Oregon 1912 ballot measures

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← 1910

In 1912, voters decided on 37 statewide ballot measures in Oregon on November 5.

• Eight of the measures were initiated constitutional amendments.
• 20 of the measures were initiated state statutes.
• Six of the measures were legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
• Three of the measures were veto referendums.
• Voters approved 11 (29.7%) and rejected 26 (70.3%) measures.

On the ballot

November 5, 1912

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Measure Nos. 300-301	Sex and gender; Suffrage	Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution	a	61,265 (52%)	57,104 (48%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 302-303	Executive officials	Create the office of Lieutenant Governor and provide a line of succession to the governorship.		50,562 (45%)	61,644 (55%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 304-305	Taxes	Provide for a uniform taxation, except on property, and collect taxes for county and municipal purposes as distinct from state purposes.		51,582 (48%)	56,671 (52%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 306-307	Taxes; Property	Permit different tax rates for different classes of property and provide that taxation must be uniform within each separate class.		52,045 (49%)	54,483 (51%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 308-309	Taxes	Repeal counties' ability regulate taxation and prohibit the legislature from declaring an emergency in tax regulation.	a	63,881 (58%)	47,150 (42%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 310-311	Supermajority; Initiative process; Ballot measures	Require constitutional amendments to receive a majority of all votes cast, not just those for the measure.		32,934 (32%)	70,325 (68%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 312-313	Banking	Hold stockholders liable to pay depositors an amount equal to their held stock and what they originally paid for the stock.	a	82,981 (79%)	21,738 (21%)
VR	Measure Nos. 314-315	Business	Grant the Railroad Commission power and jurisdiction to supervise and regulate every public service corporation and utility in Oregon.	a	65,985 (62%)	40,956 (38%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 318-319	Local government	Create a new county, named Cascade County		26,463 (27%)	71,239 (73%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 320-321	Higher education governance; Taxes	Create a Board of Regents to govern the University of Oregon and the State Agricultural College		48,701 (46%)	57,279 (54%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 322-323	Supermajority; Initiative process	Require a ballot initiative to receive a majority of all votes cast in an election, rather than a majority of votes specifically for the initiative		35,721 (34%)	68,861 (66%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 324-325	Transportation; Bonds	Allow counties to issue bonds for the construction of permanent roads		49,699 (47%)	56,713 (53%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 326-327	Administration; Transportation	Create a State Highway Department with a $12,000 budget and appoint a State Highway Engineer with a $3,600 salary.		23,872 (22%)	83,846 (78%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 328-329	Administration; Salaries	Move the effective date of the creation of the State Printing Board to December 1, 1912 and fix the salary of the State Printer at $4,000 and the Secretary of the Board at $2,000.		34,793 (33%)	69,542 (67%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 330-331	Administration; Business	Create the Office of Hotel Inspector and provide for their duties and salary.		16,910 (16%)	91,995 (84%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 332-333	Labor	Require laborers employed by the state, county, school district, or municipality to work no more than an eight-hour day.	a	64,508 (57%)	48,078 (43%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 334-335	Business	Regulate corporations selling corporate stocks and securities to protect stocks purchasers and establish a corporation department.		48,765 (46%)	57,293 (54%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 336-337	Prison work	Prohibit private firms from employing state prisoners, except for public projects.	a	73,800 (66%)	37,492 (34%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 338-339	Prison work	Prohibit private firms from employing county, city, or town prisoners, except for public projects.	a	71,367 (65%)	37,731 (35%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 340-341	Administration; Transportation; Bonds	Create the State Road Board, authorize bond sales to build public roads, and create the office of State Highway Commissioner.		30,897 (29%)	75,590 (71%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 342-343	Budgets	Prohibit the state from increasing its indebtedness for road building in excess of 2% of the taxable property of the state.	a	59,452 (58%)	43,447 (42%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 344-345	Bonds	Authorize counties to issue twenty-year bonds for road construction and county courts to levy taxes to pay bond interest.		43,611 (42%)	60,210 (58%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 346-347	Budgets	Prohibit counties from increasing their indebtedness for road building in excess of 2% of the taxable property within the county.	a	57,258 (57%)	43,858 (43%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 348-349	Local government	Provide methods for the creation and organization of new counties and municipalities		40,199 (41%)	56,992 (59%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 350-351	Income taxes	Implement a graduated income tax.		52,702 (50%)	52,948 (50%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 352-353	Tax exemptions	Exempt household furniture, domestic fixtures, and household goods in use at home, clothing, watches, jewelry, and similar personal objects from taxation	a	60,357 (54%)	51,826 (46%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 354-355	Taxes	Exempt all debts, public stocks and securities, bonds, and warrants and moneys due to the state from taxation.		42,491 (39%)	66,540 (61%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 356-357	Taxes	Revise state inheritance tax laws, reclassify rates, and transfer administrative authority to the State Tax Commission.		38,609 (38%)	63,839 (62%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 358-359	Business; Transportation	Regulate freight rates on carload type and weight	a	58,306 (56%)	45,534 (44%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 360-361	Local government; Transportation; Bonds	Authorize county courts to issue and sell bonds to build and maintain roads within the county with voter approval.		38,568 (38%)	63,481 (62%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 362-363	Legislative structure; Term limits; Proportional representation	Create a 60-member unicameral legislature with proportional representation		31,020 (30%)	71,183 (70%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 364-365	Taxes; Property	Implement graduated taxes for franchises, lands, and other natural resources exceeding $10,000 and exempt personal property.		31,534 (28%)	82,015 (72%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 366-367	Death penalty	Abolish the death penalty in Oregon.		41,951 (39%)	64,578 (61%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 368-369	Labor	Prohibit boycotting or picketing any industry, workshop, store, business, or factory.		49,826 (45%)	60,560 (55%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 370-371	Property	Prohibit public speech gatherings in cities or towns on public streets, parks, or lands without a written permit from the mayor.		48,987 (44%)	62,532 (56%)
VR	Measure Nos. 372-373	Budgets	Appropriate $175,000 to build an administration building for the University of Oregon and $153,259 for repairs and improvements.		29,437 (27%)	78,985 (73%)
VR	Measure Nos. 374-375	Budgets	Appropriate $175,000 to construct and furnish a modern fire-proof library and museum at the University of Oregon.		27,310 (26%)	79,376 (74%)

See also

• Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon
• Types of ballot measures in Oregon
• List of Oregon ballot measures
• 1912 ballot measures

External links

• Oregon Voter Guide (November 1912)