Arizona republican., 1912-06-14
ELECTION LAW
 LOOKS RIGHT
Attorney General Bullard's Reply to Inquiry by Gov ernor Hunt Regarding the Validity of Measure He Had Recommended

One of the funniest propositions ever submitted to the. Arizona public is con tained in the recent action of Gov ernOr Hunt in asking an opinion from the attorney general in regard to the validity of the election law which has been passed by both houses in response to the demand of the eX- ecutive for such legislation.
 It will be recalled that Mir. Hunt, in his first message to the legislature, asked that such a law be passed.
 It will also be recalled that MT. Hunt in his second message to the legislature asked that such a law be passed.
 It will further be recalled that MT. Hunt in issuing his call for the as sembing of the legislators in special session, asked that such a law be passed.
 Mir. Hunt told the legislators it was their plain duty to enact such a law; he said it was a democratic prom ise; he said it was a matter to which the faith of the party was pledged; he told them everybody expected an election; he told them the cOnstitu- tioual convention meant there should be an election this year;-in fact he made it about as plain as he could that if there were not provision for an election the responsibility would have to rest with them and not with him.
 And now he wants the attorney general to tell him whether he has taken the right course. That is he yt-o,1rc y1-batbar S11pb " would be valid.
 Of course, MT. Bullard, in his opinion, did not call all these mat ters to the attention of the chief eX- ecutive. But he did say that MT. Hunt is aware of the stand he (the attorney generaD has taken with reference to this matter Also he said that since the governor has, on three separate occasions, demanded the en- aCtment of a law of the kind which, in fact has been enacted, he (Bullard) will certainly stand by the law unless the supreme court shall Overturn 1t.
 Mr Bullard also intimates to the governor that this is a judicial ques- tiOn and no man can say certainly in advance the view the court will take of the case. But as a matter of  course the attorney general will pro- ceed upon the assumption that the law is valid until some court of comDetert jurisdiction says other wise
 MT. BulIard has also given an opinion in the matter of the house bill which proposes to submit to referendum vote the question of granting public service corporations the right to use public highways on grants from the boards of super visors. The attorney general says the referendum in such a case would be invalid.
 And the reason seems simple enough. Under the constitution there can be a referendum only in legislat- i've matters But county does not leeisIate for the very simple reason that it has no legislative body. So, il seems. the constitution makers overlooked another bet. The bill re- lating to this matter has been re- ferred to the judiciary committee of the senate which is charged with the duty of determining whether MT. Bullard is right in his opinion.
 There is much talk of adjournment of the legislature and in the house it has taken concrete form. Repre- sentative Cooke yesterday introduced