The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-25
FEAR TIE PRUNING KNIFE
ECONOMY rs THE WATCHWORD
WITH NORTH DAKOTA
LAWMAKERS
STATE OFFICIALS PROTEST
Wolf Bounty Opposed by Eastern
Counties, and Queer Methods of
Enforcement League to
Be Investigated.

BISMARCK, Jan. 24.-(Special )-Econ-
omy is the predominant note of this ses-
sion of the legislative assembly and along
the economy line is the resolution adopt
ed by the senate from Senator Hale, of
Ramsey county, reciting the ordinary
expenses of the state under the laws as
at present existing on the statute books,
and asking htat the appropriation com,
mittee be given power to recommend re-
auctions wherever deemed necessary for
the best interests of tn state. Senator
La Moure, chairman of the appropriation
committee, and Senator Hale have been
conducting some Independent inquiries
as to how much of the state funds Is
called for by the numerous laws that
nave appropriations vested in them for
the carrying out of various purposes.
Ihe1r figures agree, and with this state
ment IN hand the senate apnropria ton
committee will endeavor to see where
sums can be cut off the list of appropria-
tlons, and where necessary appropria-
tons can be reduced
Inc appropriation committee IS waiting
until all bills contemplating appropria-
lions are introduced. The institution bills
are all in, and with these and an account
OF the present current expenses of the
state the committee will be enabled to
fix a basis for its recommended icns hack
to the assembly.
Senators Hale, Wolbert and Noble are
also a committee, named on reSo.ut on
presented by LaMoure. to make an in
Vestgatlon of state offices, and ascertain
where it is possible to cut expenses with
out 1mpairing the efficiency of the pubic
service. This committee is empowered to
examine books and records, and is 10 re-
port what reductions of expenses it
no
been named at previous sessions. hut lit
Tie. II anything, has been accomplished
peIore IN the way of reducing this class
OF expenses. The several state depart-
ments believe themselves entitled to all
the assistance they have and few If anv
OIL them will agree that it is possible to
make reductions.
The wolf bounty matter comes nm aoair,
at this session in a bill presented nv
senator simpson to levy tax of five
tenths of a mill for wolf bounty Some
members from the eastern part of the
state are inclined to oppose a bounty az
'hey clalm 1t benefits only the western
part of the state, but the western mem
bers claim that live stock is one of th,
vast interests of the state, paving a largo
amount OF tax into the state treasury
ana that the protection of this industry
is mat tier of vital interest all over the
state They say also that the western
part OF the state pays taxes for institu-
tlo!is IN the eastern part of the state.
and that reciprocity ought to he GOOD
policy The first wolf bounty tan leyied
tWo-tenths Of a mill, and provided a
state bounty of 81. The tax was not suf
Hclent to meet the demands for bounty.
anu ceruEcateS were registered for raw
llleht: when the last legislature con-
,,m mere was some opposition from
10y members but the tax was finally
continued over another two years. but
IL expires this year by limitation There
are some certificates still unpaid. which
IL the state falls to make any tax lew
Will be worthless. The new bill for an
appropriation provides for larger
bounty than before, but it is unlikely
there will be any increase. If the hill
goes through 1t will probably be at the
old rate.
one of the measures the newspaper
men of the state managed to get throuca
at the late session, was a bill for the
publication of election returns bv nre
clIcts in the counties. There had been
prior to that no provision for the publica
ton of returns except by totals. and To
OBTAIN an accurate election stalls
tics table for the state was diff
ncult. Representative Bjornson, of La
Moure, PopuIst, wants to repeal the
law and it is suggested that 1t is not
surprising that Populist was opposed
10 publishing the returns of such an
electlon as the last one in the state
where the Republicans carried every
county.
me report that a special committee
VIII be appointed by the legislature to
investigate the manner in which the
agents of the state enforcement league
been WORKING In no
down. There are some Interesting mat
terS in store for the committee if If Il
appointed. Letters from agents of the
league to states attorneys of counties
as to the disposal of funds that have col.
lected on cases that have been COM
promised promise to furnish some SEN
sational reading.
Inc house apportionment committee
got an apportionment bill to discuss to-
DAY, introduced by Tufte of Grand Forks
county. 1t represents Red river valley
IDEAS largely, and provides for about the
same membership as Minors bill in the
senate. The Red river valley representa-
lon remains about as now and a few
increases are provided for in the central
and northern part of the state
Inc senate has another committee 70
ocaq with the question of finance and
senators Ames, Sanborn and Cashel are
authorized to recommend means for in
SiCdSHlS Ine revenues of the state
Cashel introduced a resolution for the
committee and his ideas for a lew of n
sinking fund by the state board of
equalization, sale of institutions lands
and devoting interest on proceeds to their
maintenance, to provide for the assess
ment of corporation property and to dis
cuss the possibility of re-enactment of
The gross earnings tax for railroads.
The question of an increase of the tax
able valuation of the Red river farm
LANDS is being agitated and the COM
mittee may make recommendations re-
garding this matter.
The house today passed a bill abolish
ing the office of superintendent Of irriga-
ton and forestry. This is the Office held
by w. w. Barrett, and the senate will
follow the house initiative The uues-
ton of reshaping the .estray law comes
up in the Judiciary committee of the
senate tomorrow morning when interest
eG persons will be heard Stock men
want a change in the present law to pro-
tect their interests. The bill for an issue
of $4,000 bonds for the agricultural col
lege improvements is in the hands Of
the senate appropriation committee.
CONTT3 A Cyr VxynDxx