Holmes & Bull Furniture Co. v. Hedges

Citations

• 13 Wash. 696
• 43 P. 944
• 1896 Wash. LEXIS 121

Syllabus

<p>CONSTITUTIONAL LAW — SELF-EXECUTING ENACTMENTS — ELECTIONS TO AUTHORIZE INCREASE OF SCHOOL INDEBTEDNESS — RIGHT OF WOMEN TO VOTE — SPECIAL LEGISLATION.</p> <p>The provision of art. 8, §6, of the constitution, providing that no school district shall become indebted to an amount exceeding one and one-half per centum of the taxable property in such school district, without the assent of three-fifths of the voters therein voting at an election to be held for that purpose, is self-executing and sufficient, without further legislative sanction, to authorize the voters to give or withhold assent to the incurring of indebtedness, in view of the fact that the legislature has made provision for the organization of school districts and the holding of general and special elections therein.</p> <p>Elections for the purpose of authorizing an increase of the debt limit of school districts may properly be held under the general provisions of law concerning the holding of annual and special school election's.</p> <p>The act of March 27,1890, entitled “an act to establish a general uniform system of common schools in the State of Washington,” is applicable to school districts organized under an act relating to schools in cities of ten thousand or more inhabitants, excepting in so far as the two acts may be inconsistent.</p> <p>Women have the right to vote in school elections in cities of ten thousand or more inhabitants held for the purpose of authorizing an increased debt limit, under art. 6, § 2 of the constitution providing that there shall be no denial of the elective franchise at any school election on account of sex, and under Laws 1889-90, p. 377, § 58, providing that every person, male or female, possessing certain qualifications, shall be legal voters at any school election.</p> <p>The act of the legislature providing for school districts in cities of ten thousand or more inhabitants is not unconstitutional on the ground that it affords a different and better system of ed