Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-02-08

IS OFFERED
Murray, Of Cascade, introduces a New
Bill for the Initiative and
Referendum.
What is Required to Initiate in Each
Of Majority Of the Counties
Of the state.

Helena, Feb. IA brand new ini-
tiative and referendum measure was
introduced in the house today, in ac-
cOrdance with the announcement in
Charles L. Murray, of Cascade county,
is the father this time. 1t provides
that s per cent Of the voters shall be
required to initiate and per cent to
counties in the state.
The bill is as follows:
Section l. There shall be submit
ted to the qualified electors of the
state of Montana, at the next general
election, the following amendment TO
section /, article V. of the constitution
of the state of Montana:
That section ], article " of the con-
stitution be and the same is hereby
amended so as to read as follows:
Section /. The legislative author
! ity of the state shall he vested in a
legislative assembly, consisting of a
senate and house of representatives.
but the people reserve to themselves
power to propose laws, and to enact
or reject the same at the polls and
except as to laws relating to applO-
priation of money and except as to-
laws for the submission of constitu-
tional amendments, ana except as to-
local or special laws, as enumerated
in article V, section 26 of this cOnsti-
tuition independent of the legislative
assembly, and also reserve power, at
their own option, to approve or re-
ject at the polls any act of the legis-
lative assembly, except as to laws
necessary for the immediate preserv-
alton of the public peace, health or
safety. and except as to laws relating
to appropriations of money, and ex--
cept as to laws for the submission OF
constitutional amendments, and ex-
cept as to local or special laws. as
enumerated in article ", section 26,
of this constitution.
THE first power reserved by the
people is the initiative and not less
than 8 per cent of the legal registered
voters in each county of a majority
required to propose any measure by
such petition, and every such petition
shall include the full text of the meas
ure so proposed. IniaLive petitions
shall be filed with the secretary of
state, not less than four months be-
fore the election at which they are to-
be voted upon.
'The second power is the referen-
dunn, and it may be ordered, either by
the petition, signed by per cent Of
the legal. registered voters in each
county of a majority of all the coun-
ties in the state, or by the legislative
assembly. as other bills are enacted.
Referendum petitions shall be filed
with the secretary of state, not later
than ninety days after the final ad-
, journment of the session of the leg
isative assembly which passed the
bill on which the referendum is de-
manded. The veto power of the gov
ernor shall not extend to measures
{ referred to the people.
"All elections on measures referred
, to the people of the state shall be had
4 at the biennial regular general elec-
Y ton. Any measure referred to the
I people shall still be in full force and
e effect, until disapproved by major.
v ity of the votes cast thereon. when
p the result has been determined and
[. declared, as provided by law.
Y The whole number of votes cast
1 for justice of the supreme court at the
: regular election last preceding the fl.
ing of any petition for the referendum
, or for the initiative, shall be the basis
r on which the number of legal petitions
. and orders for the initiative and for
q the referendum shall be filed with the
NJ in n q
;. the same to the people, he, and all
! general laws and the act submitting
this amendment until legislation shall
4 be especially provided therefor.
!. Section 2. That section 20, arti-
: Gle V. of the constitution of the state
!. of Montana, be and the same is here
!, by amended so as to read as follows:
Section 20. The enacting clause of
: every law shall be as follows: BE it
! enacted by the people Of Montana
;. This section shall not be construed
to deprive any member of the legisla.
:, n tive assembly of the right to intro
duce any measure"
Section 8. That separate official
ballots be used at the general elec-
tion to be held in November, 1906,
T. and shall have printed thereon the
words: For the amendments to the
n constitution providing for direct leg
6 islation." and the words Against the
amendments to the constitution pro-
y viding for direct legislation"
1t Section 4. This act shall take ef-
!. feet and be in force from and after
l. its passage.
THE, HElSERMAN ESTATE.
rE