Arizona republican., 1922-03-02
AMENDMENTS
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N. I
LEGISLATURE.
All Amendments On Dock
ct Passed With Excep-
ton Of That Referring
To Initiative Measures

To Initiative Measures
Interest in the senate yesterday
centered about the constitutional
amendments proposed by the indus
trial congress and in the afternoon
1t invaded the house but an adjourn
OF it.
All OF the amendments but one
were passed by the senate in the
morning session and that was left on
the calendar of the senate for a
change to remove an awkward situa-
tion.
This was the amendment changing
the constitution with reference to the
initiative and referendum, so that
bills submitted should require for
enactment majority of the votes
cast at the election instead OF mere
majority OF those voting on tlaose
questions.
Such a provision, It was discovered.
would almost prevent any legislation,
either by the people o. the legisla-
ture. In the IL years since the ad-
mission OF Arizona to statehood and
the adoption OF popular rule no ini-
tiated or referred measure has ever
received such endorsement as the
proposed amendment would require.
So it was plain that the provision
would not only throttle initiated bills
but bills passed and referred by the
legislature or bills passed by the leg
islature against which the referen-
dunn might be invoked and the refer
endum may be invoked against every
bill not protected by the emergency
ttaS. 1.n ~ 4r
afford such protection.
Thus the need OF an amendment
hecame apparent and though none
has yet been offered it is said that
one will be presented which VIII make
fish of the initiated, bills and fowl
OF the referred measures That IS,
that though the former must secure
a majority OF the entire electorate
that appears at the polls the latter
cannot be defeated unless majority
OF the voters at the election. vote
against it. In this manner popular
rule is to be ''catched comm an
goin'."
Senators Protest
At the opening OF the senate ses-
sion two protests against the enact
ment by the senate of the constitu
tional amendments from s. B. IA to
8. 3. 20 both inclusive, were read.
One was telegram from the Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen of Win
slow and the other from the Order of
Railway Conductors Of that railroad
point
After the hurried disposition OF the
earlier orders OF business these bills
were taken up in third reading. The
first was the amendment amending
Article TX. Public Revenue and Tax
alton" of the constitution. That pro-
vides among other things that all
public moneys received from what
ever source shall go into the state
treasury: that there shall be no more
departmental funds. Provision IS
made for exceeding the s350,0o0 for
certain purposes by issuing bonds
with the consent OF taxpayers on
real" property TO per cent OF the
taxable valuation of the state. For
cities counties. school districts and
other subdivisions this per cent may
run as high as Is per cent. but al
ways with the consent OF the tax
payers on real property.
This bill was passed by a vote OF
IA to (, the minority. perhaps, having
no objection the change in this bill
ment OF the constitution at this time.
The Republicans were represented in
the minority by Messrs. Larson and
Hedrick and the Democrats by
Messrs. Claypool and Curtin.
Senate bill 16 striking out OF the
constitution all reference to the di-
rect primary, leaving it to the legis-
lature to devise ways for nominating
party candidates was passed by a
vote of y to s.
Senate bill II providing for a gem
eral biennial election for the election
of a representative in congress and
for such other officers as might be
designated was passed by a vote OF
IA TO 4. This bill is a complement
of senate bills is and 10. the former
increas sing the term of county Off
GERS from two years to four years
and the latter extending the terms
of state officers from two years TO
four years, and leaving the office Of
state school superintendent appoint
i've by the state board of education.
Each OF these bills went through by
a vote of 3 TO 3.
Year Term Not Popular
Senate bill 20 extending the terms
Of members of the legislature from
TWO years To AOuL years anu pIUNlu-
ing that those elected in the general
Of 1922 shall hold to Jan. 1,
1927 was less popular. The vote was
13 TO 8
And here an interesting question
presents itself. The candidates for
the legislature will be voted for next
fall at the same election at which
the constitutional amendment will be
The amendment will be
without force until it shall be proc
laimed by the governor, some time
after the members of the legislature
have been elected under the present
law which fixes their terms at two
years. Would the retroactive effect
Of the amendment. if it should be
ratified, extend the terms of the leg
islators TO four years?
These bills were taken 10 the house
where an effort was made TO take
them up in the afternoon session fol- /
lowing a meeting of the committee /
Of the whole AS that order of bust
ness had been passed a suspension (
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