Evening journal., 1913-01-08
4. 8 r. LEAGUE AGREES
ON REFERENDUM BILL DRAFT

The Referendum League, at a
meeting last evening. considered
legislation to be submitted to the
General Assembly. Chief among the
topics discussed was that providing
for an advisory referendum for this
city and county on the question Of
erecting a combined city and county
building 1t was not definitely de-
cided Just what to do with this mat
ter, but if the Legislature is asked
TO provide a referendum on the Ques-
tion of erecting a joint building, an
expression of the people as to the
proposed cost of such a building also
will be asked
The League endorsed the proposed
amendment to grant equal suffrage,
aud the draft Of a proposed constitu-
tional amendment, providing for the
Initiative and Referendum was also
approved It is as follows:
Amendment to Constitution.
An Act proposing an amendment
to Section /, of Article 2, of the Con-
sdtution Of the State OF Delaware,
providing for the Initiative and Ref
erendum.
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives, of the State
of Delaware, i'm General Assembly
met, ttwo-thirds of all the members
elected to each house agreeing ther-
to)
Section THAT Section 1, OF Aru-
Gle 2, of the Constitution of the State
of Delaware. be amended by adding
to the end thereof, the following:
Cd But the people reserve to them
selves. direct powers as follows
% The first of these reserve
powers is the initiative. Under this
power. eight per cent Of the qualified
electors shall have the right to pro-
pose any measure, and ten per cont
shall have the right to propose amy
amendment to the Constitution.
CD The second OF these reserve
powers is the referendum. Under this
power, the legislature, or five per cent
Of the qualified electors, may order
the submission to the people at the
polls of any measure or item, section
or part of any measure enacted by
the legislature
(4) All petitions submitted under
the power Of the initiative shall o'
known as initiative petitions, and al
petitions submitted under the referen'
dunn shall be known as referendum
petitions
60 No act or resolution passed b,
the General Assembly shall take et
feet earlier than ninety days aftel
the final adjournment of the Genera
Assembly passing the same except ap
propriation bills authorizing expen
ditures from the treasury of the stat
for purposes authorized by eXistin;
law. and excepting also acts or reso
lutions declared to be emergenc,
measures necessary for the ihmedi
ate preservation of the public peace
health or safety An act or resolu
don declared to be an emergenc,
measure shall contain a preamble
briefly setting forth the facts consu
tuting the alleged emergency. A sep
arate vote shall be taken on the pre-
amble of such act or resolution by
call of the yeas and nays. and unless
the preamble is so adopted by
three-fourths vote Of the total mem
Dorship of each branch Of the Genera
Assembly. the act or resolution shal
not be an emergency measure.
(C) II within ninety days after tn
final adjournment of any General AS
scmbly. q referendum petition sign
ad by not less than five per cent. o
The uualied voters of the State sinai
be- filed with the secretary of stat
against any act or resolution or an
oart of any act or resolution passe
ny that General Assembly, except a
above stated. such act or resolution o
such part of same shall not becom
iaw. but shall be submitted to tn
voters Of the state at the next regu
lar or special election If major
ity of the votes then cast thereon
i'm tie affirmative. such act or reso
luton or such part of same shall be
come law i'm thirty days after sue
state election; but If the majorit
is in the negative. the act or reso
luton or such part of same shall be
come nuH and void. If a Referendum
petition be led against an emergenc
measure. such measure shall be la
until "a is voted upon by the voters
and if it is then rejected by ma
iofity Of the voters voting thereon
such measure shall be thereby rt
pealed.
lI) The General Assembly ma
10y majority yea and nay vote in eac
branch. refer any act or resoluuo
TO the voters OF the state, or any a'
or resolution affecting any politici
division of the state to the voters
that division to be voted upon :
any regular or special election. an
such act or resolution shall becom