Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-02-05
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM METHOD OF LEoIsLATIoN
 MAY BECOME RULE
VOTERS NAY CALL ELECTION
BUT ONE SPECIAL ELECTION IN EACH YEAR TO RATIFY WORK {.
 OF LEGIsLAroRs


 referendum are embodied in the bill introduced by Geo. W. P. Hunt, repre- sentative in the council from Gila coun- ty, and which is said to stand good chance of becoming law before the end of the present session. It is des- ignated as Council Bill No. l5 and is entitled: "A Bill for an Act to Pro vide for Direct Legislation by the Peo- pie of Arizona The text of the bill is as follows:
 Section l. The right to approve and repeal territorial laws, or proposed ter ritorial laws, shall rest with the ma jority of the citizens of the territory. Section 2. The right to propose laws for the territory shall, in addition to being exercised by the members of the legislative assembly, rest with any number of voters of the territory equal to seven per cent of the votes east at the last preceding general election before such proposal. The right to propose laws for any political subdi- vision of the territory, such as county, city, district or precinct, shall in addi- ton to being exercised by members of it's local legislative body as at present, rest with any number of its voters equal to fifteen per cent of the number of votes cast within its limits at the last preceding general election before such proposal. The method to be em- ployed in so proposing measures shall be known as the "initiative. Section 2. The right to demand the referendum on any laws of the terri tory may be exercised by seven per cent of the voters of the territory filing petition with the secretary of the territory designating the law and de. handing it's submission to vote of the people. The right to demand the referendum on any local law or ordi- nance of political subdivision of the be exercised by fifteen per cent of the voters of that political subdivision flirg their petitions with the clerk of the county, city, town or district as the ease may be.
 Section ?. The initiative shall be exercised in like manner by filing the petition of like number of voters with the officers designated above to re- ceive the demand for the referendum. All demands for the initiative and for the referendum shall be filed with the secretary of the territory at least six months before the general election at which they are to be submitted to the people.
 Section 1. No act passed by the leg islstive assembly shall become law in less time than six months after its passage, except in cases of extraordi- nary emergency, which shall be stated in said act; and if within six months after the passage of any act, petition of seven per cent of the legal voters of the territory, asking for the repeal of such law or laws, the secretary of the territory shall order an election for the rejection or acceptance of such law or laws, and if at such election ma jority of the votes cast therefor shall be "Yes" such law or laws shall be- come law and if less than a majority 1t shall become void
 Section 5. No election. as provide I for herein, shall be ordered more than once during any year, at which time all bills shall be voted upon which may have been petitioned for as provided for in either the initiative OF referen- dum
 Section 6. The election for accept ance or rejection of all laws provided for in this act, shall be held on the last Monday of the eighth month following the adjournment of the legislative as- sembly, at which time all bills which may have been passed by the legisla. tive assembly and which may be pc. titioned for the repeal thereof, shall be voted upon as in this act provided; and if within six months after the ad. journment of the legislative assembly there is no such petition for the repeal of any law or laws the same shall be- come laws.
 Section z. No one shall be qualified to vote at any election held for the purpose herein named who is not ale to write and read the constitution of the United States, and who has not regis tered at least thirty days prior to such election as may be provided by law.
 Section s. The legislative assembly or the people of the territory of Ari- zona may have the power to provide by law for the carrying into effect of the provisions of this act.
 Section g.. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.
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