Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-02-02
THE LEGISLATURE.
Proceedings Of North Dakota's Law
MILL

Proceedings Of North Dnkota's Inv
Mill.
Bismarck, N. D., Jan. 27.-The legis-
lature convened yesterday afternoon
after a recess of q week. Numbers Of
members of both houses were absent,
several being ill, among them Senator
Murphy of Grand Forks, who has q
bad attack of diphtheria and is in
quarantine at his home. Two of the
important measures of the session
We're introduced which will give rise
to the principal discussion. These are
the bills establishing the Office of tenn
perance commissioner and the bill for
a primary election law. The temper
ance commissioner measure introduced
by Senator Arnold and is similar to the
one passed passed. at the last session
and vetoed by Gov. Briggs. 1t pro-
videS that a temperance commissioner
shall be appointed by the governor for
term of two years at Il salary of ST.
600 year and actual expenses. 1t is
made the duty of the officer to see to
the enforcement Of the prohibition
law in all parts of the state and to this
end he is vested with the power of
states attorney and attorney general.
He is authorized to appoint deputies to
such number as he may deem neceS-
sary who are to be paid at the rate of
81, 900 a year and to act Under his or
ders. The expense OF prosecutions and
the other incidental expenses of the
office are to be paid from the temper
ance commissioner fund, which is
created by an annual appropriation
from the general fund of 5000 a year
and such fees and lines as are collected
in the prosecution of viola:ors of the
prohibition law. The bill &lso essays
to reach the sale Of liquor By druggists
by providing that permits to Sell liquor
shall be issued by the district judge
insetad of probute judge, us at present,
and after applications have been eX-
amined by the temperance t:aallnission-
er, who, at the hearing OF tie applica-
ton may oppose it and bring evidence
to substantiutc his protest. A fee of
$40 is charged 10: eAcn license. to be
covered into the temperance commits
sioner fund.
The primary election law is proposed
by Senator Luke and represents the
desires of the election reformers. 1t
practically does away with county OF
district conventions for the purpose Of
nominating county officers or delegates
to state conventions. All persons who
desire to become candidates for a party
nomination for Office mus. secure a pc
tition from at least 5 pfr cent of the
voters of the party for the Office at the
last preceding election and file it with
the county auditor, witt. a fee of $40.
All such named are certified by the
county auditor and published on an Of
cial ballot, which is voted after the
fashion Of a general election and under
the same restrictions and laws. Elec-
tons are to be iiel.i for nomination on
the Fourth Tuesday in June preceding
general elections. The returns are to
be canvasscd by the official county
canvassing board. and the persons re-
ceiving the highest number of votes
from each party are to be certified by
the auditor on the official ballot as the
party nominees. The same procedure
is adopted in tile election Of delegates
to state conventions. except that the
fee is only $3.50. Another bill intro
duced by Senator Arnold provides for
the levy Of an annual tax on property
of two-fifths OF a mill for fund for
the maintenance of the state uniyer-
sity in lieu OF an appropriation. The
levy would amount to about $4,000 BIZ
ennially Other bills introduced were:
Allen, prohibiting contracts for pub
lie works in the state with persons
who have not been residents of the
state one year; Restameyer, changing
county seats; Cassell, providing that
railroad companies shall maintain
sidings where freight is received or
shipped for twelve months in the year,
where the feright charges annually ag-
gregate $4,000; Cassell, providing for
mechanics liens for repairs of steam
threshing engines or separators; GrOn-
void, increasing the wolf bounty tax
levy from one-tenth to onehalf mill;
providing that the state game warden
shall receive one-fourth of the moneys
paid for licenses in the state instead Of
one-third. one-fourth to go to the gen
eral fund of the state; Engelter. pro-
viding that all oleomargarine and pat
ent butter shall be colored q distinctive
pink; Hale, amending the game law
with relation to licenses: Stevens, re-
pealing the law for the foreclosure of
real estate mortgages by advertise
lneut, leslNluS icllOll anu cAcCullOu DIS
the method of foreclosure.
The house committees reported a
number of bills. but no final action was
taken on any Of them. Winslow's bill
chaging the time of expiration of the
terms of county treaurers was reported
adversely, but the house refused to
adopt the report, and the bill went to
committee of the whole. Lishs bill to
prohibit the killing of deer Or big game
in the state for five years was reported
favorably. The house passed resolu-
ton requesting congress to make
liberal appropriation for the display at
the Paris exposition.
Bismarck, n. D., Jan. 2S.-The state
press fraternity secured the introduce
ton of several bills at yesterdays ses-
sion which are intended for the benefit
of the publishers of the state. One of
the measures provides for the publica
ton by county auditors of the official
i