The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-07-25


mittees of the convention.
DOWN TO BUSINESS AGAIN.
BIsMARCK, July, 11.-The omnibus bill
made no regular provision for stenOgra pher,
but on the understanding that such an ex-
pense would, in NIL probability, be allowed
by the general government, and for the rca-
son that verbatim reports of all debates will
aid in the interpreta ton of the constitution
by the courts, Mr.. K. NJ. Tuttle, of Mandan
will officIate in that capacity during the ses-
siOnS OF the constitutional convention. West
Superior, Wis, formally invited the conven-
ton as body to attend the national water
ways convention to be held in that city on
Aug. 6, and the invitation was referred to a
special committee of five. The standing COM
mittees of the convention were then announced
by the president. There are % commuters. of
which the Democrats receive the chairman
ship OF three.
By request Of the convention Gov Mellette
delivered an address in the course of which
he emphaticaly denounced the frauds on
the ballot in modern times and urged the
closest attention 10 keeping it down here
and the man who buys, as he who sells
u vote. should be made to suffer the full ex-
tent. He indorsed the secret ballot and the
hearty applause from all the deleg ates gave
good Indications OF that connection. Mr..
Purcell called attention to the reported in
accuracy of the boundary line between North
and South Dakota and moved that the joint
commission of the two sections be authorized
to effect temporary agreement regarding
that line, which motion was made speci al
order for tomorrow. Rev. X. c. Wiley, of
the National Reform Association, by request,
addressed the convention in favor of the in
corporation in the bill of rights of the new
constitution of recognition Ofthe civil Sab
bath and Of the Almighty Ruler and Savior
ofthe universe
AFTER THE NORTHERN PACIFIC.
On July ~, Mr.. Moore offered the follow
ing, which was adopted:
Whereas The road bed and rolling stock
of the Northern Pacific railroad is at present
by virtue of its charter exempt from taxa
tiOn in this territory and
Whereas 1t is important and necessary
for this convention to determine whether or
not said road bed and rolling stock can be
made subject to taxation under the congti-
tuition about to be formed; and
Whereas, Great differences ofOpinion exist
as to the power of this convention in the
premises; now, therefore, be it
Resolved That the said matter of the
power of this convention to provide for the
taxation of said property be referred to the
judiciary committee for their opinion there
OIL, and that said committee be and are here
by instructed to report thereon within
one week from this date.
SOME OF THE THINGS SUGGESTED.
BISMARCK July 14.-Messrs. Pennington,
Rowe, Pollock and Haugen introduced art
icles providing for a constitutional prohibi-
ton of the manufacture and sale Ofintoxicat-
ing liquors Mr.. Johnson offered compact
with the United States providing for tolera-
tion of religious Beliefs disclaiming all rights
to unappropriated public lands within the
limits of the state exemptiug United States
lands from taxation, assuming due proper
tiOn of the debt and liabilities OF the Terri
tory of Dakota previous to the adoption OF
md TlrNap vino +Io
ment and maintenance of public, non-sectar-
ian schools. Mr.. Johnson also offered long
article with nineteen sections, relating to
corporations.
c. P. Parsons OF Roulette county offered
an article making Bismarck the temporary
capital. providing for its permanent location
| by vote Of the people, and forbdding any
expenditure tOr building until the permanent
| location has been decided upon.
MIR. Bartlett wished to provide for legis-
| lature OF two houses, a senator from each
! county and house consisting of from 10 to
| $50 members. Mr.. Bartlett also offered an
article to consider as fraudulent all ballots
| purporting o be a regular party ticket, hat
| having other names printed thereon, He
| further propOed to empower the legislature
| to provide for the qualifications for office
| holders
! Prohibition Of the liquor traffic has numer-
GUS advocates, but the majority OF the con-
vcntion favors its submission as an
| amendment to the vote of the people such
will be the method of its disposal. The one
| legislative body idea is rapidly losing
| strength, and will scarcely have a hearing in
| the convention; only few members are now
| thought to be in it's favor, and they feel the
| weakness of their number too much to make
| needless attempts to carry it through. 1t
| was their purpose to secure in that way bet
| ter representation for some sparcely settled
| districts, and they now hope to secure this
| county. As regards the subject OF minority
representation. the best that its friends are
| expecting is that it may be submitted to
| vote OF the people, but of even this much
| they now express little hope.
ONE LEGISLATIVE BODY.
BISMARCK, July 15.-At to-day's session
! Mr., Stevens introduced, by request the fol-
| lowing:
| Resolved. That the constitution provide
that the legislative authority of this state
shall rest in a single body, to be called
| legislative assembly, which shall consist OF
| not less than one hundred members to be
elected by the people; provided: the legisla-
| tive assembly may from time to time iu-
| crease the number of members as necessity
| may require.
| While the introduction of this proposed
| article is a further evidence that the friends
| of one legislative body are at work. the ad-
| vocatcs of the older and more generally
known scheme of the two houses are not
| idle.
| Prohibition of the fiquor traffic came IN
| again, Mr.. Wallace desiring it Incorporated
| in the new constitution, while Mr.. Elliott
| wished to have it submitted to n vote of the
| people, which last provision WAS also CON
| tanned in a resolution submitted by Mr.. Mil
Ter. Looking to the preservation of the
| credit OF counties and cities, Mr.. Flemingt ON
| introduced the following: No county. city
| or other municipal corporation shall hereat.
| ter become % subscriber to the capital stock
| of shy private corporation or association,
or make any appropriation or donation to
the same, or in any way loan its credit. Nom
| sectaran schools are provided for in an
article introduced by Mr.. Richardson, who
| also presented preamble recognizing God
| the father, and declaring in favor OF the
| civil Sabbath. Suffrage was the subject of
| several proposed articles. but none OF them
| made any departures from esta blshed laws
| of the older states, The Australian system
of balloting came up and was ordered print
ed, in order to give members an opportunity
for studying it.
| RAILROADS AND SCHOOLS.
| BISMARCK, July 16.-The constitutional
| convention of North Dakota, which has thus
| far been quiet and conservative, is rapidly
| reaching the point where the clash ofinterests
| will bring the members to an uncovering Of
their positions. The question OF railroad
| taxation is bound to cut an important
figure, and Chairman Cotton, of the com
mittee ontaxation, to, day submitted prop
| osition which has created much discussion.
He proposes that the governor, the secretary
of state and the state auditor shall Consti-
tute board of assessors whose duty ie
shall be to assess each year the railroads ot
the state, including road bed, rolling stock
and all buildings used for railroad purposes.
| The proposition provides that in no case
shall railroad he assessed for less than
$4,000 nor more than $1,000 Der mile.
There is strong sentiment in favor of this
mode of taxation, but it is being opposed by
those who favor the gross earnings system.
viii III baa been the law under the territorial
government, and which is satisfactory to
the railroads. 1t is maintained hv some
that the placing of this power of assess
ment in the hands of The state would be u
dangerous experiment. The convention is
L n I,irnnNta N r,n,nS&inr khnt ;n