The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-03-12
PEOPLE WILL
ACT UPON
AMENDMENTS
Question Arises As To Regis
tratiOn OF Indiana
Voters.

Times BUREAU At STATE CAPITAL.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March L.
The question Of whether there N g.
have to be registration Of voters
prior 20 the special election 20 be held
Sept. s when tie thirteen propos,a
amendments 70 the state constitution
W III be acted upon oy the people, "a as
brought to the attention OF the rc-
publican state committee, today J..
was determined, however. what a pro-
vision IN the English law. proViding
for the election. will eliminate tin
necessity Of having a registration OK
voters.
From present Indications there wil
be only two proposed amendments on
which there will he e dght. These ate
the amendments providing that tax
legislation shall be left to the ~ 5s
ment Of the assembly and the other IS
the one which would enable the iegis-
lature to establish an income tax.
There has been some DOUBT In the
minds o. many whether the amend
ments Will have 10 be voted on ~ 81
majority Of the voters Of the seste
in order to pass, or merely TO be ac-
cepted by majority Of the persons
voting at the special election. PTOl1-
inent attorneys who nave studied the
question assert that the supreme cou-l
has held that 4 mere majority OF the
voters at the special election viii pass
an amendment even Il this majority is
small fraction Of the total votes
cast for the secretary Of state at the
last preceding election
The English special election bill ex-
pressiy provides that a majority G..
the votes cast at the special election
shall determine the passage OF an
amendment.
1t is possible hat several OF the
thirteen amendments will die at the
polls simply because Of a lack OF pUs
lie interest in them. For instance X
the people center their attention On
the two anne ndments and demonstrate
apathy towards the rest OF the amend-
ments submitted. then It viii fol .ow
that the total votes cast for the two
tax amendments VIII control In com
putting the total votaes cast AZ tH0
election.
1t is. therefore. possible for such 10
amendment as tAe one providing to-
the appointment Of the state super;u-
tendent Of public instruction. misht
receive moro yes" than mo- vo cs
and stiu not pass because il did r7s
receive more thal ono-half ~ tho to.a:
votes cast for one OF tho other smcrl
ments.
The English Jaw coutemu.ates ans
situation and sets cut that it
voters express a preference for ouc
more Of the proposed Amendments or..
fail to vote on fhe others Tho hol'9t
shall be accepted is far as tho ,ta
for or against @n amendment is c,p-
cerned. but viii lie rejected in SO flr
as the other amendments are COM
cerned.
The proposed amendments are
i, The first OF the proposed amenI-
ments Is the enc that makes the sta-a
comply with the federal
amendment permitting women 70 vote
This amen iment merely changes tho
to read every citizen ot
the United States" instead Of male"
over the age Of twenty-one years. Tne
amendment viii also prohibit aliens
from voting uutil they have compis--
ed their naturalization.
2. The second gives the legislature
power to classify cities and rutss dis-
tricts for the purpose Of enacting laws
for the registration Of voters. The
theory behind this amendment IS
that the rural districts and smaller
towns need no registration jaw " mere
as II IS necessary in the cities. Under
the present terms OF the constitution
the election, and therefore, resistrA-
ton, laws must bS uniform.
s. Amends Sections and OF Ar
ticle OF the constitution to eIiminats
the necessity OF taking an enumeTa-
ton of male voters for the purpose oE
apportioning legislative representa-
tion. The amendment provides that
the apportionment must be made eacS
six years on the basis 81 the total
number Of votes cast for the secretary
Of state at the election preceding the
spportioument, This viii permit the
or male and female vot
srs in making the apportionment. Al
present only male voters are consi5~
cred.
I. Amends the constitution 90 that
the Governor may veto any item IA
the approprf alton bills.
.. Providing that the secretary.
auditor and treasurer Of state shall
49,