Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-01-23
REFERENDUM BILL.
INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLA-
TURE LAST WEEK.
Fiji, TEXT OF THE BILL-IF PASSED
WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST I'M
poRTANT ACTS OF THE SESSION.


One of the most important pieces OF
Hesitation which will be considered by
ths present legislature will be the initia-
tive and referendum bill. The question
has already been widely discussed in the
,aners of the State. Last week the refer
ardum bill was introduced in the House
Emil text Of the bill follows:
Bssoipe proposing an amendment to articl
. Of the constitution Of the State of Maine,
establishing a peoples veto through the OPP
tioual referendum, and a direct initiative by
oetition and at general elections.
Resolved, That the following amendment to
the constitution Of this State be proposed for
the action of the legal voters Of this State in
the manner provided by the constitution, to
wit;
Part first of article is hereby amended as
fellows namely: BY striking out all Of Sec
tion 1 after the word "Maine" in the third
line thereof, and inserting in lieu thereof the
words "The joint action of both shall be sub
;sct to A peoples veto and direct initiative as
hereinafter provided and the style OF their
acts and laws shall be "Be it Enacted by the
people of the State of Maine, SO that said
section as amended shall read as follows,
namely;
The legislative power shall be vested in
two distinct branches, house of representa-
tiyes and a senate, each to have a negative on
the other, and both to be styled the legisla-
ture of Maine. The joint action of both shall
be su beet to a peoples veto and direct initia-
tive as hereinafter provided, and the style OF
their acts and laws shall be, "Be 1t enacted
by the people of the State Of Maine
~; ID ~ A Ia ha ah1 cd
follows, namely, by inserting in section 1
after the words "bienniaily" and in the
second line thereof, the words with the ex-
ceptions hereinafter stated, SO that said Sec
ton shall read as amended:
The legislature shall convene on the first
Wednesday of January, biennially, and, with
the exceptions hereinafter stated, shall have
full power to make and establish all reason
able laws and regulations for the defense and
benefit of the people of this State, not repug-
nant to this constitution nor to that of the
United states.
Part third OF article 4 is further amended
by adding to said article the following sec
tions to be mum bered from IS to % inclusive,
namely;
Section 70. No act or resolution of the leg
stature shall take effect until ninety days
after the recess of the legislature passing it,
unless in case of emergency (which with the
facts constituting the emergency shall be ex-
pressed in the preamble of the act), the legis-
latures shall, by vote of two-thirds of all
the members elected to each house, otherwise
direct. An emergency bill shah include only
such measures as are Immediately necessary
for the preservation OF the public peace,
health, or safety, and appropriations for pay
ment of salaries fixed by law and for payment
of the expenses Of the legislature; and shall
not include ~ an infringement of home rule
for municipalities, (2) a franchise or license
to u corporation or an individual to extend
longer than one year, or ts) provision for the
sale Of purchase or renting for more than five
years of real estate.
Section u. Upon written petition of not less
than 1000 electors, addressed to the governor
and filed in the Office Of the secretary of state
within ninety days after the recess of the leg
istatur re requesting that one more acts bills,
resolutions or part or parts thereof passed by
the legislature but not then in effect by
reason of the provisions of the preceding
section, be referred to the people, such acts,
bills resolutions or part or parts thereof as
are specified in such petition shall not take
effect until ninety days after the same shall
have been ratified by majority of the cleo
tors voting thereon at general or special
election As soon rs 1t appears that the effect
of any act, bill or resolution, part or parts
thereof has been suspended by petition in
manner aforesaid the governor by public
proclamation shall give notice thereof and
Of the time when such measure is to be voted
upon by the people, which shall be at the
next general election not less than sixty days
after such proclamation or in case Of no gem
eral election with fifteen months thereafter
the governor may, and IL 1900 electors pc
tition therefor shall order such measure sub
mitted TO the people as special election not
less than four months after his proclamation
thereof
Section is. The electors may propose to the
legislature for its consideration any bin or
resolution, including bill to amend repeal
emergency legislation but not an amendment
OF the State constitution, either by paster at
tached to the official ballot at a general cleo
tion held within the year previous to the ses-
sion of the legislature, or by a written petit
ton addressed to the legislature or to the
branch thereof and filed in the Office of secre-
tary Of state or presented to either branch OF
the legislature at least thirty days before the
close OF the session. Any measure thus pro-
posed by not less than 10000 electors, unless
enacted by change of the legislature at the
session at which it is presented shall be sub
United to the electors together with any
amended form, substitute, recommended
tisn OF the legislature and in such manner
mat the people can choose between the COM
Peung measures or reject both. The electors
may express second choice. When there are
competing bills and neither receives the ma
lonty Of the vote given for and against both,
'he one receiving the most votes shall be re-
submitted by itself if it receives one third of
the votes given for and against both. II the
measure initiated is enacted by the legisla-
lure without change it shall not go to a refer
ehaum vote unless in pursuance OF a demand
tiaoe In accordance with the preceding sec
''oh' The legislature may order special
election on any measure that is subject to a
vote OF the people. The governor may, and
On petition of not less than 1900 electors,
SNAIL by proclamation order any measure