The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-24
Conference Report Is Expected
i'm Senate Soon.
Court Review Objection Has
Been Abolished.
SUBMIT new RESOLUTION.
All But Enacting Clause Is
Stricken Out.
Is Anxious to Pass
Amendment.

The conferees representing the SEN
ate and house in the initiative and
referendum disagreement finally have
come to a decision that will bring be-
fore both branches of the legislature
soon a constitutional amendment satis-
Factory to all, is the report in the SEN
ate chamber this afternoon The con-
ferees will report to the senate soon
and the final frantic attempt to draw
up an amendment satisfactory to the
two-thirds majority will come to a point
of debate this week
1t is said that the house conferees
have agreed to drop their stubborn
threat that the courts must review the
decisions of the people in adopting a
constitutional amendment. On the
other hand the senate conferees have
agreed to allow the legislative authority
clause to be stricken out. AS a result
of the trade the conference committees
of the two bodies have harmonized on
this feature.
If within ninety days after the final
adjournment of the legislature a refer
endum petition signed by not less than
10 per cent of the qualified electors is
filed with the secretary of state against
any act passed by the legisla tllre the
same shall not become a law but shall
be submitted to the voters of the state
at the next regular election. If a ma
jority of the votes then cast is in the
affirmative the act shall become a law.
If the majority of the votes are in
the negative the act shall be declared
null and void.
Refer by the Legislature.
The legislature may by a majority
vote in each branch refer any act to
the voters of the state at any regular
or special election, and the act Will
become a law within 80 days after hav-
ing been approved by a majority of the
voters voting thereon.
In case an act proposed by the leg
islature fails to become a law because
of an adverse petition of 10 per cent
of the voters with the secretary of
state, not less than four months pre-
vious to the next regular election the
act in its original sf6rm may be petit
toned for and shallSbe submitted to the
voters at the next election. If accept
ed by the voters the measure will be-
come a law.
Any law proposed by petition of not
less than 10 per cent of the qualified
electors or any constitutional amend
ment proposed by not less than 20 per
cent. of the qualified electors filed with
the secretary of state not less than
four months previous to any regular
election, shall be submitted to the
electors of the state at that election
and shall take effect when approved
by a majority of the voters.
The power to initiate and to refer
laws shall apply to cities for their
municipal government. The city coun-
ellis or commissioners shall correspond
to the legislature of the state in this
respect. Petitions proposing and re-
ferring municipal ordinances shall be
signed by not less than 20 per cent
of the voters as shown by the returns
of the last general election.
This constitutional amendment, as
proposed by the conference commit
tee is a substitution for senate reso-
luton No. Is and strikes out all but
the enacting clause. 1t will be sub
mitted to the electors of the state at
the next general election in 1914.
Both branches of the legislature are
anxious to pass this constitutional
amendment. The living petition from
800 members of the Farmers Union
last Friday afternoon has aroused the
members of the legislature to action.