Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1918-03-07
PETITIONS FOR
AMENDING THE
CONSTITUTION

Fargo, March 6.-According to
the North Dakota Leader, official
publication of the Nonpartisan
league, petitions are being circulated
around the state for the purpose Of
amending the state constitution.
It is stated on the petitions that
they are to be signed by. more than
rs per cent of the voters in each of
more than half the counties of the
state and that they are prepared and
circulated in accordance with the
provisions of the constitution of the
state of North Dakota. These petit
tions, according to the law, must be
presented to the secretary of state at
least six months before the general
election at which they are to be
voted upon. They will then be prop
erly advertised and placed upon the
ballot at the fall election.
If they receive a majority of all
the legal votes cast at such election
they are then submitted to the leg
islature.. A majority vote in both
houses in favor of the amendments
make them Immediately part of the
constitution, but should they not re-
ceive the necessary votes they are
again submitted to the people at the
next general election, there to be
finally ratified or rejected, major
ity Of all votes cast at the election
being necessary to ratify the amend
ments. If an amendment fails of
adoption the law provides that it
shall not be proposed again for a
period of six. years.
The North Dakota Leader says in
connection with these petitions that
they embody the proposed amend
ments in house bill A, which was
defeated at the last regular session
of the legislature. If the amendments
are adopted by the people they will
permit the state to erect elevators,
warehouses, packing plants, or en-
gage in other business enterprises,
which may be considered necessary
for the public good. The following
are the ten proposed amendments:
Give 5000 electors at large
the right to file initiative petitions.
2-Give 1000 electors at large
the right to file referendum petit
tiOns. y.
-Give 10000 electors at large
the right to propose amendments
to the constitution by initiative.
ST Make impossible for the peo-
= OF tfkukISnHn k1v n
majority vote without having the
legislature pass ON the proposed
amendment at the ensuing session.
5-Gives the legislature the
right to exempt all personal prop
erty from taxation.
6-Makes it possible for the
legislature to levy an acreage tax
on land for the purpose of. estab-
fishing state hail insurance fund.
Give the state power to Is
sue or guarantee bonds, but pro-
yides that those in excess of $2,-
600, 900 shall be secured by real
estate first mortgages, not to ex-
ceed One.half of the value Of the
property.
8-Giye the state power to issue
or guarantee bonds on state-Own-
ed utilities, enterprises or indus-
tries up to 10000, 900.
0-Requires that every bond is
sued shall carry provisions by an
nual tax or otherwise for payment
OF interest semi.annually, and
/ payment Of principal within 50
years.
1O-Gives state counties tho
right to make internal improve.
ments or. engage i'm any industry,
enterprise or business not pro-
hibited by article 20 Of the c6nsti-
tuition; and prohibits state or any
political subdivision from loaning
money or giving credit to private
organizations, except for reason
able suppoEt Of tho poor.