The Donaldsonville Chief

INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.

Effort Will be Made to Incorporate Them in New Constitution.

Dr. V. K. Irion, delegate to the Constitutional Convention from New Orleans, states that he will introduce a measure before that body providing for the initiative, referendum and recall in Louisiana. There is a provision in the present law for the recall, but nothing regarding initiative and referendum.

Dr. Irion explains his proposed ordinance as follows:

"The initiative means that if at any time, the people want a certain law enacted, independent of the Legislature, the act can be submitted to popular vote at the next election. If a majority favors the act it becomes a law. If a majority is against it, it is defeated.

"The referendum means that if the Legislature should pass an act that the people do not want, it can be repealed at the next election.

"The recall means that if public officials fail to perform their duty, or prove unfaithful to their trusts, or fail or refuse to carry out the wishes of their constituents, they may be recalled and ousted from office."

"The measure will provide for a designated percentage of the voters to place either the initiative, referendum or recall in operation. For state officers I would make it ten per cent of the votes cast for governor at the preceding general election.

For parish officers I would make it ten per cent of the vote cast for sheriff, and for municipal officers ten per cent of the vote cast for mayor. The same percentage would apply to either the initiative, referendum or recall."

Dr. Irion states that twenty states of the Union have placed the initiative, referendum and recall in their constitutions and not one of them could be induced to take it out.