Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-02-22
OFFICIAL PAPER BURLEIGH co.
tn RUSSIAN THISTLE BILL,

THE RUSSIAN THISTLE BILL.
Ex-United States Senator Casey has
been in the capital city some days, work.
ing to perfect proposed Russian thistle
legislation. He was the author of the
memorial to congress recently passed,
and may be said to be the author of the
bill introduced Thursday in the senate.
The bill provides for an appropriation
of $4,000 to aid citizens whose lands are
so badly infected as to be beyond remedy
within their means.
A tax Of one mill is levied to create a
state thistle fund, and is expected to
yield $4,000.
Provision is a made for a commission
called the Thistle Relief Board, consisting
of the governor and two others whom he
shall appoint, the commission to formu-
late rules having the force of law for
the prosecution of thistle destruction at
the expense Of the state or counties, to
control all expenditures from the state
thistle fund, and to direct all special
work relating to determination, the COM
mission to receiver no pay. Each county
commissioner is to be charged with the
general work of destruction of thistles
in his commissioner district. When any
complaint of the existence of thistles is
made to a county commissioner he must
first serve notice, if able to do so, on the
owner Of the land by registered mail or
otherwise. After ten days he must pro-
coed to destroy the thistles if the owner
has not done sc. The same provision is
made to railroad rights of way. Com
missioner must examine state lands and
destroy at the expense of the state this
ties on it's lands.
Also on lands title to which is in the
United States at expense of the state,
but if such United States lands are oc-
cupied or cultivated the person occupy
ing or c%ultivating the same must cause
such destruction the same as an owner,
and must clean up the public roads, and
all trails and fire breaks.
The county commissioners are to meet
in November to audit expenses and to
hear complaints of parties who are to be
taxed. Such amounts, for destroying
thistles, as are allowed to be levied as
taxes on lands and railroads, and per-
sonal property of parties whose lands
are not taxable because the title is still
in the United States.
Road taxes are, 80 far as necessary, to
be worked out or ex expended in Destroy
ing thistle.
The promiscuous blowing of fire
breaks is forbidden.
The growing of thistles for any other
purpose than authorized scientific inves-
t%igation is forbidden.
Persons whose lands are free from
thlstles may hold their neighbors whose
lands are infected for damages if thistles
growing on their lands are not de-
etroyed.
All officers who fail to do their duties,
rs prescribed, are to be subject to $50
me IN each instance of failure.
officers are forbidden to make dis
ordinations or to create unnecessary
expense, under penalty of a fine Of from
500 to $500, and are disqualified for
holding office on conviction.
In addition to taxation fines are nre.
scrlbed for failure of any person or &C.
cupant of any land to destroy, when
notified, thistles growing on lands con-
tTolled by such person.
The intention of the law is to aid
thistle sufferers to get control of the
evil as it now exists and to put them on
a footing with others who are less dis.
tressed, and, by the general law, to
compel all to unite in suppressing the
weed. The agencies provided to this
end are made as simple as possible. The
governor is practically responsible for
state work and expenditures of the state
fund, and the county commissioners for
local work. Ample power is given to
these officers. Under the provisions of
the bill, If it shall become a law, the
evil can be brought under control, if
not entirely suppressed, provided the
people who are suffering most really
desire it sufficiently to devote their
energies to the work with the aid the
state extends.
From the attitude already assumed by
some OF them, unfortunately, there is
some.doubt as to the position the popu-
listic element will assume on the sub.
ject. Some of that element, with entire
consistency as populists, it must be con-
fessed, will be unwillingly disturbed
from their shiftless waiting for such
state or national aid as will do all their
work for them.
The law shows the imprint of q master