Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1912-09-06
NINE PhzsOSED
CHANGES THE
CONSTI1UT UTl0N.
NINE AMENDMENTS TO BE SUB
MlTTED TO STATE LEGIsLA-
TURE AT NEXT SESSION..
WILL Be PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK
SITUATION WITH REFERENCE TO
INITIATIVE AND REFERENp-
UNI INTERESTING. S

Nine proposed amendments to the
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 ini-
tiative and referendum. 80 5f$15s s355s
+ Under North Dakota's provision re-
garding the amendment of the consti-
tuition, measure must first be passed :
by two consecutive legislative assem-
blies, and then it must 60 to the peo-
pie for vote. The nine proposed
amendments have passed only one
assembly, and next winter the Four
teenth assembly will pass on them.
The situation with reference to the
Initiative and referendum is interest
ing The last legislature 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 to 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 initia-
tive bill was passed, but it was de-
feated four years ago in the legisla--
ture. s,..lr, ss,n..rm,..,...r, ..r,..svs
In the Doyle Ployhar bill, provision.
is made for the operation of the prin-
ciple in the amendment of the consti-
tuition, as we'll as the amendment of
statutes. The bill also provides for
the recall of public officers. CIV. !@Ss
The Bessesen bill provides for the.
initiative and referendum as to leg
lslation affecting statutes only, hay-
ing no bearing on the constitution.
The operation of the principle as
affecting only the constitution is pro
vided for in another bill of A. S. Glib
bons, while still another proposed
amendment makes the principle ap-
plicable to both the constitution and
the statutes. =
1t is the question OF making the
measure applicable to the constitu-
tion that has caused the greatest dis
cussion. The prohibition forces Of
the state are strongly opposed to the
operation of the iniative and refer
endum as affecting the constitution.
believing that it would result in the
1 Introduction Of fight on the liuuor
question, for which they are hardly
prepared at this time. They are sat
isfied to have the measure adopted if;
1t is made applicable to statutes only.
The recall of public officials is also
provided for in another $ proposed
amendment, labeled as the Bessesen
bill. HI s. 5. :5=l5
Uniformity in taxation is provided
Tor in one Of the proposed amend
|ments to the constitution. s This
amendment would allow for the class
lification of certain public utilities for
taxation purposes. s:.3@ ..:=
Another proposed amendment has
to do with land grants to the educa-
tional institutions. u 81.
State appropriation of moneys for
the improvement of highways is pro-
vided for in measure introduced by1
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
that this measure was passed Hast
year. 5$s
blishment Of terminal 81 grain
elevators in the state is provided for far
by q bill known as the Plain measure.
which was passed last year, ana
which comes up again Il this winter
y would permit the state 10 build IL
lease terminal elevator In tie state.
The entire nine arnendments win
appear IN fuii IL next weeks issue a.
the Inter Ocean If you are not 8 sul,.
scrioer. secure 81 copy ana ir,forIa
Yourself On what IS being done III ftse