The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-23


OF all expenditures 70 be made to the legis-
isture, and II IL is found impossible to COM
pletely close the accounts before the ad-
loulnment Of tho present body, to subse-
guent legtslature The Hon. W: b. Mcvas,
Of Canton, were designated by me to act
temporarily in conjunction with the COM
board Of control and audit Il would be
vel! now fer the legislature to provide for
sGch sue SmSials e may be deemed advisable,
position and the final settlement IT all ac-
counta A pamphlet has been prepared for
dtstributiOn at the exposition and elsewhere,
5O,0OO q which will soon be issued The
book u tar from complete OF satisfactory,
but II viii enable the various officers Of the
upon them for information and will thus
answer until something better is ut hand.
GRAIN AND RAILWAY CONFESSION AND AaRi-
CULTURAL AND IRRIGATION AGENTS.
The territory needs an effective grain and
railway commission: and it needs an agent
OF immigration, and 1t needs an agricultural
bureau: The grain commission provided for
little practically, not because the agents
appoihted to that board have been unwilling,
or incompetent, but because they are pro-
yided with no adequate means to carry out
the necessary improvements The question
OF securing fair grading of grain and
market is one Of much moment and one
beset with many difficulties. The matter
has been widely discussed, and has no doubt
secured the careful consideration of many
members OF the legislature who will have
measures OF relief to propose. am glad
to learn that the legislature of Minnesota is
disposed to cooperate with the legislative
departmert OF this territory in an effort to
devise means for the relief of the people of
both sections, and hope committees Of con-
Terence may be appointed by the two botliea
and that their deliberations will bear salts
mission, reorganized and clothed with larger
powers, can be of service in this connec-
tion you will doubtless see fit to continne it.
As constituted under the present law, how
ever, 1t might as well be abolished. The ad-
vantage of having an agricultural agent for
eminently an agricuitural region No body
OF men is more fairly entitled to fair rep
reHentatiOn In the territorial government
than the farmer. Information regarding the
condition OF the crops, the acreage, aggre-
gate and average yield, experiments with
and manner of cultivation, and many other
matters upon which it is desirable to have
full Information and now unobtainable in
anything like reliable form. Experience
with such crops in other states, even those
Immediately adjoining us, is in many in
The country and the conditions are new
Success with any given crop in the territory,
cultivated In different way or with some
new variety Of grain, is q matter of great
Importance to the farmers of the territory,
and all information on this subject ought to
be speedily gathered and widely disseminat-
ed. earnestly hope that provision will be
made for the appointment OF such an agent,
and that whatever appropriation Is needed
to make a bureau Of the character effective
and of signal service to the farming interests
Will be promptly furnished.
The states about US have commissioners of
immigration, and find them profitable I'D
Juncts to the state governments There ia
certainly as much, and 1t seems to me more
room and more reason for the employment
Of such an agent In Dakota than In any of
the neighboring states The creation of
three boards to look after the three interests
named seems hardly justifiable and scarcely
necessary. But it has occurred to me that
the three departments SO closely allied
might be united in one effective board
through which the entire business coula be
transacted II these three interests men,
toned can be grouped together, each with q
member specially adapted to one Of the de-
pnrtments named, acting separately in thel1
collection OF data, etc, but together in their
final action on questions of moment. it might
prove to be economical as well ~ beneficial.
believe that 1t is the experience that one
board properly constituted, with business
enough before 1t to keep its members and
fairly pay for its services will accomplish
more than half Q dozen assembled at long
intervals, possessing little authority and
handicapped by the fact that their own pri-
vate business must suffer while they give
their time to the public. practically without
compensation. Difficulties may be found in
the way of the practical application of this
suggestion, and shall only be too glad to
have better way pointed out to gain the
end in view.
ORGANIZING coUNT1Ea
The organization Of new counties IL beset
with many difficulties I believe that many
Of them can be avoided BY an intelligent
amendment of the law When fifty voters
petition for the organization Of new county
the governor is required to appoint commits.
sionera The number is too small. At least
one hundred ought to be required Again
II there is any valid reason why voters in Q
new county should not choose their own
commissioners, decide upon their own coun.
and responsibilities Of their fellow citizens in
other counties, do not know what that rea.
son is. Surely there is nothing in the organic
law to prevent. II provision were made au.
| thOrizng special election to be called on
Ii g petition of one hundred persons posses.
-
ound such special election with safeguards
insure fair vote and an honest count,
believe the interests of all parties would be
| served. At any rate the present law de.
mands some rational amendment 1t is
simply impossible for the executive to avoid
BILE to commit grave errors under the statute
as it now standA have appointed com.
missioners for but two counties since
my term Of office began These are
Mcintosh and Buffalo. the latter with
much doubt as to the wisdom of organiza.
discretion, however, when satisfied that fifty
Of those petitionlng are voters have re.
quired sworn evidence that those asking fol
organization possessed the qualification ol
Of electors, but it still follows that fifty per
sons may secure the organization of coun.
and fifty protest against it 1t ia desirable
that new counties be organized as fast as
they possess the necessary population, but
the minimum number should be doubled a,
least Various difficulties and complications
exist In some counties organized In the past
year or two. In certain cases the people
complain that the commissioners have NOT
done their duty, and these cases demand
attention and such remedy at your hands al
can be applied and which seems advisable.
In some Of these cases presume justice
would be advanced by undoing the work oi
reorganization into your hands. A number OF
local quarrels growing out of the permanent
location of county seats have arisen, and in
two instances / have been called upon fol
assistance to protect the officers of the law
In the discharge of their duty.
THE TROUBLE IN sPINK COUNTY.
On the 10th OF December received dis.
patch from the mayor Of Redticld. Oak an.
nouucing that the county records of Sphinx
county were in the hands of the sheriff. and
all persons had been enjoined by the Judge
Of the district court from removing the same
that Redield had been besieged by an armed
mob OF hve hundred men and was in great
danger Of being burned and all the public
records destroyed. and he asked that assist
ance might be given. The statutes of the
territory require the governor to furnish aiG
when required to suppress riots or disorders
Section g Of the militia law authorizes hin
to order out such force as may be necessary
while section AZ of the act relating to riot.
declares as follows:
II 1t ap; ears to the governor that the powe
Of tho county is not sufficient to enable tn,
sheriff 70 execute process delivered to him, t,
suppress riots or preserve the peace, he must, Oi
application Of the sheriff or judge. order such
force from other county or counties as Is neees
sary.
Section ~ declares that under the facts an,
circumstances mentioned in the last section