The Newark journal., 1912-05-10
WILL COST THE
 STATE S15O,OOO
Cost of Laws to be Voted Upon by People indicates That Law
 Making is Expensive

Thursday night of this week saw the close of the time permit ted under the Initiative and Refer endum for the filing of petitions for the initiation of laws by the people. The experiment of direct legislation is somewhat of a novel ty for the people of Arkansas, but they are learning the game rapid ly and by next election will be as wise as those who are elected and paid for making laws.
 There are two classess of laws that have been initiated by the people-statutes and amendments to the constitution. It is argued that against the first the Legisla- ture has no power to proceed, but the doctrine of estoppel applies to the amendments. Attorney-gener- al NorWood, among others, holds that after an act has been passed by the people, the Legislature may take 1t up and amend, repeal post pone or mangle 1t as much as their conscience will permit; that stat ute enacted by the people is scarce ly more than a petition to the Legislature, which may change it as 1t sees fit.
 There are two amendments in- itiated by the people, one permit ting cites to issue bonds for inter- nal improvements, the other for a sixty-day session of the Legisla- ture. These cannot be changed by the legislature, being a part of the organic law. A member of the Senate was in Little Rock last week, and predicted that the next session would be one of the longest ever held, and that the six ty-day act would not bother them any-they would merely declare that 1t should not become effect i've until 1915 or 1917, or some other future date. But Gen. Nor wood averred that they were rec koning without their host, for the Legislature would have nothing to do with it. The first warrant that should be drawn after the ex- piration of the sixty days would be protested, and although he would not be attorney-general at the time, as a private citizen he would bring suit to enjoin the is- surance of warrants by the State Auditor, in payment of perdiem or legislative expense. There is not the least doubt but that the peo- pie will approve the amendment proposed by Gen. Norwood. The Legislatures have brought 1t all on by their fragrant disregard of the peoples rights, by their ses. sions of constantly increasing length, and by the profligate ex. allure of public funds.
 Among the other measures that have been initiated are the recall and state uniformity of text books, by the Federation of Labor; state wide prohibition by the Anti-Sa- loon League; change in election law for the better protection of the minority, by the Republican organizations.
 Several measures that had been started have failed to secure enough names for initiation, among them being the equal sui frage and the state printing plant propositions.
 It is roughly estimated that 1t will cost the state about S150,0O0 to put into execution its experiment of direct legislae ton this year-a pretty penny when the state is already a quar- ter of million dollars behind. When the next session meets, the deficit will be nearer a million dollars, and the incoming admin istration will face the most seri- ouS problem that has ever con-