Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1891-02-06
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL.
Editorial Correspondence.

Editorial COrresnonuence
BISMARCK. Thursday Morning. Feb. s.
Nothing startling has taken place in the
matter of Legislation during the past week.
The house adjourned over Saturday last
week, and most Of the members having
close railroad connections went home to
spend the holiday and Sunday.
A large number OF bills have been intro.
duccd in each house, but not many have
been passed. There is n c0mmentable
disposition manifested to kill Off all unncc-
fsSary legislation. and already about as
many bills have been defeated aS have
passed. A great deal Of time is consumed
in considering and killing bills that are
brought in by members to get even with
some antagonistic element or political
rival at home. AS all laws must be gener-
al in character, bills aiming in some special
direction are often introduced with be.
lief that no one will discover their intent;
but at this sesSion--iu the house at least
no member can get a bill of this kind
through until he has explained it clearly.
The people have been taught to believe
by some newspapers that a great deal Of
our legislation is governed by the use Of
money-that thc"bO0dlc. car or the "bal'l''
is always in sight. This is mistake.
believe. In the first place-snccr at it rs
some pessimsts may there are lots of peO-
pie in the world yet whom nothing but
conditions Of absolute starvation for them
selves and their families would drive to
commit crime and betray those who have
hhn0red them. In the second place, the
fear OF exposure and consequent dishonor
also has Il great effect with some who
would care li:tlc for the right simply be-
cause il was right. In the third
place, attempts to bribe are dangerous
to those making them; and. lastly, there is
not much legislation that interests any one
sufficiently to cause them to seek to carry
or defeat il by the corrupt use of money.
There are instances once in awhile, how
ever, where measures indisputabIy wrong,
unfair and against the interests of the com
mon people are sought to be forced into
laws, and where no sane person can ac.
count for the actions of those who champion
their passage save on the ground that such
have been "seem.'
Take, for instance, the bill repeating the
law requiring state banks and private
bankers to comply with provisions laid
down for other banks. There is not a
single valid reason why it should be re-
pealrd, and private money oanrrs allowed
to escape taxation. The present law is
intended to make all banks show up their
condition, NJ 81
positors to know just the kind of an inst-
tuition they are dealing with. The
proposed repeal would let the class of
banks that are kicking against the law cs-
cape all regulation and nearly all taxation.
The national banks are WORKING to pre-
vent repeal and some OF Them claim that
they will have TO give up organization
under the national system If - the bill
passes. The fact is that the law, as
it now stands, has not been properly en-.
TO: ccd in all sections of the state A we'll
known national bank cashier said to me
the other day. "If this law is repealed II
will hurt the national banks greatly by
placing them in competition with banks
that pay no taxes. Take the bismarck
banks, tOy instance. The taxes for the two
national banks for 1870 were about $4,000,
while the private banks paid about twenty
dollars! Is it any wander that such
banks can afford to offer 6 per cent inter
est for the deposit Of county funds: The
only thing that would tend to give us q
show, If the law were repealed, or its en-.
fOrccment continue To be Is lax as in the
past, would be the fear Of trpasurerS to
deposit county moneys in banks that pay
no taxes, make no statements. and are
never visited by the public examiner
Yet there are men in the legislature
notably in the senate-whO "favOr' repeal,
and whom nothing but strong protest
from their constituents will keep from
voting for it. Such protest ought to
come.
There is, however, not much danger of
the bill passing. The house will defeat it
il it passes the senate unless present sen
tinent is caused to "cliangr" greatly. To
show their standing in the matter the
lower body the other day passed a concur
rent resolution requesting states attorneys
in the various counties to 1T once enforce
the law regulating state banks. This
went through without opposition, but the
senate laid the resolution over for two
weeks---t0 February 10. Whatever may
be the outcome, under the constitution the
roll must be called on the passage of all
bills, so the people will have a chance
to know now their members voted.
There is one bill in til" house that ought
to pass. 1t abolish"s the Office of school
township treasurer and puts the work of
Keeping the books Of the different districts
on the county treasurer. He is allowed a
commission for doing such work. Com.
plants come from county superintendent
in all parts of the state that many town.
ship treasurers do not attempt to properly
keep and report the accounts of their dis
trict. Warrants are paid out of their reg
lllar order, and, sometimes. with warrants
outstanding, cash is used for payment of
officers salaries. This is against the law
of course, and would be remeiied by the
proposed bill.
A great many OF the members are get.
ting tired and would like 10 close up and
90 home as soon as possible. AT first
while the work possesses novelty, every
body is contented and satisfied to remain
away from home; but after awhile it be-
comes tlreSome and even the $5 day Is
little inducement. People have otter ex
pressed wonder at the constant change in
the Ie!sOnnel of legislative sessions, and
the conclusion has been that the members