The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1920-04-16
OPEN FOR ARGUMENTS
ARE PROPOSED new
LAWS
EVERY CITIZEN OF UTAH HAS
RIGHT TO SPEAK.
Constitutional Changes May Be Made
BY the Voters Of tho Common.
wealth go Soon to Be Informed
Through Pamphlets From the Sec
Rotary Of State and County Clerks.

Persons who want TO write arpu-
ments for or against any Of the three
proposed constitutional amendment
to be submitted to the people Of Utah
at the coming November election
should apply in the near future TO
James W. Funk, president Of the
state senate. They will have a chance
to participate in the most expensive
form of advertising that the law Inn.
poses on the state of Utah and the
counties therein. A state law, passed
In 1917, provides that arguments for
and against the constitutional amend.
ments, together with the proposed
constitutional amendments. them
selves. and the sections of the CON
stituiion ~ they are now, before be-
ing amended, shall be printed at the
expense of TIE state, to the number
of 100 per cent of the voting popula,
tiun of the commonwealth. They are
to be distributed among the county
clerks not less than thirty days be-
fore the election. Clerks must mail
q copy 10 each registered voter not
more than twenty-five days before
the election, and mot less than fifteen
days before that event
Time For Preparation.
The law also provides that the pro
poser of q constitutional amendment
aud one other may be appointed a. o.
committee of two to prepare argu-
mcnts of q specified maximum length
in favor of the amendment, and the
presiding officer of the house in
which the amendment originated may
appoint one member who voted
against submitting the amendment 10
the people to prepare arguments
against H. These committees have a
year ia which to prepare their anu-
mcnts, and may later amend them. II
they have not prepared their argu-
monls in that time, or have not been
appointed, then any person may re-
quest the presiding officer of the
house Ia which the amendment origi-
mated for permission To prepare aud
file argument for any amendment,
and any other may request permis-
sion 10 prepare nn argument against
the amendment. The presiding of.
ficer must grant the permission, but
II there be- more than one such apple
cant, may designate the person to
write the argument.
Three Are Proposed.
utahns will be asked TO vote on
three proposed amendments 10 the
constitution az the next election. One
of these proposes 10 raise the indebt-
edness limit of the state from ~ per
cent of the assessed valuation of the
state 10 , per cent. This would per-
init the bonding of the state for addi-
tional amounts for state roads, soldier
settlements cor other purposes as the
legislature might direct.
The second proposed amendment
would make IL the duty of the state
board OF equalization to raise an
amount by taxation for the schools of
the state, which, with other state
funds available, shall bring the state
aid To schools 10 twenty-five dollars
per capita of school population as de-
termined by the last census,
The third proposes 10 dmcul the
constitution with reference 90 the
granting of charters 10 cities, $50 As Ia
give the cities greater powers IA this
direction.
No Committee Named.
The last named amendment WIS in,
troduced By Senator Culbert l.. Olson
the author of the law which provides
for the unusual method of advertising
proposed amendments. lie did pol
Iapply for the appointment of himself
on any publicity committee, an,
President James W. Funk appointe,
no such committee in connection Will
any of the three amendments.
All three amendments We're intro
duced in the state senate VIVA
would have happened in the house
where c. c. Richards was speaker a
the regular session and j, b. Hepple
speaker al the special session, i
somewhat predetermined, However
there is no doubt that President Funl
is the man TO apply to for permission
10 write an argument for on agains
any of these amendments.
Harden Bennion, secretary of state
expressed the hope last Monday tina
these arguments-and there will un
doubtedly be some on each side, for a
least two of the amendments-migh
be prepared early enough TO give hi
office plenty of time to have the larg
number required printed and eounte
for mailing out to the county clerks.
Tho war has somathino else IN nm