The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-02-25
UNION LABOR WANTS
DIRECT LEGISLATION
Drafts Bill and Presents It to
Legislature for Initiative
and Referendum.
First Step Is Taken in Mime
sofa for Giving People
Law Making Power.

q bill drawn which was this week pre-
sented to the State Legislature.
The bill is novel. and differs much
from the original idea of direct legis-
lation. No constitutional amendment
is required. The bill only provides for
rules of procedure by the State Legis-
lature, and as the constitution gives
each house the right to adopt its own
rules, the matter will come within the
letter Of the law.
The responsibility for such a meas
ure will not fall entirely upon the Leg
islature, even if 1t should be adopted
at this session, as it provides for the
submission of the matter to the peo-
pie, so that they will have an oppor-
tunity to declare whether or not they
are in favor of the essential features
of direct legislation.
The whole state is watching the
progress of the bill, and with the prop
er kind of effort exerted by those who
believe in broadening out democ-
racy will surely become law.
For the benefit of our readers, who
are ever alive to economic efforts of
real benefit to all the people, we give
the essential parts of the bill below:
A Bill
Proposing to an Advisory Vote of the
People of Minnesota System where
by They May Instruct at Will Their
Representatives in the Legislature.
Be it enacted by the Legislature OF the
State of Minnesota:
Section l. That at the next state
election there shall be submitted to an
advisory vote Of the people of the
State of Minnesota the question of
whether the Legislature shall establish
the essential elements of the following
system of advisory initiativ and advi-
sorry referendum
Joint Resolutions.
For Joint Rules of Procedure in the
Legislature of the State of Minneso-
ia, establishing in the People of the
State an Advisory Initiative and an
an Advisory Referendum.
Resolved, Dy the Legislature Of the
State of Minnesota, that there is here
with adopted the following joint rules
for a system whereby the people may
instruct representatives, and instruct
them with greater definiteness than
heretofore:
Advisory Referendum.
Section /. Whenever five (5) per cent
of the voters Of the state, according to
the returns of the next preceding cleo
tion, request in writing that law Of
the State Legislature, or any measure
passed by the Senate or by the House,
or by both houses, shall be submitted
to vote of the people for the purpose
Of instructing representatives, their re-
quest shall be granted. The proceed
ure for petitoning, verifiication of sig
natures, decision as to compliance with
requirements. steps in an appeal, sub
mission of question to the voters, re-
turn of vote, decision of contests, etc.,
to be prescribed by law.
Sec. 2. The balloting shall take place
not later than the next general elec-
ton, but there shall be at least six
weeks between the filing of the re-
quest and the referendum vote.
Sec. 3. Where peoples advisory
vote on the subject-matter enumerated
in Section 1 of this rule is requested by
ten CO) per cent Of the voters Of the
state, according to the returns Of the
shall be entitled to call a special elec-
tion, the date of said special election to
be specified on the petition.
Advisory Initiative.
Section 1. Whenever five 60 per cent
Of the voters Of the state, according to
the returns of the next preceding elec-
tion, shall present to the Legislature a
bill, constitutional amendment, or 9TH
Or forms of measures as to public pol
10y, the petition shall be received by
the Clerk of the House, who shall CODY
the same and file a copy, duly sworn
to, with the Secretary of the Senate:
the original and copy shall be present.
ed to each house, received and num-
bered, read twice, referred to a COM
1nittee for consideration and reported
back, together with such amendments,
substitute or recommendation as may
be thought desirable. Each house, aft
er considering the subject and then
agreeing with the other house, but
without an enacting clause, shall refer
to the voters the original bill as initi-
ated, and also such alternative measure
or recommendation as shall have been
agreed upon. The details as to peti-
tion, referendum ballot, and all other
steps leading up to and including the
announcement of the result, to be pre-
scribed by the laws of the state.
Sec. 2. Each measure initiated by
petitioners shall have precedence over
all other measures, except appropria-
tion bills and bills Immediately necessa-
ry for the preservation of the public
peace, health or safety, and shall be
reported to the Speaker of the House
for submission not later than three
months if the Legislature is in session
when the measure is filed, and submit
ted not later than one year from the
time Of filing. There shall be at least
six weeks between the final reporting
OF the initiative measure and balloting
by the voters. Wherever practica BILE
the balloting shall take place at the
autumn election.
Sec. 3. If, in a majority of the legis-
lative districts. majority of the votes