The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-23
HOW It OPERATES
Initiative and Referendum System Of
- Lawmaking is Operating In
*~Oreaon. -:
The Underlying@tdea Is Legislation by
the Direct Action Of the
" -. - Voters,
Every Voter: Given Full Opportunity
>. -. to Understand: and Vote on =. -.
.i. go 49,. tho Laws. -

Popular. interest is vlsibly. increas;-
ing. every day. in what is popularity
know as the. initiative. and referen-
dunn. When the principle is once
clearly understood by intelligent >vot-
ers generally n a. given state the
adoption OF the system by that state
is already assured. Already the plan
is in operation IN this country in the
states OF, South Dakota and Oregon,
In order: that the readers. Of the Labor
World may get a fair notion Of what
the system means, and how it operates,
the following synopsis Of the measure
as at present in operation in Oregon
is given:
to put the initiative and referendum
system Of Illuminating into operation
was constitutional amendment. This
amendment was ratified by the people
in the election OF 1902 iii Oregon by a
vote Of e2,o24 iuv" favor and 1858.
against. 1t reads in substance as fol-
lows: ~ ::
"sec. L.: The legislative authority
Of the state shall be vested in legis-
lative assembly, consisting Of SEN
ate and house Of representatives, but
the people reserve to themselves
power to propose laws and amend
nnents to the constitution and to en-
act or reject the same at the polls, in
dependent Of the legislative assembly.
The first power reserved by the peo-
pie is the initiative, and not more than
eight per cent Of the legal voters shall
be required to propose: any measure
by such petition. and every such petit
ton shall include the full text of the
measure so proposed. Initiative petit
lions 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 referendum and 1t may be >order-
ed, except as to laws necessary for:
the immediate preservation:o of the pub
lie peace, health, or safety, either by
the petition signed BY five per cent of
the legal voters, or: by the legislative
assembly, as others bill are enacted
Referendum petition shall be filed
with the secretary Of state not more
than ninety days after the final ad-
journn1ent Of the session of the legisla-
tive assembly which passed the bill
ON which the referendum is demanded
The veto power Of the governor shah
not extend to measures referred to the.
people. All elections on measures re-,
ferred to the people OF the state, shall
be had at the biennial regular general
elections, except when. the legislative
assembly shall order q special elec-t
ton. Any measure referred to :. the
people shall take effect and become
the law when it Is approved by the ma
.jority Of the%votes cast thereon and
not otherwise. The style OF all; bills
shall be: BE it enacted~by the peo-
pie Of the state Of Oregon This ssc-:
ton shall not be construed to deprive
any member Of the Legislative assem-
bly, Of the right to Introduce any meas
ure. The whole NUMBER Of votes cast
for justice of the supreme court at the
regular election last preceding tho
filing Of any petition for the, initiative
or for the referendum shall be- the
basis on which the number Of legal
voters necessary TO sign such petition
shall be counted. Petitions and or.
ders for the initiative and for the ref
erendum shall be hled with the secre-.
tary Of state 5s IN -.z
The stateG1aw which puts this con-
stitutionaI alnend1nsilt 4 Into operation
va adopted md wont Into sffect Mey1
III III