Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-03-09
STATE TOPICS
Left by Legislature for Dis
CuSSiOn and for Voters
to Consider.
Three Amendments to State
Constitution to be Voted
on IN 1900.
The GrOtesQue Position Which
a Law of the State
Is In.

l
a Law of the State
Is In.
Bismarck, March 6, 1S99-There IS and
always has been practically local option
in several districts of North Dakota: but
the local option resolution for high
license amendment to apply to other
parts OF the stAte, failed to even come up
for VOTE The resolution was not re-
ported from the committee and neither
house had chance to express itself on
the question. The Bismarck Tribune,
published in one of the districts where
there is local option and high license IN
effect, and where it has b7en eyer since
the prohibition law was adopted, gravely
says of the local option bill referred to-:
ut is doubtful il either house would
have passed any measure affecting the
present prohibition law-at least The re-
publican party pledged to take no back
ward step in this direction" This KIND
| Of enforcement OF law that is Intended
| to apply to the entire state is Rrotesque
to say the least. But rs long rs 1t is
regularly put ID as plank IN the repub-
lican party PLATFORM, the people IN the
local option districts seem assured that
their position will be sustained. This
position s,thst large number OF voters
seem to prefer to have prohibition law
even if not enforced throughout the
whole state, rather than have. no law at
all. 1t is qneer thing bnt It's true.
There will be three constitutional
amendments submitted to the people at
the next state election. One to establish
board of pardons, consisting OF state
officials; smother for the assessment OF
express, telegraph and similar franchises
by the state board OF equalization. The
other is to permit feeble minded instl'
tute to be established at Grafton. This
proposed new institution was voted
down by tho people once, and will un'
doubtedly be again, as it is simply
proposition TO add another unnecessary
institution to the state, for the feeble
minded institution is now located at
jamestown. The general government
gave 10000 for state penltentisry for
this state when the territory was dl'
vided. Afterwards the appropriation
was changed to apply towards feeble
minded institute at ORATOR, already
located at jamestown by the state con-
stltution. Part OF the 100000 was used
to purchase small piece of land near
Grafton, and the balance is lying idle IN
the state treasury as it cannot be used
for any other purpose. II the North
Dakota people do not want to be taxed
still further for new institutions it will
be long time before Grafton gets the
feeble minded hospital. The first two
amend ments have passed two leglslat.
ures and will be submitted at the next
election. The last will have to pass
another Legislature and then be sub
mitted to vote.
For the 60 days session the legislature
cost $4,000. There we're more clerks,
ianitors and assistants than members.
At the close or the session the number
OF employees was over $50. There is no
item Of expense which the farmers who
Day most OF the taxes kick on more than
legislative clerk hire extravaganza, vet
as the Bismarck Tribune observes, the
next legislature will pay its political
debts in the same way, and the critics
oan whistle.
There is no doubt that the approprla-
| tion OF Sl5O,OOO for a twlne plant ex-
Deeds the debt limit placed by the con-
stitution, and before any steps are taken
looking toward the establishment of the
plant, it has been suggested that the
certificates of state debt, which draw
six Der cent be sold. II is not to be dis
puted that they will be sold and paid
for. The people OF the state would
never repudiate debt incurred by the
LEGISLATURE. 1t would not be patriotic
to do 80, and besides the object of the
debt is a worthy one.
So far Gov. FHnoher has not vetoed a
single bill passed by the legislature. A
Large number passed the lsst day,
many Of them amendments to old laws.
which time and experience have shown
|needed-at least in the opinion OF the
members The governor has Is days to
consider the bills before final action
There have been no clashes between the
executive and the law makers, and none
Of the legislation enacted is specially
important or makes any radical chang
The EdReley Mail thinks that the
sp,o,sl car which went to Bismarck was
what ran over and killed Twich,ll's bill