United labor bulletin., 1912-09-26
THE SUPREME COURT
REvERSES JUDGE RIDDLE
Initiative and Referendum Held
vaIid---The People Can
LegisIate.

that the initiative and referendum were
Illegally passed, by not being properly
advertised, has been reversed by the su.
preme court of the state. The decision
was handed down Monday. BY the de.
cision every doubt as to the right of the
people to legislate for themselves is dis
sipated and the people can now govern
themselves.
In one sense 1t Is fortunate that Judge
Riddle rendered the decision he did in
the case involving the validity of the in
itiative and referendum amendment. II
insured the submission Of the whole mat
ter to the supreme court. In conse
quence, the public has the benefit of the
supreme courts clear and definite deci
sion upholding the amendment and re
moving finally all possible question con
cerning its validity.
Everyone must admit that it is fortu
nate and a source of public satisfaction
that at this early stage the doubts which
might have hung about its validity have
been removed. The people may initiate
now whatever laws and constitutional
amendments they please and refer after
every legislative session whatever bills
they may think should be submitted d.
rectly to the people.
this connection is the fact that the peo-
pie declared with remarkable emphasis
their approval of the amendment when
they were called upon to vote on 1t. Hav-
ing expressed their desire that the con-
stitution be amended In that way, it
would have been extremely unfortunate
if their will had been defeated by judi
cial action. Fortunately that danger has
been removed by the decision of the SUI
preme court-Judge Campbell delivering
the opinion, in which all the other
judges concurred.
Thirty-two Bills To Go To People.
The reversal OF Judge Riddles deci
sion will result in the submission to the
people on Nov of the following bills:
For statewide prohibition of the liquor
traffic.
For the recall of certain court deci-
sions.
For the recall of all elective oficials.
including judges.
For a public utilities Commission"
For a mothers compensation act
For extension of civil service to all
state, county and city Offices.
For the use of school houses as social
centers.
For the headless ballot.
For the pamphlet system of submit
ting initiated and referred bills.
For an annual tax levy for the state
board OF immigration.
FOT an elS0t-uOur Qdy 1Or women.
For search and seizure in local option
territory
For good roads Unternal improvement
fund.-.
For an eight-hour day in mines. smelt-
ers, etc.
For new procedure in submitting ini-
tiated or referred bills.
For public utilities court"
For abolition OF constructive contempt
of court.
For a state fair.
For home rule for cities above 10000.
The Carpenter reservoir bill. bitterly
opposed by those who must irrigate from
running streams.
Eight-hour bill for mines and smelters.
Bill to transfer the department of
brands from the secretary of state TO the
live stock inspection board.
Bill requiring state officials to make
daily remittances to the state treasurer.
Bill providing for the establishment OF
a summer school for teachers.
Bill changing qualifications and grades
of certificates for teachers.
For the Moffat road tunnel.
For $10.0O000O bond issue for good
roads.
Limiting bonded indebtedness OF
counties.
Concerning fees of public officials not
on salary.
Declaring all ore-treating plants sub
ject to state regulation and condemna-
ton (aimed at the smelter trust.
Abolishing the state board OF equaliza-
ton and giving all its powers to the
state tax commission.