The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-02
North Dakota.
Old BILLS BOB Up AGAIN
OIL INSPECTION TO he MORE RIGID
AND INSURE BETTER
QUALITY
INFRINGEMENT IS THE CRY
Loggerheads in the Republican
Camp Likely Over the Reappor-
tiOnment-TO Reduce
Exemption.

BISMARCK, Feb. Especial. 1.-THE
old bills that have been before numerous
sessions are bobhing up again, and with
an anti-cigarette bill, Il new railroad bill
and bill for the better inspection of
Illuminating oils in the state there ought
to be something to interest the corpora
lions that might be affected by the ras-
sage of these measures. The anti
cigarette bill has been before legislative
assemblies in various forms. Originally
a bill was passed prohibiting the sale of
cigarettes, and the consumers of the
weed in that form were forced to pur-
chase cigarette papers and learn to
fashion their own cigarettes. Beyond
Transforming the source of supply, the
bill had little effect. Two years ago
there was an anti-ciearette bill, which
passed one house and got lost in the
shuttle in the last days of the session.
This year Senator Hale has presented a
bill to make a miSdemeanor the i'm
portation and sale of both cigarettes and
cigarette paper If this law is enforced
it will have much to do with lessenins
tie consumption OF cigarettes in the
state, and will furnish work for another
branch of the enforcement league, to see
that the law is enforced. Senator Hale
has given assurance to Miss Preston,
president of the state w. c. T. u, that
he will further the measure as far as
possible for him to do so, and the good
ladies' of that organization will follow
the matter with interest until the fate
of the bill is decided. The question of
Illuminating oils comes up every two
years. It is agreed that some fright
fully poor oil is sold in the state. but
Just where the fault lies it is not so easy
to say. The state already has an inspec-
ton law, with an oil inspector and sew
eral deputies to see that no oil comes
into the state that is not up to the
standard.
The railroad bill is fashioned after the
Iowa law, FOR the control of railroads
in the state by the railroad commits
sion. North Dakota already has a max
imum rate law which has stood the tests
so far as constitutionality is concerned
but that did not accomplish what was
Overwhelmingly, the enforcement of a
schedule of maximum rates. for the
reason that when the rates were fixed
they were knocked cut by the courts
as unconstitutional -'~'
Senator Lavayea, of Grand Forks, who
introduced the bill to- deprive women
of the right of suffrage at school cleo
tons, says the bill is PRESENTED in good
faith and Will give an opportunity to test
the sentiment of the women Of the state
in that matter. The law permitting
women to vote at school elections was
passed with the idea that the mothers
of children and those Interested in then
education and consequently, in school Of
ficcr5, would interest themselves in
school matters through tho ballot. NV
it is claimed by some that the women
into whose hands the law aimed to
place the ballot are not the f'sUffragists,"
hut that the women most interested in
the ballot are 'adVanCed- women while
4. A.
many cases do not want the ballot and
do not avail themselves Of the laws
privileges. The petition stage in this
matter will probably be reached in a few
days and when the women of the state
are heard from, possibly a clearer idea
can be gained of the real wishes of the
states women.
Senator Hale expects that the report
of his special committee on the eX-
penses of state departments and the
possibility of retrenchment will be ready
in about a week. The committee has
made a pretty thorough investigation In
to it's subject, and expects to recommend
means by which the state may effect a
considerable saving without impairing the
efficiency of the public service. THE
committee will do all in its power" said
the senator, "to assist the legislative
assembly in finding a way to furnish
funds to maintain the states institu-
lions properly and at the same time
to insure good public service in all de-
partmentS.'
The impression gains graund that the
state will not be districted for the con-
gressional reapportionEaent, but that the
two congressman will be elected at large
1t is believed this would be to the inter-
est of Congressman Spalding, who
many Of the people of the state want to
see returned as the second congressman
from the state under the new apporion-
ment by congress. To divide the state
might result in such a division that
Spalding and Marshall would be in the
same district, and that would mean q
fight between them, for the place, when
Marshall came up for denomination. Re
port here says that Grand Forks will
have. candidate for congress, and this
may mar harmonious settlement Of
the congressional matter Politics is a
free field, and there's nothing to keep
any aspirant for place from entering
the lists, but there is a large element
that believes that Congressman Spalding
should be remembered for the good work
he has done for the state and for tie
manner in which he took ibis defeat for
denomination. South Dakota selects her
congressman at large. and the plan is
said to give satisfaction lin that state,
as it is believed it would in North Da-
kota. eai
$50
Petitions for the reduction of exemD-
lions have come from business men in
a good many localities in the state, and
the farming element of the states popula-
ton has been urged to present its views
to the legislature. There are arguments
advanced on both sides of the mater,
and as the farmers are in the ma tority
in the lower house, at least, they ought
to be able to handle the bill as they DC
sire. If they are for a reduction they
can pass the bill; and if they are against
it, they can put up a fight than Will
knock it out. 1t is up 90 them
Speaking of the move to increase the
revenues of the state, it is worthy Of no
tice that while the population Of the
state has increased IS per cent in the
past ten years, while thousands of i'm
migrants have come into all parts of the
state, farm lands have increased in val
lie, new towns have been built up, and
the whole state has been undergoing won
, derful development and progress, the to-
tai value of the real and personal prop
erty in the state as assessed for taxa