Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-11-03

Amendments
Face Voters
Proposals to Change State
Constitution Explained
Briefly.
BOTH ARE OF
MUCH IMPORTANCE.

The voters of Montana will be called
on to pass upon two proposed
amendments to the state constitution.
to be voted on at the general cleo
ton next Tuesday. Both are of vital
importance and are briefly explained
below.
The first amendment proposed Is 70
Section 2, Article 8, which prescribss
the qualifications of voters. At tho
present time any elector may vo4e
on any question concerning the crea-
ton of a debt, bond issue, or tax levy.
without being a taxpayer The amend
ment inserts provision that only
taxpayers may vote on any question
concerning the creation Of debt, bond
issue or tax levy If adopted it win
not affect the right of those who are
not taxpayers to vote for candidates
for office, they will still have that
right, butothey will not have the right
to vote on any question concerning
the creation of a debt, bond issues
or tax levy. They will also have to BE-
taxpayers to vote ON any such ques-
ton The purpose of the amendment
is to limit the right to vote on such
questions to those whose property will
be taxed to pay the debt or bonds is
sued or taxes levied, it being con-
tended that voters who do not pay
taxes should not be permitted to create
q debt. or levy : tax which they win
not help pay but only those who win
BE- required to pay the debt or taxes
levied should be permitted to ray
whether the debt should be created
or the taxes levied Nearly all Of the
states have provisions in their con-
stitutions limiting the right to vote
on such question to taxpayers. Those
owning property in this state and pay
ing taxes thereon should give care
full study and consideration to this
proposed amendment
The second amendment proposed Is
to Section As Of Article S which re-
quire4 tAAt special election he held
when n vacancy occurs in either
house cf the Legislature. As it cush
several thousand dollars to hold !
special election in any county, while
the Governor usually issues q call
Tor such an election the Board OF
County Commissioners never feel JUS
titled in mourning the expense of hold
ing 1t and so do nothing with regard
to It This means frequently that a
county is not fully represented at >
session Of the legislature. After the
1881 general election and before the
legislature met the senator from Fer
Pus county died and as the Board or
County Commissioners OF that county
wished to avoid the expense of hold
ing special election to fill the va
cancy, no election was held, the re-
suit being that Fergus county had no
senator during the last session, altho
the senate gave the Hon-s Tom Stout Of
that county the right to take part in
senate proceedings, but without the
right to vote. The same situation arose
IN Custer county. member dying af-
ter the general election and before the
legislature met No special election
was held because Of the cost and that
county was not fully represented at
the 1881 session. The proposed amend
ment merely inserts provision that
when vacancy, caused by DEATH oc-
ours in either house it shall be filled
by appointment by the Board Of Coun-
tv Commissioners. The adoption OF
this amendment will enable every
county to be fully represented at every
session of the legislature, when va
cancy is caused by death, without be-
ing put to the expense of holding q
special election.