El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-06-15
.AR|ZONANS MAY
ACT ON 25 LAWS
Greatest Number of Init
ated Measures Since State
Formed Is in Prospect.

"
dieatfons are that the voters Of Arizona
will pass upon no less than % initiated
measures at the November election In
1914 thew voted on 10 measures, in
cIudine several that had been referred
The referendum does not figure in the
election this year
July is the last day for filing in
itiative petitions The number OF sig
natures necessary for initiating a
constitutional amendment is 1851, and
5fO1 signers can initiate law
Hunts Bill First.
The first bill to be initiated was
fathered BY Gov Hunt It abOlishes
capital punishment in Arizona. out pro-
vides that persons convicted OF first de-
gree murder must spend their lives in
the penftentiary- Such persons may be
pardoned or paroled only on the dis
covery of new evidence positively prov
ing their innocence. This measure is
known as the positive life imprison-
ment bill.
Labor Has -Four.
Initiation Of four measures was IN
dertaken by the law and legislation
committee Of the State Federation Of
Labor One was constitutional
amendment requiring the legislature 10
enact a Workmen's compensation law
that would be absolutely compulsory.
Petitions were circulated for several
I weeks and approximately $500 names
were secured. Late in May, however,
the executive committee o. the fedora
ton met in Phoenix and decided 10
drop the amendment No reason Tor
this action was made public At the
request Of W. P. Mahoney. member
Of the second state legislature and
vice president Of SNOWFALL Miners,
union. at Oatman. A A. Worsley, OF
Tucson, drew a similar amendment
which is an adoption Of the Montana
law on the subject of workmen's com
pensat ton. An effort viii now be made
to secure enough signers to place it on
the ballot, but as the time is growing
short the attempt may fall
The federation is proceeding with the
initiation Of its three other measures.
One creates the office Of state archi-
tect who shall supervise all public
work. The second creates the office Of
I him with authority to enforce arbitra-
ton in industrial disputes.
May Abolish Senate.
Abolition Of the state senate is pro-
vided for in the other labor measure. an
amendment This would leave the leg
islature composed Of only the house Of
representatives
iature is being initiated by the Non
Partisan Legislation league, which has
headquarters at Douglas. This provides
! for the division OF counties into legis-
lative districts and lengthens the terms
Of legislators from two to four years
Cleve W. Van Dyke, Of Miami. began
the initiation Of an amendment to abol-
ish the corporation commission Only a
few petitions have been filed
Reports from Greenlee county some
I time ago were that a measure exempt
ing the heads Of families from taxation
was 10 be initiated No petitions have
been filed with the secretary Of state
and the impression here is that the
matter has been allowed to drop
One Days Rest in Seven
The Arizona Church federation is in
Z itiating a law TO give all workers one
DAYS rest in seven, and another com
polling the reading Of the Bible. with
I out comment, in the public schools
Both are meeting with much opposition
even from those who were expected Z
( support the bills warmly.
| Prohibition will be an important IS
sue in the campaign The Citizens
! Home Government league has beer
( formed in Cochise county to initiate {
! law providing for the return OF the sa'
| loon under local option. Branches o.
\ this league are to be formed IN othel
! counties and vigorous campaign vii
I be carried on
The Arizona Hotel Keepers associa.
I ton has drawn a bill. now in the hand,
/ Of the printer, providing for the licens
I ing OF family liquor stores. hotels and
! clubs. It is possible that a provision
will be added legaliZing the sale Of
/ liquor on railroad dining cars
Liquor Legislation Planned.
An amendment prohibiting the i'm
/ portation OF liquor into Arizona excep'
/ for religious and scientific purposes
and providing penalties for violations
l is being initiated by the Arizona TEN
/ perance federation. It is drawn alOne
I the lines Of the present amendment. bu
| is more explicit and drastic.
The same organization is initiating
a law TO carry the amendment into ef
| feet. II makes the possession OF liquor
] prima facie evidence OF guilt Officer:
are given the right to search for liquor
and destroy it when found.
To shorten Game Season.
State game warden G. N. Willard il
| initiating a new law shortening ths
J open seasons for various kinds Of game
and raising hunting license fees
Phoenix business men have under
Z taken the initiation OF n law creating
a state boxing commission and legal
izing IS round ring contests, with de
cisiOns over 1000 signatures have beer
secured right in Phoenix
The legislature submitted to the peo-
pie senate bill No 20. eNempting from
taxation certain religious and philan-
thropic organization property. and sen
ate bill No. 80. amending the initiative
provisions Of the constitution so as 4
require a majority OF all qualified elect
ors voting at an election 10 adopt az