St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-27
JamestoWns Sugar-Coated
Bait Is Summarily Reject
ed by the Convention.
The Joint Commission Has
Almost Reached a Basis
Of Settlement.
State Makers at Sioux Falls
Devote a Whole Day to
Chatter.

rial to congress praying for experiments
by the general government with view
to ascertaining whether or not irriga-
ton for North Dakota is practicable was
presented in the convention to-day.
The memorial sets forth that although
North Dakota has become famed
throughout the civilized world by rea-
son of the superiority and yield OF It's
wheat, there are seasons when lack OF
rains work a great hardship to the peo-
pie. The memorial was referred to a
committee, of which President Eancher
is chairman, and 1t will be forwarded
to congress as soon as 1t has been con-
sidered and revised by the convention.
The Pembina county alliance has petI-
toned the convention to abolish the
Office of county commissioners, and
that the chairman of each town
ship board constitute the county
board. The committee to whom
was referred the invitation OF
the city OF Jamestown for the ad-
journment of the convention to that
place, reported the same to-day with
the recommendation that 1t be not ac-
cepted. The convention adopted the
report and instructed the chief clerk to
inform Mayor Fuller of the coDVen-
tiOn'S refusal to accept. The minority
report of the committee on judicial de-
partment was submitted to-day and
was signed by Bartlett. of GriggS:
Moer, johnson, Robertson, Stevens and
Rame. 1t provides for the election of
county judge in each organized county.
whose term of Office shall be two years.
1t gives the county courts original
jurisdiction in all matters of
probate, guardianship and settle
ments of the estates OF de-
ceased persons. and in all cases
of lunacy. In counties having pOpu-
latiOn of 1900 or over, these counties
shall also have concurrent jurisdiction
with the district courts in all civil
cases wherein the amount in cOntro-
yersy does not exceed $1,000. 1t pro-
videS for the allowance of Writs of er-
ror or appeal to the district courts. The
qualifications for the position of county
Judge in counties with over 1000 pOpu-
latiOn are the same as those OF district
Judge. and the salary i'll such county
shall be S1.500. The office OF justice OF
the peace is virtually abolished. These
are the main points III
THE MINORITY REPORT
of the judiciary committee, and as the
convention is pretty evenly divided on
the question it is the subject of much
discussion. The committee on revenue
and taxation. having considered the nu-
merous propositions on these questions,
to-day submitted its report with pro-
posed article for the constitution. 1t
gives the legislature the power to pro-
vide for raising revenues sufficient to
defray the expenses of the state for
each year, not to exceed four mills on
the dollar on the assessed valuation or
all taxed property. 1t provides that
laws shall be passed taxing by uniform
rule all property according to its true
value in money, but the property of the
United States and the state, county and
municipal corporations shall be exempt.
The legislature shall exempt from taxa
ton all property used exclusively
for school, religious, cemetery or
charitable purposes. and personal
property to any amount not
exceeding $500. Lands and the improve
ments thereon shall be separately as
seSsed. and cultivated ana uncultivated
land of the same quality shall be as
sessed at the same value. Railroad
property shall be assessed by the state
board at not less than $1,000 a mile.
This article, which is agreed upon
unanimously by the committee on taxa
ton, will furnish one of the chief fights
of the session. for in it the corporations
are deeply interested. The joint COM
mission. which has been struggling for
a basis for a division of the property of
the territory between the two states has
about reached an agreement, although
they are still $4,000 apart, and the
chairman of each committee has been
authorized to adjust this difference.
The bonded Indebtedness on the public
institutions will be assumed by the
states in which they are located respect
lively. The public library will be sold
at auction between North and South
Dakota, going to the state bidding the
highest. The records pertaining special
ly to South Dakota will go to the South,
and those of interest only to the North
will go to the North. Those essential to
both will be copied, one keeping the
original and the other taking the copy.
The money paid out of the general fund
in making permanent improvements on
the institutions will be charged to the
state i'll which the Institution is located.
and adjusted accordingly. The state
taxes to be refunded to purchasers of
railroad land along the line of the North
ern Pacific road will be paid propor=
tionately by the two states. 1t is be-
ieVed the settlement will soon be made.