Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-02-07
House..
Convened at 2 p. IN.

House.
Convened at 2 p. IN.
Prayer by the chaplain.
All members present with the exception
of Messrs. Foss, Moore and Walton eX-
cuSed.
Mr.. CURRIER moved that the reading
of the report of the committee on house
bill No. 263 be dispensed with.
MIR. THOMPSON objected to this as the
journals are not read md this would give
the house no opportunity of knowing what
was in the report.
The motion prevailed.
Mr.. MCCORMICK moved that the rules
be suspended and that senate bill No. 115-
the seed wheat bill-authorizing counties
to issue bonds for the purchase of seed
wheat for needy farmers, be considered.
Carried.
MI. STEVENS moved that the rules be
suspended and hat amendments to the
bill be allowed. Carried.
The bill was amended by permitting the
distribution of s'grain" instead OF "wheat,"
etc.
Mr.. STEVENS wanted to know what
was meant by saying that bonds should be
issued in counties where there was a spar
tial failure"
Mr.. MCCORMICK said it meant Just
what it said.
Mr.. SELBY explained that it meant to
cover counties which had not a total fail
ure, but a large percentage of whose farm
ers needed aid.
Mr.. STEVENS: 1 then move to amend
by providing that 1t shall apply to coun-
| ties one-fourth of which was q failure,
Lost.
MI. SELBY objected to this motion Oil
the ground thai it would mean one-fourth
Of the area, hence making the law inoper-
alive in counties that are Sparsely settled.
The bill was then read the third time
and recommitte,l to the committe on en-
grossment and made a special order for
Friday at 8 p. III
PUBLISHING INSURANCE STATEMENTS.
House bill No. 48, providing for the pub
LEGATION of insurance statements, was read
the third time and passed-all votes being
in the affirmative.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
The committee on education reported
back the bill providing for uniformity in
text books, with the recommendation that
after amendments as to detail-it pass.
UsURY.
The Judiciary committee reported house
bill No. 80, defining usury and fixing the
rate of interest at 5 per cent and the con-
tract rate at II per cent, the majority
recommending its passage.
The minority recommended that the bill
do not pass.
Mr.. CURRIER moved that the house re-
the consideration OF the bill. Carried.
Mr.. ZIMMER was called to the chair.
Mr.. CURRIER moved that the majority
report be adopted.
MIR. THOMPSON Of Cass moved as an
amendment that the minority report be
adopted. Lost.
The majority report was adopted and
the committee of the whole recommended
the passage OF the bill.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION DEFICIT.
The bill providing for the payment of
the expenses of the constitutional conven-
| ton over the amount appropriated by con-
gress was read the third time and passed.
PREFERENCE FOR UNITED STATE sENA-
TORS.
The bill providing that voters may ex.
press their preference for United States
senators at the general elections was re-
ported back, the majority of the committee
recommending its passage and the minority
opposing it, the following is the minority
report:
The statutes of the United States pre-
scribe how United States senators shall be
elected, viz: By the members of the state
legislature.
Were this bill to become a law it would
have no legal, and but little moral bind
ing, upon the members of the state legisla-
tive assembly.
The duties of a member of this body to
his constituents extends SO far only as his
best judgment dictates. To 90 beyond
this is to become a tool, a machine with
out will or manhood.
Ii the people by a popular vote have ex-
pressed their preference for a United
States senator, it would, perhaps. be the
sacred duty of every member to his state
the person preferred. Yet, if in a mem
ber's best Judgment, he became convinced
that there are other aspirants better fitted
and more worthy, his highest duty would
be to his conscience; yet in the very per-
Torrance Of that duty obliquy and re-
| pEOacn WOulu De upon MIN, ana ulSSallS-
faction and distrust would arise to impugn
the motive, however pure and honest. In
| short his judgment would be envlroned,
and the free exercise of his functions as a
legislator hampered and restrained.
The result of all elections is a positive
one This is the object and design of the
| elective franchise.
The fewer distracting issues in an cleo
ton, the better can the judgment of the
| people be obtained.
Were this bill to become a law, the re-
| suit obtained would be at best a negative
one, while the means BY which it was got
ten would be equally as disturbing as
those the result of which is positive and
binding; hence, real and positive issues
would suffer, and the Judgment be diluted
| by the distracting influences of an issue
imp0tent and negative. H.. .(
The laws of the federal government
| grant certain appointing powers to the
president Of TIE United States. The laws
Of the several states confer upon the gov
ernor the power to fill certain Offices by ap-
pointment. Would it not be, at least, ques-
tlOnable policy to submit to 8 vote of the
people their preference for the persons to
fill these appOintive Offices ?iWould it not be
quasi taking away frOmIthe person having
a%ppointive powers, the right granted by
law, as well as a reflection upon their
Judgment and understanding? The same
| .r,,tc o,,ek n~~lx, ~ Tho oooo at horI. now