Spencer v. City of Alhambra

On the 8th day of November, 1938, by a majority vote, the electors of the City of Alhambra adopted an initiative ordinance establishing a scale of minimum salaries for members of the city’s police department. The legislative body, known as the commission, of said city, refused to give effect to the provisions of the ordinance, contending that the fixing of minimum salaries for police officers was not subject to vote by the people and was beyond and in excess of the initiative powers of the electors under the terms of the city charter.

Certain members of the police department joined in a…