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124

NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1920

VOTE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, 1875-1918

Year



Voted
   Rec'nt Rec'nt Total

On
Subject of Amendment For Ag'st For Ag'st Voters

1882

1. Woman suffrage

25,756

50,693

.....

.....

89,068

1884

1. Legislators, term of office to be two years, salary $300, sessions not less than sixty days

51,959

17,766

.....

.....

.....

2. Board of railway commissioners, term of office to be two years and to reside at scat of government

22,297

44,448

.....

.....

135,555

1886

1. Legislators, term of office to be two years, salary $5 per day (instead of $3 as hitherto) while in session; session to be not more than sixty days at one time limit 100 days

65,712

22,236

72,497

22,135¹

138,238

1890

1. Prohibition of liquor traffic

82,292

111,728

.....

.....

.....

2. Licensing of liquor traffic

75,462

91,084

.....

.....

.....

3. Increase of supreme court to five judges, term of office five years

86,418

53,022

.....

.....

.....

4. Increase salary of supreme court from $2,500 to $3,500; of district court from $2,500 to $3,000

69,192

61,519

.....

.....

214,861

1892

1. Creates board of railway commissioners, term of office three years

80,032

14,185

80,569²

.....

.....

2. Investment of the permanent educational funds

84,426

11,258

89,050

.....

197,474

1896

1. Increase supreme court to five judges; term of office five years

84,579

37,896

97,644

37,029³

.....

2. Compensation of supreme and district court judges to be established by legis lature and not to be changed oftener than once in four years

61,119

48,533

.....

.....

.....

3. Compensation of executive state officers to be established by the legislature and not to be changed oftener than once in four years

59,496

47,611

.....

.....

.....

4. judicial power to be vested in supreme court, district courts, county courts, justices of the peace, police magistrates and in such other courts inferior to supreme court as may be created by law

60,094

45,377

.....

.....

.....

5. Legislature may increase number of judges in supreme court and district courts and judicial districts of state, but not oftener than once in four years

59,343

46,576

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

     ¹ 27,778 ballots were cast on which the electors expressed no choice as to such amendment. 16,013 ballots were cast on which were printed "For proposed amendments to constitution relating to the legislative department" and "Against proposed amendment to the constitution relating to the legislative department" and neither proposition erased. (Neb. House journal, 1887, p. 1003.)

   ² Total votes cast at election of 1892

209,593

Recount for members of legislature

197,510

Difference between vote cast for head of ticket and members of legislature

12,083

Recount on railroad amendment

80,569

Secretary of state's report

80,032

Gain on railway amendment

533

Recount on school funds amendment

89,050

Secretary of state's report

84,426

Gain on school funds amendment

4,624

Leaving school funds amendment short of a majority

9,706

Leaving railroad amendment short of a majority

18,190

     (Neb. Senate journal, 1897, p. 850.)

     ³ Neb. House journal, 1897, p. 1055.

NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1920

125

VOTE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, 1875-1918 (Concluded)

Year



Voted


Rec'nt Rec'nt Total

On

Subject of Amendment
For Ag'st For Ag'st Voters

6. Legislature may provide that in civil actions five-sixths of the jury may render verdict, may also authorize trial by jury of less than twelve in courts inferior to the district court

73,573

39,006

.....

.....

.....



7. Number of executive state officers, including railway commissioners, and their term of office

67,045

40,597

......

......

......



8. Manner of increasing number of state officers

60,246

44,063

......

......

......



9. Educational funds and their investment

78,447

36,619

......

......

......



10. Questions of merging government of any city of metropolitan class and government of county in which city is located to be submitted to voters

56,960

47,634

......

......

......



11. Votes to be by ballot or by such other method as may be provided by law

62,303

44,370

......

......

......



12. Donations to works of internal improvement and manufactures - question must be submitted to qualified electors and be ratified by a two-thirds vote.

60,479

45,669

......

......

217,763

1904⁴

1. Revising, amending and changing constitution

32,820

23,497

......

......

232,457

1906⁵

1. Railway commission, prescribing duties, terms of office six years

147,472

8,896

......

......

194,692

1908

1. Supreme Court change in number of judges, how elected, term of six years and increase in salary

214,218

16,271

......

......

......

2. Educational funds called trust funds held by state; how invested

213,000

14,395

......

......

271,491

1910

1. Electors must be full citizens of United States, 21 years old and resident of state six months next preceding the election in precinct or ward ⁶

100,450

74,878

......

......

243,390

1912

1. Initiative and referendum

189,200

15,515

......

......

......

2. Term of office and salary of legislators

173,225

26,335

......

......

......

3. Creating a board of commissioners of state institutions.

174,939

25,439

......

......

......

4. Biennial elections

174,151

25,048

......

......

......

5. Home rule charters for cities of more than 5,000 inhabitants

164,579

32,041

......

......

259,124

1914

1. Uniform and progressive taxation

88,068

82,136

......

......

......

2. Five-sixths jury

102,891

63,596

......

......

......

3. Salaries executive state officers

89,385

76,013

......

......

......

4. Woman suffrage ⁷

90,738

100,842

......

......

246,941

1916

1. Prohibition ⁷

146,574

117,532

......

......

302,685

2. Pure food department ⁷

91,215

105,993

......

......

......

1918

1. Limiting suffrage to full citizens:

123,292

51,600

......

......

......

2. For calling constitutional convention

121,830

44,491

......

......

225,717

     ⁴ Prior to this election the total was calculated from the total vote for governor.
     ⁵ 1906. First election under provision permitting state conventions to adopt proposed amendments and all "party circle ballots" to be counted therefor. Both republican and democratic parties adopted amendment.
     ⁶ Republican party adopted amendment at primary and democratic party rejected.
     ⁶7 Submitted by popular initiative.

126

NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1920

NUMBER AND COST OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

COST OF ADVERTISING AMENDMENTS


Amendment
Submitted



Initiative


Year
By Legislature By Constitutional Convention Initiative Legislative Paid by State Paid by Advocates and Opponents Total Total

1882
  1
2,207.00

.......

.......

.......

$ 2,207.00

1884
  2
6,814.40

.......

.......

.......

6,814.40

1886
  1
3,871.00

.......

.......

.......

3,871.00

1890
  4
11,737.50

.......

.......

.......

11,737.50

1892
  2
10,500.00

.......

.......

.......

10,500.00

1896
12
25,249.99

.......

.......

.......

25,249.99

1904
  1
6,300.00

.......

.......

.......

6,300.00

1906
  1
4,721.00

.......

.......

.......

4,721.00

1908
  2
13,419.01

.......

.......

.......

13,419.01

1910
  1
5,670.00

.......

.......

.......

5,670.00

1912
  5
50,231.98

.....

.......

50,231.98

1914
  3    1
17,315.50

$4,891.98

$2,812.50

$7,704.48

25,019.98

1916
      2
.......

2,713.99

1,590.40

4,303.39

4,303.39

1918
  1
4,802.00

.......

.......

.......

4,802.00

1920
   41
........

.......

.......

.......

........

36 41 3
$158,048,38

$7,605.97

$4,402.90

$12,907.87

$170,055.25

COST OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS

Year
Cost

1864¹
$ 3,000.00

1866²
Cost included in legislative expenses

1871
24,326.22

1875
15,000.00

1920
116,000.00

-----------------

     Total
$158,326.22

    ¹ Delegates to the constitutional convention of 1864 met at Omaha and immediately adjourned without drafting a constitution.
    ² The constitution of 1866 was drafted by the legislature, submitted to the people and adopted by them.

INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
     Vote on questions referred to the people by initiative and referendum petitions.

Year Voted on
Subject of Law For Against Total

1914

1. Employers' liability
92,513 85,777 178,290

2. Nebraska City armory
40,520 133,457 173,977

3. University removal ¹
66,883 148,110 214,933

1920

4. Partial repeal of primary
49,410 133,115 214,525

     ¹ Proposed by popular initiative.

Year
Voted				Rec'nt	Rec'nt	Total
On	Subject of Amendment	For	Ag'st	For	Ag'st	Voters
1882	1. Woman suffrage	25,756	50,693	.....	.....	89,068
1884	1. Legislators, term of office to be two years, salary $300, sessions not less than sixty days	51,959	17,766	.....	.....	.....
1884	2. Board of railway commissioners, term of office to be two years and to reside at scat of government	22,297	44,448	.....	.....	135,555
1886	1. Legislators, term of office to be two years, salary $5 per day (instead of $3 as hitherto) while in session; session to be not more than sixty days at one time limit 100 days	65,712	22,236	72,497	22,135¹	138,238
1890	1. Prohibition of liquor traffic	82,292	111,728	.....	.....	.....
	2. Licensing of liquor traffic	75,462	91,084	.....	.....	.....
	3. Increase of supreme court to five judges, term of office five years	86,418	53,022	.....	.....	.....
	4. Increase salary of supreme court from $2,500 to $3,500; of district court from $2,500 to $3,000	69,192	61,519	.....	.....	214,861
1892	1. Creates board of railway commissioners, term of office three years	80,032	14,185	80,569²	.....	.....
1892	2. Investment of the permanent educational funds	84,426	11,258	89,050	.....	197,474
1896	1. Increase supreme court to five judges; term of office five years	84,579	37,896	97,644	37,029³	.....
	2. Compensation of supreme and district court judges to be established by legis lature and not to be changed oftener than once in four years	61,119	48,533	.....	.....	.....
	3. Compensation of executive state officers to be established by the legislature and not to be changed oftener than once in four years	59,496	47,611	.....	.....	.....
	4. judicial power to be vested in supreme court, district courts, county courts, justices of the peace, police magistrates and in such other courts inferior to supreme court as may be created by law	60,094	45,377	.....	.....	.....
	5. Legislature may increase number of judges in supreme court and district courts and judicial districts of state, but not oftener than once in four years	59,343	46,576	.....	.....	.....
				.....	.....	.....

² Total votes cast at election of 1892	209,593
Recount for members of legislature	197,510
Difference between vote cast for head of ticket and members of legislature	12,083
Recount on railroad amendment	80,569
Secretary of state's report	80,032
Gain on railway amendment	533
Recount on school funds amendment	89,050
Secretary of state's report	84,426
Gain on school funds amendment	4,624
Leaving school funds amendment short of a majority	9,706
Leaving railroad amendment short of a majority	18,190
(Neb. Senate journal, 1897, p. 850.)

			COST OF ADVERTISING AMENDMENTS
Amendment Submitted					Initiative
Year	By Legislature	By Constitutional Convention	Initiative	Legislative	Paid by State	Paid by Advocates and Opponents	Total	Total
1882	1			2,207.00	.......	.......	.......	$ 2,207.00
1884	2			6,814.40	.......	.......	.......	6,814.40
1886	1			3,871.00	.......	.......	.......	3,871.00
1890	4			11,737.50	.......	.......	.......	11,737.50
1892	2			10,500.00	.......	.......	.......	10,500.00
1896	12			25,249.99	.......	.......	.......	25,249.99
1904	1			6,300.00	.......	.......	.......	6,300.00
1906	1			4,721.00	.......	.......	.......	4,721.00
1908	2			13,419.01	.......	.......	.......	13,419.01
1910	1			5,670.00	.......	.......	.......	5,670.00
1912	5			50,231.98	.....		.......	50,231.98
1914	3		1	17,315.50	$4,891.98	$2,812.50	$7,704.48	25,019.98
1916			2	.......	2,713.99	1,590.40	4,303.39	4,303.39
1918	1			4,802.00	.......	.......	.......	4,802.00
1920		41		........	.......	.......	.......	........
	36	41	3	$158,048,38	$7,605.97	$4,402.90	$12,907.87	$170,055.25

Year	Cost
1864¹	$ 3,000.00
1866²	Cost included in legislative expenses
1871	24,326.22
1875	15,000.00
1920	116,000.00
	-----------------
Total	$158,326.22

Year Voted on	Subject of Law	For	Against	Total
1914	1. Employers' liability	92,513	85,777	178,290
	2. Nebraska City armory	40,520	133,457	173,977
	3. University removal ¹	66,883	148,110	214,933
1920	4. Partial repeal of primary	49,410	133,115	214,525