Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-08-03

The total number of votes cast for the office of governor in the last pre- ceding election shall be the basis up on which the number of signatures of legal voters upon statewide init ative and referendum petitions shat be computed.
 1 Upon all initiative or re.ercndun petitions provided for in any of the sections of this article, it shall be necessary to file from at least fifteen of the counties of the State, petitions bearing the signatures of not less than one-half of the designated percentage of the lectors of such county.
 i Emergency: If it shall be neces- sary for the preservation of the pub lie peace health or safety. that q meas ure shall become effective without delay, such necessity shall be stated in one section, and if upon yea and nay vote two-thirds of all the mem bers elected to each house, or two thirds of all the members elected to city or town councils, shall vote up- on separate roll call in favor of the measure going into immediate op- eration, such emergency measure shall become effective without delay. It shall be necessary, however, to state the fact which constitutes such emergency. Provided, however, that an emergency shall not be declared on any franchise or special privilege or act creating any vested right or in- terest or alternating any property of this State. If a referendum is filed against any emergency measure such measure shall be a law until it is voted upon by the people, and if it is then rejected by majority of the electors voting thereon, it shall be thereby repealed. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to city or town councils.
 Local for Municipalities and Coun- ties: The initiative and referendum powers of the people are hereby fur ther reserved to the legal voters of each municipality and county as to all local, special, and municipal leg islation of every character in and for their respective municipalities and counties, but no local legislation shall be enacted contrary to the Consti- tuition or any general law of the State, and any general law shall have the effect of repeating any local legisla tion which is in conflict herewith
 Municipalities may provide for the exercise of the initiative and refer endum as to their local legislation. General laws shall be enacted provid- ing for the exercise of the initiative and referendum as to counties. Eff teen per cent of the legal voters of any municipality or county may order the referendum, or invoke the initi- ative upon any local measure. In mu- nicipalities the number of signatures computed upon the total vote cast for the office of mayor at the last pre- ceding general election; in counties upon the office of circuit clerk. In municipalities and counties the time fofr filing an initiative petition shall not be fixed at less than sixty days nor more than ninety days before the l SlSSCioH uk WuiSl " IS Io Uc NOlcu up on; for referendum petition at not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days after the passage of such measure by municipal council; nor less than ninety days when filed against a local or special measure passed by the General Assembly.
 Every extension, enlargement, grant, or conveyance of franchise or any rights, property, easement, lease, or occupation of or in any road, street, alley or any part thereof in real prop erty or interest in real property own ed by municipalities, exceeding in value three hundred dollars, whether the same be by statute. ordinance, res olution, or otherwise, shall be subject to referendum and shall not be subject to emergency legislation.
 GENERAL PROVISIONS
 Definition: The word "measure" as used herein includes any bill, law, resolution, ordinance, charter, con- stitutional amendment or legislative proposal or enactment of any charac- ter.
 No Veto: The veto power of the Governor or mayor shall not extend to measures initiated by or referred to the people.
 Amendment and Repeal: No meas ure approved by vote of the people shall be amended or repealed by the General Assembly or by any city council, except upon a yea and nay vote on roll call of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house of the General Assembly, or of the city council, as the case may be.
 Election: All measures initiated by the people whether for the State county, city or town, shall be submit ted only at the regular elections, either State, congressional or munich pal, but referendum petitions may be referred to the people at special elec- tions to be called by the proper of ficial, and such special elections shall be called when fifteen per cent of the legal voters shall petition for such special election, and if the referen- dunn is invoked as to any measure passed by city or town council, such city or town council may order a special election.
 Majority: Any measure submit ted to the people as herein provided shall take effect and become law when hx, oF& &l