Salt Lake Telegram | 1936-05-01 | Page 17 | Initiative Law Aired before Utah Tribunal

INITIATIVE LAW AIRED AIRED BEFORE UTAH TRIBUNAL flight Right of Welling to toj j Refuse Proposal Is Tested r I pf The Tho first attempt to enact laws law through the medium of or the 1935 initiative and referendum law was iven iven fen a thorough airing before the supreme court Friday afternoon after after- noon On one side stood a group of volunteer citizens headed by aD D W. W Jenkins of Tremonton Opposing Op Op- posing posing them were incumbent state officials including the secretary of and the attorney g general r IV The rhe question to be settled by th the five justices was whether the sec see of state Milton H. H Welling Velling had bad the right to refuse to accept proposed laws an and call ll for bids Ien on printing pet petitions by which the they bids would be placed before the theote voter ote Mr Welling Velling t accept proposed propose i tax reform ar lav a aon in inon on the ground they were fluid find not in a strict sense laws Attorney At At- torney Rendell N. N Mabey Mabe lenting the citizens' citizens committee carried car car- tied fled the matter to the supreme cour courand court and nd asked that Mr rr Welling Velling be made mad to show justifiable reasons for lor h his faction action Up to Chez S I The secretary placed the matte matter In the hands of Attorney General Genera Joseph Chez Assistant Attorney General S. S D. D Huffaker filed a brief brie with the court requesting it to sto stop nt it the threshold the unintelligent unconstitutional and loosely drawn draw Mr Huffaker contended that 1 It would cost to submit th the proposed statutes to the people I No appropriation has been made mad madeo to o take care of this expense h he said aid so the query arises as t to where this money viII will come from ii in inthe inthe the event the court court- rules they may maj maybe maybe be submitted The further question ques ques- fion tion arises as to io whether any initiative initiative ini mi- legislation cen be submitted In the absence of f an an appropriation for ol that purpose S I However court attaches have pointed out that the matter Is narrowed narrowed narrowed nar nar- rowed down to the question as to whether Mr Welling Velling or anyone else has lies the right to judge whether a submitted act is in a strict sense a I. law I t b Requires Five Fhe The initiative law requires the of five voters on a proposed proposed pro pro- posed act The secretary then asks for bids for the printing of petitions peti- peti to which ten per percent r cent of the states states state's voters must sign their names names If this this' is done the proposal proposal pro pro- osal is offered to the people at atthe atthe atthe the next general election Should the tho court hold with the citizens' citizens the way will remain open the submission of a flood o of ls now being consi con- con si er J by commit committees es throughout State 7