The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-02-12
CITY ATTORNEYS QUEER RULING.

CITY AIIOhNEYS QUEECtt HULlNN1
City Attorney samuelson has given it as his opinion
that only who registered and voted at the last
municipal election eligible to sign referendum
tition.
This is just the kind of an opinion that Mayor
Prince and Commissioners Slberstein and Voss wanted
from the city attorney. 1t must be comforting to the
and his two colleagues to have such obging
legal adviser but it Is indeed strange that his ilustr
predecessors thought Of such interpreter
ton when the Hicken and DuuhEdison ordinances
referred to the people upon petitions signed in each in
stance by more than ten per cent of the voters.
There big financial interests opposed to the
passage by the commissioners Of tha Hcken and Du-
luthEdison ordinances They had the resources,
which they could draw to such absurd ruling
to the courts The opponents of the armory sale
dnance have no money to spend for such purpose
They have personal financial interests at stake They
moved only desire protect interests of the
people and to promote the general welfare. If the
armory is saved for the people the advantages it will
offer will be enjoyed by ALL and not any special few
The Labor World has advocated the initiative and
referendum for than 20 years. office of this
paper drafted the first bill the subject to be
presented to Minnesota legislature. This in 1905
The second measure which introduced in the 1907
session of the legislature also prepared under the
auspices Of The Labor World. Not until 1911 did there
seem any hope of passing such measure through the
state legislature. At this session several bills were
referred to special committee which reported subst
tute bill for the whole.
During the discussion of the initiative and referen
dunn the main difference at all times arose over the
number Of petitioners to be required initiate or refer
legislative measure. Some advocated low percentage
and others high percentage. compromise was ef-
fected under that stringent requirements
would not be made to- render 1t difficult for the COM
mon people to invoke the initiative referendum.
Later when the Duluth charter commission was ne
tt1oned by live per cent of the legal voters submit
to the people providing for the initiative and
referendum the committee Of citizens drafting such
amendment agreed that per cent of the qualified
electors should be sufficient petition for referendum
election on any ordinance passed by the city council
Qualified voter was held to be person who had the
right to register and vote under the laws of the state
The state election law makes it plain to the ordinary
mind Every desiring to register and vote at
election in cities Of the first subscribe to the
following oath: II do solemnly swear that will fullv
and truthfuly answer all questions put as to nv
place OF birth, residence, QUALIFICATIONS AS AN
ELECTOR and my right to register and vote under the
laws of this state.
qualified e1ector is who is Fl years of age a
citizen of the United States of the state for
one year ana OF the election district for 80 days.
sesslng these qualifications elector enjoys certain
the election district In which he has established legal
residence
throughout the city charter distinction is made re-
peatedy between QUALIFIED electors qualified re-
glstered electors voter qualified elector and
not registered or he be registered voter and dis
qualify himself he should remove from the election
district In which he is registered within 30 davs of an
election.
This opinion is shared by Duluths leading ATTORNEYS
Mr. Samuelson has inspired public confidence in hfa
ability as lawyer by rendering such an apparent not
cal legal decision