Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-02-20
EDUCATING EDUCATORS.
Senators Instructing the Grand
Forks University Faculty In
Political Economy.
Williams Says there is Some
thing Crooked About a
Certain Bill
To Which the Governor has
Affixed his Signature-ID-
vestigatiOn Ordered.

AmXed his Slsnature-lD-
vestigatiOn Ordered.
Senate Summary.
| BISMARCK Feb. 18-[Special The
bill adopting the Australian ballot sys
tenn was placed on third reading in the
senate. The committee on elections
offered an amendment authorizing towns
to purchase the Rhines voting machine
when majority Of the voters desire it,
This bill passed the last legislature, but
was lost before reaching the governor.
A petition from nearly 1000 citizens
was read, asking legislation to reduce
coal transportation rates and increase
shipping facilities from North Dakota
mines.
A sharp debate occurred over the
salaries of the faculty of tbs state uni
versity at Grand Forks. Senator La
Moure wanted President Sprague's COM
pensation reduced from 5000 to $1,000.
He intlmated that President Sprague
was in politics and said that We have
plenty of shrewd North Dakota politi-
clans who would be glad to take his
place at $1,000. Other members offered
amendments cutting all the teachers
down.
The bill authorizing townships to bond
for the purchase of machinery and con-
struction of artesian wells and water
channels. passed the senate. The amount
SO raised shall not exceed $1,000, or per
cent Of the assessed valuation.
In the Lower Branch.
Neither branch of the legislature did
much of Importance. The house passed
Representative Mils:ed's bill to provide
method of taxation on railroad proper
ty. It declares that the roadbed, right of
way, ties, iron and franchise are taxable
1t is right in line with the recent decis-
ion of the attorney general on the sub
ject of railroad taxation. The constltn-
tion provides how railroad property shall
be assessed and this bill, to con-
form to that article, provides that in
case this or any other legislature shall
enact a gross earnings law, the bill shall
be imperative. The gross earnings pro-
ject has not yet been broached here.
There is something the matter with
senate bill! No. 50. It has been pas sed by
both houses and signed by the governor.
Today Williams stated on the floor that
the bill as signed by the governor did
not include an amendment proposed by
HIM and adopted by the house. He
therefore moved that a JOINT committee
be appointed to investigate. The bill
provides for the appointment Of COM
mission to act with like commission
from South Dakota to adjust financial
difficulties arising from division. The
attorney general is made one of the COM
mission, ard Williams amendment was
to cut him off and put the secretary of
state on in his place. It is small mat
ter, accounted for probably by the per
sopallty Of the attorney general.
Walsh's bill relating to the incorpora-
tion of cities. and Bowen's bill TO fix the
salary OF county judges on a sliding
scale of population, took up long time,
but neither passed. The former was
made special order, and the latter was
lost.
McCullough's bill to give electors the
right to express their preference for
United States senators came up for final
passage and was indefinitely postponed.
Mccullough, himself, seconded the mo-
ton, stating as his reason for so doing
that the senate would kill the bill if the
house didn't. It's better dead than
alive.
Give the Farmers n Chance.
A South Dakota journal, published in
the interest of the farmers OF that state,
thus places before the members Of the
legislature In session at Pierre the fol-
loving earnest request for legislation
that will certainly help the farmer out
The same points apply to North Dakota,
and one bill which is asked for from the
South Dakota legislature has already
been passed by both houses OF North
Dakota; viz, the act making all ware
houses that store gram for profit, pub
lie warehouses. The article in question
reads:
Among the inexcusable robberies thus
far Lermitted to run on without let or
hindrance, Is the warehouse and grain
elevator system, operated as they have
been by as constituencies brood of hui
man whelps as was ever fastened to hu-
man throats the Dakota shylock not
excepted. The annual robbery of far
mers by means of false grading. docking
and combination to get the crop for far
less than it is worth. will 90 on until the
legislature shall by enactment declare
all grain warehouses, large and small,
public warehouses. Compel them to take
license and give bonds for faithful com
pliance with law; provide for the railroad
commissioners or some o,her appropriate
authority, having control over them with