Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1920 — INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IN CALIFORNIA [ARTICLE]

INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IN CALIFORNIA

Twenty constftatkmal amendments, initiative measures and questions submitted on referendum petition will be voted on by California at the November elections Ten of these axe initiative measures, five were sdbmitted through referendum, proceedings and five are constitutional amendments. They range in scope from the drastic anti-Japanese initiative measure through the gamut of anti-vivisec-tion measures to uninteresting appearing enactments about salaries of justices of the supreme court The anti-alien land law will head the list on the ballot Then follows. a prohibition enforcement act, which makes into state legislation practically the same program as is contained in the Volstead law. After which comes an increase in salaries for the supreme court justices. Summarized .the measures to be voted upon, in the order in which they will appear on the ballot, are:

•1. Alien Land Law. Prohibits aliens not eligible to citizenship holding land through guardianships or corporations. This is an antiJapanese measure. 2. A Prohibition Enforcement Act It defines intoxicating liquor as containing over one-half of one per cent alcohol; forbids manufacture, possession, receiving, serving, giving or transportation of intoxieanta { except in some instances for religious, medical and home use;, and covers other points of prohibition enforcement. If it is passed, state authorities as well as federal can deal with alleged violations of the prohibition laws. _ _ 3. Increases Salaries of Supreme Court Justices from SB,OOO to $lO,000 annually and of judges of the district court of appeals from $7,000 to $9,000 annually. 4. Increases number of signatures necessary for an initiative petition affecting taxation to 25 per cent of the total vote at the last gubernatorial election. 5. creates a state board of chiropractic examiners. 6. Prohibits compulsory vaccination. 7. Forbids vivisection for any purpose. . . . 8. Regulates the sale of drugs and I poisons. It is designed as a blow to the narcotic habit, according to its proponents. 9. Creates a state highway finance board and directs cancellation of forty million dollars’ worth of unsold state highway bonds. Oils for the issuance of 40 million dollars worth of six-per-cent bonds as a substitute. 10. Requires that tile next session of We legislature enact aU measuree-. necessary for calling a state constitutional convention. 11. Provideq for a poll tax on J -Am—; I 12. Levies a tax erf one and two|tenths mills for each dollar of aseither husband or wife I to Sid not to others without written consent of the other. 14. Regulates appointment of in- *^ nC of an ir- ■

rigation district by a majority instead of two-thirds vote of the electorate. 16. Adds kindergartens to the state school system and changes methods of financing publie schools. 17. Permits absentee voting. 18. Exempts orphanages from taxation. 19. Permits state aid for institutions for children whose fathers are incapitated by tuberculosis.