The New York herald., 1922-10-22
OCCUPATIONAL RULE
PROPOSED In OREGON
Plan Would Give Various Lines
of Work Proportionate Place
in Legislature.
ON BALLOT NEXT YEAR
Proposal Asks One House in
Transformation Of State
Government.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
SALEM, Ore, Oct. 21.-State Govern
ment by a Legislature Of one house. its
members to be elected upon an occupa-
tional basis In proportion to the occu-
pations of the registered voters. with
the Governor elected by>the Legislature
from among its own membership and
subject to its recall at any time, is pro-
posed by the Peoples Power League OF
Oregon. The league has just filed with
Secretary of State Kozer here pre-
liminary draft of constitutional
amendment providing for this radical
change in the machinery OF State. The
proposal will be placed upon the 1924
ballot as an initiative measure.
The league officers are c. L. Spence,
PRESIDENT Otto Hartwig, vice-presideat /;
w. Il. Kimsey, treasurer, and w. S.
'Ren,' secretary. Spence is master OF
the Oregon State Grange; Hartwig is
president Of the State Federation of La
Dor |; Kimsey Is a prominent member Of
the Federation Of Labor and the Port
land typographical union, and U'Ren, a
Portland lawyer. Is known as the father
of Oregons initiative measure.
The proposal was brought forth by
the league several months ago with a
view to placing it on the ballot at the
forthcoming election, but the initiative
petitions were never completed.
The proposed amendment would re-
quire that every legal voter be registered
at least thirty days before election day.
His registration would show his occu-
patton and each occupation would be
entitled to representation in the house
Of sixty members in proportion to the
ratio which such occupation bears to
the total registered vote. If one-half OF
the registered voters were farmers, then
one-half Of the Legislature would be
composed Of farmers. II lawyers COM
posed only one-sixtieth Of the total reg
istration then the legal profession would
have only one member In the Legislature
instead Of the large representation which
It now has.
Housekeeping would be regarded as
an occupation for the purpose OF this
amendment. Occupations which failed
to muster one-sixtieth of the total regis
tration would be denied representation.
Members of the Legislature would be
elected for four years at $500 year
salary. The Legislature would meet on
the first Monday Of January each year
and be subject to the call Of the Gov
ernor in special session.
Districts would be created for the
election Of legislators representing oc-
cupations entitled to ten or more seats.
Otherwise members would be elected
from the State at large.
The Governor would be elected by the
Legislature from its own membership by
roll call or by viva voce vote. but not by
ballot, a majority vote eiecting. He
would be subject to recall. except that
should he not acquiesce in the recall he
would nave power to dissolve the Legis-
lature and call a special election to elect
a new Legislature which would then
proceed either to reflect the Governor or
name an executive In his stead.
The Governor would have no veto
power but would be entitled to his vote
as a member of the Legislature. and he
a we'll as all other State officials would