St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-13
NONE TOO IGNORANT,
Hundreds Of North Dakotians
Think They Would Make
Good Judges.
Would-Be Wearers Of the Err
mine Puzzle the State
makers.
The Subject Of Taxing the
Northern Pacific Bobs Up
in Convention.
Thirty-Minute Sessions Are
the Prevailing Fashion at
Sioux Falls.
Special TO the Globe.

the morning to-day a few of the COM
mittees of the constitution convention
held meetings for organization and
planning their work. The committee
on Judiciary was together long enough
to show in what particulars there win
be difference of opinion. and wherein
there is to be most of the work of the
committee. There is no question as to
the supreme court, but the trouble lies
between the district and county courts.
1t resolves itself into a fight on the part
of Would-be judicial lights for the emol-
uments of the offices. If there are six
or more district judges. and also county
Judges. the latter will receive fees
which the former would like to retain be-
cause OF the necessarily limited work of
the district judges. There are two Sug-
gestiOnS for a settlement of the trouble.
Either to make not more than four dis
tricts or to establish the larger number
of district courts. abolish the justices
of the peace and give their duties over
into the hands of the county courts. 1t
is probable that the lowest office will be
dropped and the other changes made.
When the convention assembled in the
afternoon the motion to authorize the
Joint commission in charge of the di-
vision of the assets and liabilities of the
territory to settle temp orarily the
boundary line between North and South
DOkota was taken up and carried. NJ.
n. johnson offered the following article
for the new constitution:
Common carriers shall convey all troops of
the state militia when on duty, and all Off
GERS of the military, executive, Legislative and
judicial deDartments OF the state government
when travelling on official business, at a uni
Of NJ 10 I nav 10 fr
be paid out OF the state treasury, as provided
by law.
Mr.. Griggs presented the following:
First-The several counties of the territory
of Dakota living north of the seventh standard
parallel. as they now exist. are hereby de-
clared to be counties of the state OF North
Dakota.
Second-No new counties shall be estab-
lished which shall reduce any county to less
than 400 square miles, or to less than 1000
inhabitants: nor shall any county be formed
of less area or containing a less population.
Third-No county shall be divided or have
any part stricken therefrom without first sub
mitting the question to vote of the people
of the county, or unless a majority of all the
voters of the county voting on the question
shall vote for the same.
Fourth-There shall be no territory strick-
en- from any organized county unless the
majority OF the voters living in each territory
shall petition for such division, and no ter
TitOTy shall be added to any organized county
unless majority of voters living in such
county shall vote therefor. But the portion
so stricken off and added to another county,
or formed In whole or part to whole
county, shall be holden for and obliged TO
pay its proportion of the Indebtedness of
the counties from which it has been taken.
Fifth-The legislative assembly shall have
no power to remove the county seat of any
county. But the removal of county seats
shall be provided for by general law, and no
county seat shall be removed unless two
thirds Of the qualified electors Of the county
voting on the proposition at a general elec-
ton vote therefor; and no such proposition
shall be submitted oftener than once in four
years, and no person shall vote on such
proposition who shall not have resided in the
county six months ana in the election pre-
ci net ninety days next preceding such elec-
ton.
Mr.. Moer offered the following, which
was adopted:
Whereas. The roadbed and rolling stock of
the Northern Pacific railroad is at present,
by virtue of its charter. exempt from taxa
ton in the territory, and
Whereas. it is important and necessary for
this convention to determine whether or not
said roadbed and rolling stock can be made
subject to taxation under the constitution
about to be formed. and
Whereas, Great difference of opinion exists
as to the power of this convention i'll 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
on, and that said committee be, and are here
by ins.racted to report thereon within one
week from this late.
Mr. Scott offered an article providing
that judicial salaries be not paid until
all causes have been heard and affidavit
been made to that effect. Some other
minor matters, relating to details of the
work of the convention, were disposed
of and an adjournment taken for the
day. The rest of the afternoon was
spent in committee work, but nothing
of special Importance was done. 1t now
seems probable that the committees will
have little assistance from the outside.
but must for themselves construct those
portions of the constitution intrusted to
them. Considerable study of the or
ganic law of other states is now being
done. and the best portions of all are
being sought out for incorporation in
that on which North Dakota's civil eX-
istence shall depend. The temperance
committee practically stands pledged to
submit prohibition amendment to a
popular vote, majority OF the dele
gates being instructed to that
effect. This settles the temperance
legislation of the convention and the
committee will probably make its first
and final report on Monday. The legis-
lative department committee is wres-
tling with the questions of the number
of houses and the number of members.
with the occasional consideration of the
suggestion that the latter matter should
be decided by the committee on appOr-
tionment and representation. Members
are each on from two to four commit
tees and convenient hours for meeting
are difficult to announce, which fact will
cause some delay in the work. Presi-
dent Fancher is not inclined, however.
to allow any waste of time, and this
afternoon he sharply reminded the con.
vention that congress had appropriated
but $4,000 for the expenses of this con-
vention and prompt action was neces-
sary that the appropriation be not ex-
ceeded.
INCLINED TO WASTE TIME.