Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-02-03
Inc Initiating And Refrrsnaum.

Inv heitV"ibE tCcuiuAlOl, ouCLCu ty
delegate Campbell OF Cabeli couaty,
and referred 10 the judiciary committee
will create widespread Interest among
The people generally. Itis joint re-
solution looking TO the amendment OF
the constitution and the salient features
are embodied in the following sections:
"Section l. The Legislative power
shall be vested in Senate and House
OF Delegates, except as hereinafter
provided.
"The style Of their acts shall be BE
it enacted by the Legislature Of West
Virginia. The people, however. re-
serve to themselves the power to pro-
pose laws and amendments to the con-
stitution and to enact or reject the
same at the polls independent of the
Legislature. and also reserve power ut
their option to approve or reject at the
polls any act, item, section OF part of
any act of the Legislature.
"The first power hereby reserved by
the people is the initiative, and at least
eight per cent Of the legal voters shall
be required to propose any measure by
petition, and every such petition shall
include the full text of the measure so
proposed. Initiative petitions for state
legislation aud amendments to the
constitution, shall be addressed to and
filed with the Secretary of State at
least four months before the election at
which they are to be voted upon.
'srhe second power hereby reserved
is the referendum, and it may be or
dered, except as TO laws necessary for
the immediate preservation of the
public peace, health and safety, and
appropriations for tho support and
maintenance Of the department Of state
and state institutions, against any act,
section or part of any act Of the Legis-
lature, either by petitions signed by
five per cent Of the legal voters or by
the legislature. Referendumlpetitions
| shall be addressed TO and aled with
the Secretary Of State not more than
ninety days after the final adjourn-
ment of the session OF the legislature,
that passed the bill on which the re-
ferendum is Gemaned.
The filing Of a referendum petition
I against any item, section or part ofany
act, shall not delay the remainder Of
the act, shall not delay the remainder
of the act from becoming operative.
The veto power of the governor shall
referred to the people. All elections on
measures referred to the people of the
state shall be held at the biennial
regular general election, and all snch
measures shall become the law or
part of the constitution when approved
by majority OF the votes cast there
on, and not other wise, and shall take
effect from and after the date Of the
official declaration of the vote thereo
BY proclamation Of the governor, but
net later than thirty days after the
vote has been canvassed. This section
shall not be constructed to deprive the
Legislature Of the right to enact any
measure. The whole number Of votes
cast for Secretary sfStste at the regular
general eleatien last preceding the FL
ing OF any petition for the initiative or
referendum shall be the basis on which
the numbe Of LEGAL voters necessary to
sign such petition shall be counted.
1.-THE secretary Of state shall sub NIT
all measures initiated by or referred to
the people for adoption Or rejection at
the polls, in compliance herewith.
1.-THE initiative and referendem pow
ers reserved to the people by this Sec
ton are hereby futher reserved to the
legal voters Of every city, town or
municipality .as to all local, special
and municipal legislation Of every
character in and for their res pective
municipalities. The manner of exsrc is-
ing said powers shalt be prescribed by
general laws except that cities, towns
and municipalities may provide for
the manner of exercising the initiative
and referendum, powers as to their
! municipal legislation. Not more than
ten per cent of the legal voters may be
required to order the referendum, no
mere than fifteen Per cent TO propose