The Delta independent., 1911-08-11
BILLS TO BE REFERRED AND
HOW THEY CAME TO BE

All DlllS eudClSu ny thht eAsoSAAADN@
and not referred became laws at
that hour. The bills referred will
not become laws unless majority
of those voting upon them at the
regular election, one year from next
fall cast their vote in favor of the
bills. The legislature itself refer
red four constitutional amendments
the tunnel bill and the guarantee
sections of the bankers bill to the
people. There were eight petitions
riled referring bills enacted by the
assembly, one of which petitions
was for the reference of the en-
tire bankers bill. This makes
total of thirteen measures that will
he passed upon by the people at
the next election under the referen-
dunn. They still have the right to
initiate bills and according to gen
eral discussion, there will, perhaps
be as many initiated as have been
referred.
The constitutional amendments
referred to the people by the leg
islature have been explained in
these columns before. The tunnel
bill provides a bond issue for the
purpose of constructing tunnel on
the Moffat road. The eight bills
referred by petition are:
First, the banking law, which
changes to a certain extent the
banking system of this state.
Second, the bill which compels all
state institutions and departments
to file daily report and deposit
with the State Treasurer.
Third. the anti-ticket scalpers
bill which prevents ticket scalping
of all kinds.
Fourth. the Carpenter Irrigation
| Bill.
Fifth, the bill transferring the
brand department from the office
of the Secretary of State to the
office of the State Board of Stock
Commissioners.
Sixth. the bill establishing an
eight hour work day in mines, mills
smelters, etc
Seventh and Eighth, the two
bills which relate to the efficiency
of teachers and the state normal
school bill, commonly called the
teachers bills.
Governor Shafroth has given out
number of interviews stating that
the interests have referred lot
of bills purely for the purpose of
creating expense and throwing dis
credit on the initiative and refer
endum constitutional amendment. A
resume of the thirteen measures to
be voted upon shows that the gov
Il arnnrfS faf correct
His own assembly referred five of
the measures and part of the
bankers bill. The country school
teachers referred the two school
teachers bill. the small ditch own
ers referred the Carpenter 1rriga-
ton bill. The ticket scalpers re-
ferred the scalpers bill. Jealousy
against state treasurer kenehan
caused Secretary of State Pearce
and Deputy State Labor Commits
sioner Brake to refer the bill which
provided for a daily report by in
situations and departments to the
state treasurer and also the bill
transferring the brand department
from the secretary of states office
to the state board of stock inspec-
| ton commissioners.
1t can be said that the interests
did refer the bankers bill and the
eight hour bill. At least they had
the petition circulated securing sig
natures to refer these two bills.
Thus, as to expense The cost of
referring these bills can be charged
as follows:
Five of them can be charged up
against the governors assembly
Two of them can be charged to
Democratic jealousy. Three of them
can be charged against the common
people who felt that they would
be injured If the measures went
into law; and two of them can be
charged against the interests.
The referendum is intended to
be used after an assembly and ad-
ministration has failed to give the
people what they want. Had the
last assembly given the people what
it promised to give them. or had
Governor Shafroth used his efforts
to force the enactment of the laws
wanted. or had Governor Shafroth
vetoed a number of the bills which
he knew were against the interests
of the people, the expense of their
reference would not have been nee
essary. The expense of referring
the two teachers bills. the brand
department bill. the eight hour bill
and the daily report bill can be
charged directly against Governor
Shafroth for he knew that the jeal-
ousy against State Treasurer Kene.
L han would force the reference of
two of them and he also knew that
the common people would refer the
others, especially the teachers bills.