The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1914-10-08
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 70 THE
CONSTITUTION Of MISSOURI,
AND REFERENDUM PROPOSITIONS
ORDERED BY THE PETITION
OF The PEOPLE.
VIRsT CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
- MENT.


Joint and concurrent resolution sub
0ittinx to the qualified voters Of Mis-.
souri, an amendment to the ConstitutiO
thereof, coneerninK the Initiative and
referendum, repeating section 81 Of
aRtiele 4 of the Constitution and enact.
ing \ new section In lieu thereof.
De resolved by the Senate, the House
of Representatives. concurring therein:
That at the general election to be held
In this state on the first Tuesday after
The first Monday in November, 1914.
there shall be submitted for adoption to
The qualified voters of the state the fol-
lowing amendment to the Constitution.
Section /. That section 81 Of article
u the Constitution Of the state OF Mis-
souri, Is hereby repealed.
Sec g That in lieu Of the said section 81
It article 4 of the Constitution Of the state
q Missouri hereby repealed there shall be
enacted the following new section to be
known as section 81 Of article 4, viz:
Sec. 81. The legislative authority of the
state shall be vested in a legislative as
0embly consisting of IA senate and house
u representatives. but the people re-
serve to themselves power to propose
laws and amendments to the Constitu-
don and to enact Or reject the same at
the polls. independent OF the legislative
assembly, and also reserve power at
the polls any act of the legsla tive as
oembly. The first power reserved by the
people is the initiative. and not more
than eight per cent of the legal voters In
each OF at least two thirds Of the con-
gressienal districts in the state shall be
required to propose any measure by such
petition. and every such petition shall
include the full text of the measure so
proposed. Initiative petitions shall be
filed with the respective county clerks OF
the respective counties in which the
oigners thereof reside and vote not less
than four months before the election at
which they are to be voted upon. With
In 30 days after said petitions are filed
with the respective county clerks of the
respective counties said initiative petit
lions shall be, by said respective county
clerks laid before the county courts
Of the respective counties, and said
petitions shall be examined by the
respective county courts Of the respective
counties, and If the signatures thereto
are found to be genuine signatures of
voters of such counties. they shall, at least
three months before the election at which
they are to be voted upon, be certified
by the respective county courts of the
respective counties to the secretary Of
state. The second power is the referen
DUN and 1t may be ordered Except as to
matters of taxation hereinafter men,
toned. and as to laws necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public
peace health or safety. and laws making
appropriations for the current expenses
of the state government for the mainte
nance Of the state institutions and for the
support Of the public schools either by
petitions signed by five per cent of the
legal voters in each of at least two thirds
of the congressional districts in the state,
or by the legislative assembly as other
bills are enacted. Referendum petitions
shall be filed with the county clerks of
the respective counties in which the sign
ers thereof reside and vote not more
than 80 days after the final adjournment
Of the session of the legislative assembly
which passed the bill on which fhe ref
erendum Ia demanded and within 80 days
thereafter the clerks Of the county courts
Of the respective counties shall lay said
petitions before the county courts of the
respective cOunties-and within said time
the county courts of the respective coun-
ties shall examine and review said ref
erendum petitions. and. II the signatures
thereto are found to be the genuine sig
natures of voters Of such counties. the
respective county courts shall certify said
petitions to the secretary Of state within |
120 days after the final adjournment Of
the session Of the legislative assembly
which passed the bill on which referen-
dunn is demanded. The veto power OF the
governor shall not extend to measures
referred to the people All elections on
measures referred to the people Of the
state shall be had at the biennial regular |
general elections except when the legis-
tative assembly shall order a special cleo
tion. Any measure referred to the people |
shall take effect and bscome the law |
when it Is approved by a majority of the |
votes cast thereon. and not otherwise.
The style Of all bills shall be: BE II |
enacted by the people Of the state OF
Missouri This section shall not be
construed to deprive any member Of the |
Legislative assembly of the right to in
troduce any measure. The whole num-
ber Of votep cast for justice Of the SUI
preme court at the regular election last |
preceding the hlnE Of any petition for
the Initiative. or for the referendum.
shall he the basis on which the number |
~ legal voters necessary to sign said Pc
titions shall be. counted. Petitions and !
orders for the initiative and for the ref |
erendum shall he certified to and filed
with the secretary Of state az aforesaid.
and In submitting the same to the people |
the secretary OF state and all other Of
hcer[sl shall be guided by the general
laws and the act submitting this amend
ment until legislation shall be especially
provided therefor. Whenever the word
county is used herein II shall be con-
str,,ed to include or mean the city Of
A. Louis. and whenever the words 'cOun-
ty court are used herein they shall be
construed to include or mean the board
Of election commissioners 0f said city.
and whenever the words county clerk
sr -'c!erk OF the county court are used
herein they shall be construed to in
clude or mean the secretary Of said board
Of election commissioners. The powers
reserved or contained in this section as
aforesaid shall not be used to pass q
law or constitutional amendment author
Using any classification Of property for
me purpose Of levying different rates Of
taxation thereon. or Of authorizing the
levy Of any. single tax on land or land
values or land sites at higher rate or
BY different rule than Is. or may be.
applied to improvements thereon. or to
personal property. or to authorize or
confer local option or other local powers
In matters Of taxation In or upon any
u the counties. municipalities, or po,iti-
cal subdivisions 1t the state. or to re-
peal. amend or modify these provisions
relating 60 taxation. When any measure
Shall have been submitted to the people
ter their approval under the powers re-
served or contained in this section ~
aforesaid and shall be rejected BY the
SSop1o, neither the same measure nor any i
ether measure which shall have. Or tend
70 have, the same meaning. nor any other
1t - H. - A.