NUMBERING THE PROPOSITIONS

Secretary of State March Fong Eu has assigned ballot proposition numbers to 17 measures to be decided by voters in the Nov. 6 general election. Frequently referred to simply by their numbers only, the measures are: Proposition 124--Authorizes local hospital districts to acquire stock in corporations engaging in health care-related businesses. Proposition 125--Approves the use of gas tax revenues for the acquisition of rail transit vehicles and equipment. Proposition 126--Imposes increased taxes on beer, wine and liquor to raise an estimated $230 million more a year in revenue. Proposition 127--Permits earthquake safety improvements to be excluded from property taxation. Proposition 128--Requires stricter regulation of pesticides and a gradual phasing out of cancer-causing chemicals. Proposition 129--Appropriates $561 million and authorizes a $740-million bond issue to crack down harder on drug- and gang-related crimes. Proposition 130--Authorizes a $742-million bond issue to fund a 10-year program to obtain and save ancient forests providing wildlife habitat. Proposition 131--Limits the number of successive years that statewide elected officials and legislators can serve in office. Proposition 132--Makes the use of gill or trammel nets for fishing purposes illegal after 1994. Proposition 133--Increases state sales tax one-half of a cent for four years to raise additional revenue for anti-drug programs. Proposition 134--Imposes increased taxes on beer, wine and liquor to raise an estimated $830 million more a year. Proposition 135--Steps up the inspection of foods and vegetables and expends more money on pesticide research. Proposition 136--Requires a two-thirds vote for the passage of special tax increases. Proposition 137--Requires any proposal to revise the initiative or referendum processes to be approved by the voters. Proposition 138--Authorizes a $300-million bond issue to help acquire designated timberlands. Proposition 139--Allows putting state prison inmates to work for private business to pay their upkeep and victim-restitution damages. Proposition 140--Limits the number of terms statewide elected officials and legislators can serve in office.