Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-22
GENERAL TOPICS.
A Constitution for North
Dakota.
READY MADE INSTRUMENT.
A Dry Sunday in Cincinnati and Kan
sas City-Fun in Oklahoma
Begun.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
BISMARCK, OAK, July 21.-The Con-
stitutional Convention has been given a
surprise by the presentation of COM
plete constitution, which will be consid-
cred during the present week. This con-
stitution is said to have been prepared
with great care, and after consultation
with some of the ablest constitutional
lawyers in the Union. In many respects
it is identical with articles already intro
duced. 1t is compilation OF the best
provisions OF the constitutions OF the dif-
ferent States and the United States,
fitted to North Dakota.
With regard to taxation it has no
specific provisions, embodying the Wis
consin constitutional provision on this
subject, which provides that the rate OF
taxation shall be uniform upon property
made subject to taxation by the Legis-
lature, leaving the power Of regulating
| the method OF taxation with the Legisla-
| ture. 1t also provides that the
property of non'residents shall not
| be taxed at higher rate than that
of residents; gives the Legislature power
to fix passenger aud freight rates OF rail-
roads and transportation companies, the
rates to be reasonable, and the courts to
| decide what are reasonable rates; pro-
hibits the loaning of the credit of the
State to any association or corporation (;
vests the judicial power in Court of
Impeachment, consisting of the Senate,
Supreme Court, District Court, County
Courts and Justices of the Peace, thus
providing for the establishment of County
Courts; limits the number of Judges OF
the Supreme Court to three, which may
be increased after five years.
1t provides against female suffrage.
The House of Representatives shall
consist OF not less than rs, nor more than
120 members, and the Senate less than
one-third nor m ore than one-half of the
size of the House. Each organized
county shall be entitled to at least one
member Of the House. The Senators
. are divided into two classes, one
to be- elected for two years and
the other four. 1t provides for biennial
sessions of the Legislature, not exceed.
ing ninety days; two-thirds iof the mem.
bers-elect may override the veto power
) 1t is against minority representation
; providing for elections by plurality
vote.
1t gives the Legislature full power tc
regulate liquor licenses.
Any coal lands which the State may
! acquire by Congressional grant shall
never be sold, but may be leased.
The School fund shall be invested il
United States bonds, bonds of the State
) or first mortgage securities of the State
at more than the value of the land. The
I School fund shall be considered True
fund, the interest to be used for schools
and in case of the loss of any part of tht
principal, the State must make it good
1t prohibits the passage of school laws.
The property Of wife before marriage
and what she may acquire during mar
riage, shall be exempt from execution OF
claims against her husband.
1t directs the Legislature to pass lib
eral homestead laws; prohibits foreign
;; corporations from transacting business il
the State until they appoint an agent il
the State who shall be subject to process
by law.
1t provides that no foreigner shall vot,
until two years after he has declared hi
intention to become citizen, and tina
the reading of the Declaration of Inde
pendence with facility shall be consid
cred test cf the qualification of voter
No act of the Legislature shall take
effect within sixty days after adjourn
ment, unless specially provided in tn,
preamble or the body of the act
This constitution will furnish al
abundance of material for discussion
and those who have read it predict tha
it will be adopted with very few changes