Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1889-02-28
NEARING THE End.
Only Ten More Days Of the Pres
ent Session RemaIn-Wlat
Has Been Done.
Over SIX Hundred Bills Have Been
Introduced - Thirty four
Have Become Laws.
Extravaganza Is Feared if Appro
priations are Rushed Through
Without Discussion.

1ACFdVaSdICS is T edfSu IL APpic'
priations are Rushed Through
Without Discussion.
BISMARCK, Feb. A.-[Special There
now remains but ten days CT this session
and it may be in order to glance over the
legislative field, and see what have been
the results of the labors of the solons SO
far. There have been something over
six hundred measures introduced, but
only thirty four of these have been passed
and become laws The remaining ten
| days of the session are none too long for
an intelligent discussion Of the appro-
priation bills and wedding out of those
which are unnecessary and extravagant.
Another matter which must be attended
! to is the question of railroad taxation.
In consequence Of the decision of the
supreme court on interstate traffic it is
estimated that the gross earnings tax
under the old law will not bring more than
$4,000 into the treasury and IN conse-
quence that the revenue will not be sutli-
the next two years. OF course it goes
a good deal against The grain for those
members who have spent weeks Of valu-
able time, in engineering private bills,
little and big. to have to abandon them
now on the ground Of such a pttifui
reason as economy, but the more sensible
members see that it must be done.
Skilful logrolling may get such approprl-
ations through the legislature, but the
governor has declared that while he is 10
power, economy shall be enforced, and
that he will veto any appropriation not
absolutely necessary.
The list of bills already passed may be
divided into three classes. There are
eight which apply only to special coun'
ties, six which are intended to benefit
the members OF officers Of the legislature
and twenty of general interest. AS the
expenses of the session may be roughly
placed at $4,000, these measures repre-
sent a cost of nearly 81 600 apiece. Those
relating to members are as follows:
Council bill sc gives each member Slt
worth of stamps. G.. B. ! gives each
member copy Of the compiled laws anc
session laws Of 1887. H. 3. 73 provide:
fuel for capitol. Joint resolution 36 pro
vides for certain printing, and was passec
over the veto. G. B. 22l makes an ap
preparation to give six daily newspapers
to each member, passed over the veto
G. B. 125 provides an assistant for the
attorney general.
} OF the eight bills relating to specia
counties, five are for providing extra terms
of court, QUE fixes the boundaries of Ram
sey county, and two are petitions to con-
gress to open the Ft. Randall and Sioux
reservations.
} Among the remaining twenty measures
the Grafton Constitution Convention bill
is now void by action of congress. G. B
2, repeating the gross earnings law, will
probably be nullifed by the re-enact
ment of similar measure, with slight
} notifications. H. B. 1856 provides for
J couuties bonding themselves to secure
} seed wheat, and is practically useless un
} less congress grants the power asked fol
in H. B. 265, extending the limit OF
bonded indebtedness.
About the only important measure II
this mass of chaff, appears to be Fl. B. l!
providing for the extension Of time fol
payment of taxes. G. B. 81 accepts the
compilation of the laws of 1887: H. B. q
J provides for payment of road supervisors
H. B. "a provides for the making OF {
duplicate tax list: II. 3. 333 regulates the
} appointment of referees: II. B. Il limits
, the term of the office of county treasurer
and sheriff to four years; G. b. l62. EN-
!: powers Building & Loan associations tt
} do business outside the territory: II. Is.
, repeals the struck jury law; C.B. 2oS pro
vides for the payment OF witnesses a
the jamestown asylum investigation
and G.. B. 149 and 100 make unlmportani
changes in the license laws.
J. r. l, asks congress to divide Dakot;
and II. B. and 90 make small change:
in the 1887 session laws.
There are a number of bills now in the
enrrosser's hands which will somewhat
swell the number given above. int mos
of them relate to private and unlmpor
: tant matters.
NOTES AND COMMENT.
The members of the legislature wh'
went to Helena are loud in their praise
of the treatment received. The Montan;
men took hold of the delegation and en-
tertained it in true western style. Mu
: tual congratulations and acquaintance
: only cemented the already friendly re
lations of the two legislatures. The Da
kota members will hereafter be great ad
mirers OF our big western nelghbor.
BISMARCK, Feb. % -Special-The junk
eters not having returned and thos
= members of the'council who were HON
j. not having been in any hurry to retur
: there was not quorum, and consequent
: " no session of the council ,day.
i In the house. by rustling a couple {
sick members ont of bed. bare quOrur