OCR Text |
Show WARNICK MAY LOSE IN BARNES OPINION The written opinion of Attorney General Gen-eral A. R. Barnes on the construction of . a section of the constitution, on the interpretation in-terpretation of which the protest against the right of Charles L. Warnick, member of the lower house of the state legislature legisla-ture from Utah county, rests. Is expected by the house either todav or tomorrow. Mr. Barnes has beei asked to give his construction in writing of the meaning of the constitutional provision specifying the qualifications of ths members of " the legislature. The constitution specifies that to be qualified for membership In The legislature one must be 25 vears of age, a citizen of tho United States, a resident of the state for three years, of the district represented one year, and must be- a ouallfied voter in the district which he represents. Mr. Warnick was a resident of the state only wbout fourteen four-teen months Immediately prior to the election at which he was chosen as representative. rep-resentative. For ten vpars prior to September. Sep-tember. 1913, Mr. Warnick lived in Idaho and served two terms as a membf r of the Idaho state legislature. Prior to going to Idaho, however, he had lived all of his life in Utah. Those who are protesting against Mr. Wamick's right to serve aa a member of the Btate legislature declare that the constitutional provision means that one must have been a resident of the state three years Immediately prior to the election elec-tion and in this they are supported by very attorney who has permitted hirn-plf hirn-plf to be quoted on the subject. Some of the supporters of Mr. Warnick in the house, hold that th three -year provision pro-vision In the constitution may be con striK-d as meaning any three yearn not necessarily the three year 3 Immediately preceding the election. Those who profess to know say that lb attorney gTierrd's opinion will h. Adverse to Mr. Warnick. Mr. Ramos at i first declined to pass on the Warnh-k case, fearing that in fo dolnp ho whs trespassing on the rights of tho Icis- , lature. Hn did consent, however, to give his opinion on the construction of the t-wtion involved. If this i adverse to Mr. Warnlk it is more than likely that lie will bo unseated by the houne, as the ;tl!ied parties In the houe hold that Mr. Warn irk Is not entitled to his sat, and K--eral Republicans have stated that (hey will vote In accordance with the "pinion of the attorney general. ArUTo from the Warn Irk rvise intcrf in t.h house will center largely in the debate on the hi It la t jve and referendum bill, whlrh will probably come up for final pa.usagH. The Hei-t Ion- commit tee having tho measure under ronKldenitfon reported it out of committee by a Btrhjt , party vote, t ho Tt mor t;i is ;i nd I'ro- ; vps favoring the mc-JS'ire . nd the RepuMlcanH opposite: it. If the. vote In-dlcat.'-n tho vote In the hou.e the ni'.'iH ur will Jak nut of a con." M t u t ! rm;i 1 majority ma-jority and will therefore fall of huiil'k. |