Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1912-09-06
NUMEROUS CHANGES IN THE
CONSTITUTION WILL BE VOT.
ED ON BY LEGIsLATURE

constitution Of North Dakota will be
submitted to the coming legislative
assembly by the secretary of state,
according to notices which have just
been published by him. -Four of these
proposed amendments are conflicting
in their nature, providing for the
initiative and referendum.
Under North Dakota IS provision re.
garding the amendment of the con.
stitution, a measure must first be
passed by two consecutive legislative
assemblies, and then It must go to
the people for a vote. The nine pro-
posed amendments have. passed only
one assembly, and next winter the
Fourteenth assembly will pass on
them.
The situation with reference to the
initiative and referendum is interest
ing. The last legislator deemed it
advisable to pass four distinct pro.
posed amendments on the question,
thus putting the matter up to the as
sembly in such form that there could
be no "side stepping the issue"
With the four measures 10 choose
from, one or two, It is believed, will
be passed the second time, and in
1914 the people Of the state will have
an opportunity to vote on them at the
polls. Six years ago the first ini-
tiative bill was passed, but it was de.
feated four years ago in the legisla.
ture. r..
In the Doyle-Ployhar bill provision
IS made for the operation Of the prin-
ciple in the amendment Of the eonsti.
tuition as well as the amendment of
statues. The bill also provides for
the recall Of public officers.
The Bessesen hill provides for the
initiative and referendum as to leg
islation affecting statutes only, hav-
ing no barring on the constitution.
Til operation Of the principle as
affecting only the constitution is pro.
vided for in another bill. Of A. s.
Gibbons, while still another proposed
amendment makes the principle ap-
plicable to both the consultation and
the statutes.
1t is the question Of making the
measure applicable to the eonstituoin
that has caused he gTeaest discussion.
The prohibition forces Of the state are
strongly opposed to the operation of
the initiative and referendum as af-
fecting the constitution believing that
it would result in the introduction of
a fight on the liquor question for
which they are hardly prepared at this
time. They are satisfied to have the
measure adopted if it is made appli-
cable to statues only.
The recall Of public officials Is also
provided for in another proposed
amendments labeled as the Bessesen
bill.
Uniformity in taxation is provided
for in one Of the proposed amend
ments to the constitution. This amend
ment would allow for the classitica-
'tion Of certain public utilities for tax
alton purposes.
Another proposed amendment has
to do with land grants to the educa.
tional institutions.
Safe appropriation Of moneys for
the Improvement Of highways is pro-
vided for in a measure introduced by
T. Welo. For some time the question
Of state aid for highway work has
been agitated, and it is for the pur-
pose Of opening the way to such aid
*hat this measure was passed last
year.
Establishment Of terminal grain
elevators IN the state is provided for
Ny bill known as the Plain measure.
which was passed last year, and
which comes up again this winter.
It would permit the State to build Il
lease terminal elevator in the state.