In the waning moments of the 1973 session, Washington's State legislators voted salary increases for all elected officials, including a 293 percent boost for themselves, in spite of a Federal wage hike limit of 5.5 percent. Frustrated by a supreme court ruling preventing a repeal of the raises, a loose-knit group of citizen political amateurs mounted an unprecedented initiative drive for a referendum for salary rollback legislation, a drive which garnered over three-quarters of a million signatures in only 3 weeks. The constitutionality of the referendum measure was immediately challenged, however, by several beneficiaries of the higher salaries. The issue was again brought before the court, and this time, its membership, which was eligible for the new higher pay, disqualified itself and appointed a panel of retired judges to decide the case. The panel ruled for the initiative. The people appeared to have succeeded in imposing their will on the legislators; however, through a variety of subtle maneuvers in subsequent sessions, the legislature passed their pay increases anyway. The political, legal, and judicial lessons to be learned from this event are discussed. Overall, the event is viewed as a manifestation of citizen revolt against irresponsible government spending of revenues obtained from citizens and the determination of citizen groups to thwart legislators unresponsive to their will. A bibliography of approximately 180 references, chapter notes, and an index are included. (Author abstract modified)