The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-02-28
THE LEGISLATURE,
North Dakota's Solons and
What They are
Doing.
SENATE.

A%uaeu. OeUrke e. spencer, attorney
for the Louisiana lottery company, was called
upon to testify before the senate investiga-
ting committee. He was subjected to rigid
sxninination by Judge Francis. Mr.. Spencer
told all about his business us the represent.
ative Of the lottery company. He denied
that ne had bribed or attempted to bsibe
any body in the interests of the hill
Cole has g bill for q constitutional amend-
ment prohibiting lotteries and option deal.
ing. George +. Wilson and other represent
atires OF the Minneapolis elevator companies
are opposins house bill No. SO. which regu-
iates warehouses. House bill No. Is, declar-
ing all grist mills public, passed the senate
*oll VI onc-sixth.
A petition signed by 900 persons was
ssad prayingfor n memorial to congress ask
lug the government to nil in provilipr q
system OF irrigation in North Dakota. The
bill requiring county commissioners to give
bonds was killed in the house.
SENATE. -
The senate investigation committee did not
sit. Chairman Robinson returned home.
Alex Mckenzie started for st Paul There is
n ino'cment to cnl n high license convention,
anu paper NJ circulating for that purpose.
1t may not he nude public
Senator La M0ure introduced q. .cAs,rsffn.
ings bill. Practically it continues the system
oi o. railroad taxation which is now in vogue.
The constitution provides t mt the Legislature
may enact gross earnings law or cent per
centum OF gross earnings Of railroad com.
panies. to be pal in lieu of oil
other state. county. township and school
taxes on property exclusively used in and
about the prosecution of the business of such
companies ns common carriers The senate
ha'i an interesting discussion of the text
bilL
The report the railroad commissioners
to the house ol the merits of Ignite conl con.
slsts OF an analysis of various kinds OF fuel.
correspondence and practical tests were sui :
mitted giving much information in regard to
the practical and economical use OF Ignite
coal.
The greater part of the day wns spent in
considerng and amending the bill establish.
ing tho public school system. The section
providing for IL state text book system wns
amended go thnt each township lns control
Of its own text books. The district instead
for and the attendance at school between the
ages of eight to fourteen inclusive, is sccmpul.
sory. The house passed the bill! appropriat.
Ing $4,000 for legislative expenses.
HOUSE.
In the house the economist made nm effort
to cnt down the salary of he railroad COM
inissioners' clerk from $1,000 to 5000, but
We're ,%l -, nnsuccessfq, ,! They ATTEMPTED to fix
the per diem of nll employees for this and fu-
ture legislatures, but the resolution was
amended 80 that it will not apply to the
present legislature.
The senate passed n bill providing for tho
tnxation of property in nnnorganizel counties.
The senate was considering the election bil
when adjournment was taken
HOUSE.
The house amended the net providing for
the incorporation of cities. fixing the limit
OF bonded Indebtedness at j per cent of
property value but allowing the limit to he
placed at per cent by n two-tlirds vote OF
the people of the city. The house also passed
n bill establishing q school of mines ut the
state university, and n bill imposing direct
tax upon theproperty airailroud companies.
SENATE.
The Sennte passed the Australian election
law FL to T. The amendment authorizing
counties to purchase he Rhincs voting ma
chine. when majority OF voters desire it,
was retained. 1t is thought the House will
concur.
President Sprague Of HE state university
got another ronstins from Sena' or l.nmOure
and his salary was cut dowitlrom $4,000 to
r.
Other salaries w"' .educed from $1,000 TO
81, 500. Inc total appropriation for the
university is $21 900.
The bill nppropratng sss 900 for the in
sane asylum also passed the Senate.
HOUSE.
The house passed Inks bill offering II boun-
~ OF two cents per pound for beet sugnr,
and Hahkinsons bill giving u bounty of one
cent per pound for potnto starch manufi,c.
tured in this state. The house voted to in.
definitely postpone the hill locating the
state fair at Grand Forks. The bill consoli.
Outing the boards ot the public institutions
passed.
SENATE.
III the senate eleven bills were introduced.
including n bill to authorize counties to ex.
pend surplus funds in rurcl,nsiu.. seed wheat
Tor farmers and one requiring non resident
newspaper publishers whose papers circulate
IN the state to appoint an ngent residing in
tho statswho shall receive ervir,. in ctions ut
law. II such agent is not appointed. the bill
authorizes such service to be make upon
any newsCeaer in the state who sells the
paper The senate passed u hill lrgnzing
certain INSTRUMENTS of record. The senate
also Insses Il joint resolution which grows
out of the decisions of Land Commissioner
Sparks. 1t asks congress to pass Il law di.
recting patents to iss,Ie in all cises of pre-
empton and homestead cnsh entries where.
uA
the land Ind interviewed prior to suspension
Of the entry.
HOUSE.
In the house n bill was introduced author
izing the payment of newspapers FOR publish.
ing the constitution. The house passed the
senate bills authorizing county courts to-.
mortgage real estate belonging to cstat as Cf
decensed persons, minors aud incompctent
persons, and providing tor furnishing rooms
forstate Officers. As II result OF the the caucus
ai the Republican senators. the sennte passed
II joint resolution fixing March ! l as the day
oI adjournment. The house reerreh tho
resolution to the committee on state affairs.
THIS committee will look into the condition
Of the legislative business lie ore reporting.
The proceedings o: the house WAS enlivened
BY an attack upon the agricultural soriety
Icy X. y. Stevens. He declared that the no
ciety had Eever benefited the farmers and it
WIS an outrage to vote appropriations for it
when the state could not buy seed wleue
for the farmers.
Sir RaIeigh'S Weed.