The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-15

whereby the legislature can prevent
such referendum.
All laws would be effective on July
l, except in cases of emergency, when
a two-thirds vote would make the
measure operative at once, but such
measure still would be subject to. the
referendum.
A vote on a measure or proposition
either initiated or referred, would take
place at the next succeeding primary
or general election. providing that the
petition must be filed ninety days
prior.
Future amendments to the constitu-
ton or acts COULD be referred by the
legislature to the people in the usual
manner. A ture constitutional
amendment initiated by the legislature
would require favorable action by one
assembly, and it would then be sub
United for approval or rejection by the
people, at the next succeeding cleo
ton. The general referendum meas
ures cover this point.
Any act passed by the people would
not be subject to review by the courts,
and could not be declared unconstitu-
tional. The point argued in favor OF
this proposition is that as an act of
the people, it originates with the power
that made the constitution, and there
fore such law is on the same basis, in
reality, as the constitution.
Will Offer Amendment.
The fact that no provision is made
in the original draft of the proposed
new constitution for an emergency
feature, whereby acts carrying appro-
priations, relating to the peace, health
and safety of the state. cen be placed
beyond the referendum, brought the
announcement from
today that amendments would be in
troduced to cure this situation. Also.
amendments whereby a referred law
Is suspended from operation until the
people approve it, will be offered. The
same proposed amendment also will
carry a provision whereby referendum
petitions would have to be filed prior
to July /. following the session Of
legislature.
Four fififths Decision.
The provision in the article relating
to the supreme courts powers to de-
clare legislative acts unconstitutional,
calls for a four-fifths decision. This
Is in line with the famous Staale
Hendrickson bill, which passed the last
session Of the legislature, and which
will, in the natural course of events,
come up for consideration of this as
sembly, and IL passed, would go to a
vote Of the people in 1918.
The Short Ballot.
An optional short ballot is carried
that provides for the election of the
county commissioners, the police mag
istrates and constables, but the county
judge, clerk Of court. register of deeds,
auditor, superintendent of schools,
treasurer. sheriff, and states attorney,
may be either appointed or elected. All
I. h A.. a.
and treasurer are limited to a. single
term. Under the present constitution.
sheriffs and treasurers may hold office
two terms Of two years EACH
Revenue and Taxation.
Provision whereby the legislature
may adopt the gross earnings tax, is
carried in section 1877.
The assembly would, under the pro-
Of that section, be empowered
to establish the gross earnings tax in
lieu Of all state, county, township and
school taxes. against street car COM
panies, sleeping car and dining car
companies express companies. tele-
graph and telephone companies, and all
other corporations, companies or In
dividuals doing business within the
state as common carriers of freight,
or messages, either directly
or indirectly.
The Single Tax.
In the redemption of the pledge for
the exemption of farm improvements
from taxation, the Nonpartisan league
provides the following in Sec
ton 1853:
THE legislative assembly may by
law exempt any or all classes Of per-
sonal property from taxation, and
within the meaning of this section all
fixtures, buildings and improvements
of every character whatsoever upon
land shall be deemed personal prop
erty, and all exemptions under this
section shall be uniform in their OPP
Grafton"
This general provision is included
to redeem farm improvements exemp-
ton, but it is, of course. drawn In the
manner outlined. to come within the
provision for uniform taxation.
Any legislature that might adopt the
single tax under the constitution.
should it become the constitution of
the state, would at the same time ex-
empt from taxation improvements in
cities. as well as in the rural sections.
The Hail Insurance Issue.
In providing method for the estab-