The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-12

BIG DAYS WORK.
California must be written down In
In the scroll of states as progressive.
The elections in that State on Tues
day show conclusively that Governor
hiram Johnson and the Legisia ture
have carried the day. BY vote
of 100000 electors on twenty
three proposed constitutional amend
ments the fundamental law OF
California has been altered in
many respects. Some Of these changes
in the constitution were radical, EN-
5odyins principles which are more
popular in the West than in the East.
BY many, the Tuesday election was re-
sarded as straw to show which way
such test then the progressive Gle
ment will sweep the State.
Not less than twelve of the pro-
posed amendments voted on TUESDAY
relate 10 matters of general interest
throughout the nation while The rest
arc chiefly OF local interest
OF first Importance is the amend
ment providing for the initiative and
referendum, giving five per cent. Of
the voters the right to Initiate lcgia-
lation, which must be accepted or dis
approved by the Legislature without
alteration, and eight per cent. OF the
voters the right to have any pro-
posed law or constitutional amend
ment submitted to the voters. This
amendment was carried by an en-
phatic vote.
second amendment provides for
the removal of any elective public
officer, state. county and city. includ-
ing the judiciary. by. popular vote. This
was likewise adopted.
Next in public interest was the pro-
posai TO give full suffrage to women
There was fierce campaign for tile
adoption OF this amendment, but i'll
appears to have been defeated
Compulsory employers liability al
terins or multiplying the fellow servant
and contributory negligen theories
a, the common law WAS embodied in
another amendment
Another vests cities with the right
TO establish and operate public works
for supplying water, light power,
heat, transportation. telephone service.
and any other means of communica-
ton"
Another alteration in the organic
law institutes civil service in city
employment.
The application OF civil service laws
TO appointive State officials is con
tanned in another amendment
BY a heavy vote tho people sane
TONED the constitutional change which
will place all public service corpora
lions under the control of the RAN
road Commission, which is made an
pointivc. instead OF elective, as III,
present. ~
Another ameEdIsrcnt allows the in
corporation of counties under "tree-.
holders charters" in the same man
nor as cities arc Incorporated. giving
sn extraordinary degree OF home rule
to counties.
further chungc in the constitution
establishes state Bureau of Weights
and Measures, with powers of SUPER
vision throushout the state.
Divided regular sessions OF the Le-
isiature arc also provided for. one
session Is TO be devoted to the intro
duction OF bills. and the other, follow
ing recess OF thirty days. TO their
consideration.
Another amendment attempts TO free
criminal procedure from tcchnicalities
50 as to prevent the miscarriage OF
justice.
Majority. Instead of plurality. cleo
lions in cities are ordered in an ad-
ditional amendment
"a hnsl alteration prevents any
changes in state textbooks used in
schools at intervals of less than four
years.
Ihese are some of tho questions
passed upon, but there were nearly a
dozen others involved.