Any measure
referred to the people shall still be il
full force and effect unless such pc
tition be signed by at least Is per cen
OF the legal voters Of u majority of tn
whole number Of the counties Of tn
state, ia which case the law shall b
imperative until 'such time as it ma,
be passed upon ut an election, aud tn
result has been determined and dc
clared as provided by law.
"The whole number of votes cast 70
governor at the3sregular election las
preceding the filing of any petition
for the initiative and referendum, shall
be the basis on switch the number o
the legal petitions1and orders for tn
initiative and forsthe referendum shall
be filed with stheNsecretary of state
and in submitting:the same to the pee
pie, he, and all other officers, shall b
guided by the general'laws and the Il,
submitting this amendment, until lee
islation shall be especially provide
therefor.
"The enacting clause Of every la,
originated by theIinitiative shall be IL
follows:
"Be it enacted by the people G
Montana
.'This section shall not be coustrue
to deprive any member of the legisla
tive assembly of the right to introduc
any measure.
Sec. THAT separate official ba
lots be used at the general election, t
be held in November, 1906. aud sha
have printed thereon:the words: &c
the amendment to the constitutio
providing for direct legislation an
reference of laws and the word,
Against the amendment to the const
tuition providingsfor direct legislatio
and reference of laws
sit shall be the duty of the legisl,
tive assembly to enact legislation sui
able for carrying this amendment I'M
effect.
"Sec. 3.-This act shall take etre
and be in force from and after i
passage and approval"