The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-03-11
THE LEGISLATURE
Proceedings of North Dakota's LAW

PAOpCAIy 1OI lCSS tudu
they had reason to believe it was
worth, for owners who listed their
property in that fashion and for boards
Of equalization that permitted property
to be equalized at a figure lower than
its real value. The bill was defeated
16 to IA. q
The house put In nearly the entire
day In committee of the whole. The
principal matters of interest before
the body were two railroad bills. One
Of them provided for the liability Of
railroad companies for personal injury
to an employe through the negligence
of O fellow. servant, and was recon-
mended to pass. The debate occupied
several hours and earnest, arguments
were made pro and con. Representa-
tives Allen, Wolbert and Tousley
schampioned the measure, claiming the
present law tof the state was unjust
and unfair to railroad employees, while
Representatives Stevens, Wallace and
Thomas argued against the bill as a
discriminating liability against the
railroads, class legislation and not q
fair measure. Another bill recon-
mended to pass by the house was the
Defsem bill providing for a maximum
passenger fare in the state of 8 cents a
mile. The bill vas agreed to be fa-
vorably reported after a brief debate.
Two other biliss. that provoked warm
debates were those to sProvide for the
calling Of a Judge from one district to
another uponx the ssimples affidavit of
prejudice by client and; his attorney.
The bill Is aimed to reach judges in
certain districts in the state who, it is
claimed, allow their personal preju-
dices to warp their legal Judgment in
the trial of cases.
T Representative Thomas Of Richland
county, arguing for the bill; stated that
he had in mind a. Judge in the state
who could no m0re render q fair de-
cision in a case in which he had a per-
sonal prejudice against one of the ell
ents than he could 60 to heaven. The
bill was reported for passage.
Another squabble arose over the bill
providing for terms of the supreme
court at Fargo and Grand Forks in ad-
dition to Bismarck, the sent of govern
ment. Representatives Of the Red riv-
er valley argued for the migratory
court, claiming that the greater part of
the litigation came from the. valley and
It was unfair to compel litigants to
come. to the state capital to try their
cases. The bill was passed by the
house and, goes to the governor.
The senate passed the following bills:
Prohibiting the sale of cigarettes or
the smoking Of them in public places
by persons under eighteen years of
age; fixing the compensation of jani.
tors and doorkeepers at 81 q day; au-
thorizing the purchase of thirty acres
of land for q p~enitentiary farm; to
transfer eighty acres of land fran the
state fair: grounds to.the university ut
Grand Forks; for the issuance of $780,
600 bonds for the soldiers home at
Ltsbon;. concurrent resolution for an
amendment to the constitution for the
taxation Of telegraph, express and sim
lar companies; authorizing the govern
Of to contract with, other states. for the
care of the blind; permitting the pri-.
kate sale of lands acquired at tax
tales.
/. Bismarck, March 2.-All measures in.
fhe two houses are now in the hands
of, the steering committee, and upon
the reports of the committee in. the
house the following bills were passed.:
Providing for liability of railroad cor
porations for injuries to employees
through negligence Of fellow servants;
making it a misdemeanor totsend cOun-
ty or state printing out, OF: the state
that can be done in the state; proyid-
ing for a bounty tax of .one-fifth Of a
mill for wolves; fixing salaries Of. coun-
ty ~treasurers. reducing salaries in the
larger counties; fixing salaries of
clerks of courts; making the sheriff
.sealer of, weights and measures; pro-
viding for the. establishment of public
scales; fixing the number and Scompen-
sation Of legislative employees; creating
10 county board for the purpose of-pur-'
chasing printing!, supplies; making the
state oilsinspectorshtp. a salaried Office
$1,000 q year; providing for the APP
pointment Of cOnserrators for drunk
ards and spendthrifts.
The house defeated the bill to fixs3
cents q mile as the maximum passen-
ger ratesin the state by a vote Of SO to,
BIZ.
Speaker Baker was presented with.
the chair In which he has presided
during the session. the day being his
eortieth birthday, and q resolution was
passed expressing the confidence and
esteem of the members OF the house,
to which he responded gracefully.
The following house bills were passed
by the senate and 60 toz.the governor
for his approval: Providing for publ
cation OF election returns by precincts;
regulating orphans, home; fixing sal:
aries Of county auditors; authorizing
the payment Of extraordinary expenses
Of prosecutions Of the attorney general
from the general fund of the state;
governing reinsurance; providing for