The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1903-03-11

SemDly ADJOURNED sine die. There
were the usual closing scenes, and a
rush by members to get final action
| on bills that were delayed until the
closing hours. Over 500 bills were in
troduced in the course of the session.
| The senate, with forty members, In
troduced, nearly as many as the house
with hundred legislators. The APP
| preparation bills for the various state
| institutions and the greater number of
the other appropriations originated in
the senate. The house legislation was
largely technical and 'amendatory.
No particularly important legislation
was introduced or passed by either
body.
AS matter of fact, there was little
for the legislative assembly to do aside
from the election of United States
senator and making the appropria-
tons. The former was speedily &C.
complished and the latter harmonious
ly agreed upon.
1t is not possible yet to determine
exactly all the bills that have passed
and become laws. A large number
! were passed in the last few hours and
hurried to the governor before the
time limit had expired. A general idea
of the legislation may be had, how
ever, from the bills passed and sent
to the governor up to the last day of
The session.
The legislature has appropriated
about 100000 aside from the appro-
priations that are included in the
fixed amounts. These include appro-
priations for the various state institu-
lions that are not provided for by the
fixed tax; increase of state militia and
high school aid appropriations; $780,
900 for the building of trolley line to
the state capitol; two-tenths of mill
for state wolf bounty; $4,000 for
state experimental work; $4,000 for
the st. Louis exposition, and large
lumber of minor amounts.
In the matter of bonds the legisla-
ture has authorized bonds for the
erection of additional buildings at the
university at Grand Forks; state ag-
ricultural college at Fargo; deaf
school at Devils Lake: normal schools
at Valley City and Mayville; addition
to the state capitol at Bismarck; blind
asylum at Bathgate; scientific school
at Wahpeton; insane asylum at James
own, and reform school at Mandan.
New state institutions have been es-
tablished and boards of trustees and
management provided for the institute
for the feeble-minded at Grafton and
he reform school at Mandan.
New boundaries have been provided
for the counties of Stark and Billings.
Hettinger, Dunn and part of old Will
Jams are attached to Stark and Bow
man to Billings. Bills changing the
boundaries of these counties have
passed on several occasions, but have
always been knocked out by the SUI
preme court. The present laws, it is
believed, will stand the test.
New jobs have been created in sew
eral instances. Two game warden dis
tricts have been created instead Of
one and provision made for the ap-
pointment of two game wardens. 9th
er laws have been passed intended to
/ enforce the game laws more rigidly.
A new judicial district has been
created, the Eighth district, out of a
part of the Second district, which in
cludes Ward, Bottineau and one or
TWO other counties.
A hanging bill has been passed, pro-
viding for the execution of all capital
sentences at the state penitentiary,
under supervision of the warden of
hat institution.
A board of management for the St.
Louis exposition display has been Gre
ated consisting of Gov. White, Lieut..
Gov Bartlett, State Auditor Holmes,
Commissioner of Agriculture Turner
and w. n. Steele of Rolla.
In the way of corporation legislation
the most interesting measure that has
passed is the personal injury bill,
which the railroad men of the state
have succeeded in having passed after
years of endeavor. The measure is a
drastic one, covering all classes of
railroad employees, and making the
companies liable for injuries to an en-
ploye by the negligence of fellow en-
ployes The railroad men fought any
amendments to the bill, and as re-
suit it went through as originally in
troduced. The law is copied nearly
literally from the Iowa and Kansas
laws, which have been passed on by
the supreme court of the United
States A maximum coal rate bill has
been passed, slightly reducing the
present rates in some instances. Little
other corporation legislation OF an ef-
fective nature has been passed.
In insurance legislation laws have
been passed governing reinsurance,
prohibiting soliciting of insurance ex-
cept by authorized solicitors with GER
tificates from the department of in
surance, and knocking ont suicide as
| a ground for contesting life insurance
policies after one year. A valued pol
icy bill was introduced but was not
heard from afterward.
Oil inspection was covered by new
law requiring gravity tests and adding
gasoline to the fluids to be inspected.
Tho nor diem IF i,,rnro In diet rift