St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-14
EVERY LITTLE HELPS.
North Dakota Statesmen Chip
In to Make a Good Con-
stitution.
Articles Supposed to Be
Sound Submitted to the
Convention
PpohibitiOnists Will Have a
Chance to Vote on Their
Pet Scheme.
Tide Lands Worth Millions
Engposs the Attention Of
Washingtonians-
Special to the Globe.

CpCC1d1 W thC 0iOOS-
BISMARCK, n. D., July 13.-At to-
days session of the constitutional con-
vention large number of proposed ar
ticles were presented. Messrs. Flem-
ington, Rowe, Pollock and Haiger intro
duced articles providing for cOnstitu-
tiOnal prohibition of the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors. Mr..
johnson offered a compact with the
United States providing for liberation
of religious beliefs; disclaiming all right
to unappropriated public lands within
the limits of the state: eXempting
United States lands from taxation; as
Suming due proportion OS the debt and
liabilities of the territory of Dakota
previous to the adoption OF this constl-
tuition, and ordering the establishment
and maintenance OF public uon-Sectarlan
schools. Mr.. johnson also offered a
long article with nineteen sections re-
lating to corporations. Among other
provisions i'll this proposed article is
the following:
mo corporation should be created or have
its charter extended, changed or amended
by special laws. except those for charitable
educational, penal or reformatory purposes
which are to remain under the patronage
and control of the state. But the legislature
W
zation of all corporations hereafter to be
created" Exclusive privileges not taken
advantage of are declared invalid; property
and franchises of interpretations are made
subject to public use. NO stocks or bonds
shall be issued by any interpretations except
for money, property or services actually
rendered; the legislature is empowered to
alter or annul charters II no injustice is
thereby done: no official or employe OF any
railroad is permitted to furnish supplies Or
material to said CORPORATION; annual reports
to the public Official are required; railways
are declared TO be common carriers ana SUD-
ject to legislative control; discrimination
and extortionate rates shall be prevented by
legislative enactment, and just compensa-
ton must be rendered for public use OF prl-
Yate property.
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 forbidding any expenditure
for building until the permanent lOca-
ton has been decided upon. Mr.. Camp
presented an article providing for a
board of pardOnS, to consist of the gov
ernOr, attorney general and judges OF
the supreme court. two-thirds major
itv of which body will be required to
decide in favor of any desired pardon or
cOmmutation. Mr.. Clark, by article
presented, wished the new constitution
to provide that it shall be the duty of
the general assembly to establish courts
of arbitration. whereby differences may
be settled without submitting them to
trial by jury. except as a last resort.
Mr.. Rolfe offered an article to provide
that taxes shall be uniform on real and
personal property assessed according to
legislative enactment. Mr.. Gray offered
the following article on minority repre-
sentations.
The home of representatives shall consist
of three times the number OF the members OF
the senate, and the term OF Office shall be
two years. Three representatives shall be
elected in each senatorial district at the first
general election held after this constitution
takes effect, and every two years thereafter.
in all elections held after this constitution
takes effect. In all elections of representa-
tives aforesaid each qualified voter may cast
as many votes for one candidate as there are
representatives to be elected, or may dis
tribute the same as equal parts thereof among
the candidates as he shall see fit, and the
candidates highest in votes shall be elected.
Mr.. Bartlett wished to provide for
legislature consisting of two houses,
senator from each county, and house
consisting of from IS to $50 members.
Mr.. Bartlett also offered an article to
consider as fraudulent all ballots pur-
porting to be regular party ticket, but
having other names printed thereon.
He further proposed to empower the
legislature to p1Ovide for the Qualifica-
tions of officeholders. President
Sprague. of the Grand Forks university,
was requested to address the cOnven-
ton. He made a strong plea for the ed
ueatiOnal franchise as the
PANACEA FOR ALL ILLS OF GOVERN
MENT.
Io Nv I,n
proceedings of the day. Prohibition of
the LIQUOR traffic has numerous advocates.
but the majority of the convention favOrs
its submission, as an amendment, to the
vote of the people. Such will be the
method of its disposal. The one-legis-
lative body idea is rapidly losing
strength. and will scarcely have hear
ing in the convention. Only few men,
berS are now thought to be in its favor,
and they feel the weakness of their
number too much to make needless at
tempts to carry through that principle.
1t was their purpose to secure, in that
way, better representation for some
SparSely settled districts, and they now
hope to secure this by means of one
senator from each county. As regards
the subject Of minority representa-
ton, 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.
When the Judiciary committee met it
appointed Judge Garland to draft a
Judiciary system for the new constitu-
tion. and he is now at work on that sub
ject. 1t is uncertain whether the
supreme court will be elected by the
state as a whole or by three districts,
although the former plan seems to find
the greatest favor. On the disputed
point of county courts minority report
is sure to be made whatever may be the
decision of the committee. The friends
of the county court advocate the
abolition of justices of the peace and
probate judges and the addition of their
duties to those of the county judge, some
of whose present duties will then become
the portion of the Sixth district Judge.
whose appointment seems to be re-
garded as certain. At meeting held
last night of the committee on revenue
and taxation a subcommittee was ap-
pointed to draft an article for the con-
sideration of the entire committee.
This has been prepared, and will be dis
cuSSed on Monday. but it contains none
of the more strongly disputed points.
and the committee will have busy and
a lively session. Altogether the con-
vention is now well at work and PROM
ises to labor earnestly for the good of
all, with no special interests having
a preference. The South Dakota part
of the joint commission for the division
of territorial assets and liabilities ar
rived to-day, and the commission will at
once begin work on their tedious but
important work, which seems sure to,
keep them for some weeks.