The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-29
PROPOSED CHANGES
IN CONSTITUTION
OF STATE
Nine Amendments to be Sub.
mitted to State Legisla-
ture at Next Session.

Nine proposed amendments to the
constitution of North Dakota will he
submitted IN 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 tn.
initiative and referendum.
Under North Dako1a's provision re-
garding the amendment of the on
siltuti"n, a measure must first he
passed by tW" consecutive Legislative
assemblies. and then it must go to
the poopl" for a vote. The nine pro-
posed amendments have passed only
one assembly. and neXt winter the
Fourteenth assembly will pass OF
them.
The situation with reference TO the
initiative and referendum is interest
ing The last legislature deemed it
adNisahl" to pass our distinct pro-
posed amendments on the question,
thus putting the matter up to the as
ScmhlN in such form tina th"re could
be no side stepping tho issue"
With the four measures to choose
from. one or two. it is believed, will
be passed tho second time. and in
1919 The people of the state will have
an opportunity to vote ON them al
tn" polls. Six years ago the first ini-
tiailNe bill WAS passed. hut il vas de
foatcd fnur years ago i'm the legisla-
ture.
In the Doyle-Ployhar bill, provision
is made for the operation of the prin-
clple in the amendment of the ConSti-
tuition as Well as the amendment ot
statutes. The bin also provides fol
the recall "f public officers.
The Bessrsen bill provides for the
lnltiatiN" n referendum as to leg
i%slation affecting statutes only. HAY
ing N" hearing on the constitution.
h operation of the principle as
affecting only tn" constitution is pro-
Nldcd for in another bill of A. S
Gibbons, while. still another proposed
amendment makes the principle APP
plicahle to both the constitution and
the statutes.
1t is he question of making the
measure applicable TO the constitu-
ton that has caused the greatest dis
cllssion. The prohibition forces of
h stat" are strongly opposed to the
operation of the initiative and refer
endNm as affecting the constitution
believing that il Would result in this
Introduction of a fight on the liquor
Question for which they are hardly
prepared at this time. They are sat
iNii'N 20 nave I!le measure adopted ii
II IS made applicable to statutes only
The recall Of public officials is also
provided for in another proposed
amendment. labeled as the Bessesen
bill.
Uniformity in TAXATION is provided
for i'm ON" of III" proposed amend
m"nts Ia the constitution. This
amendment would allow for the class
lfcati"n Of certain public utilities
Tor taxation purposes.
Another proposed amendment has
to do With land grants to the educa-
tlonal institutions
Stat" appropriation of n for
ms improvement OF highways is pro-
Nl'lcd tor in a measure introduced bv
t. Nelo. For some time the question
of state aid for highway work has
been asitated. n it is for the pur-
pose of opening the way to such aid
that this measure was passed last
Year.
Establishment of terminal grain
elevators in the state is provided for
ny a Dill known as the Plain measure,
winch was passed last year. and
which m up again his winter.
1t would permit the state to build or
lras" a terminal elevator in the state