Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1904-05-20

sIdCe VI $f. 2E HIS Se6I1S ST. almCSC Etg In ~
cledi bic when you consider that the
appropriations made to the state, if
distributed among the men, women
and children Of North Dakota would
aggregate 81 for each person. .5s85
This pherominally large appropria-
tion for North Dakota has attracted
the attention Of senators and members
of congress from other states, who are
now asking each other how it is that
North Dakota secured so mach from
the national government. The answer
to this question is simply North
Dakota is represented at the national
capital by men. possessing intellig
and industry. Four years ago her
representatives laid the plans for secur-
ing legislation for their constituents
which are'now beginning to bear fruit.
Senators Hansbrough and McCumber
got together and looked over the list
of committee assignments in the state.
By joint agreement Senator Hans
brough went on the committee on pub
lie lands, committee of the greatest
Importance to the state. Senator
McCumber went the committee on
Indian affairs to look after the Indian
legislation for the state. He alsr
went on the committee on. pensions to
look after the local pensions for the
people of North Dakota. Sen ator
Hansbruugh went on the committee
on irrigation in order to see that
North Dakota secured a fare share of
the irrigation funds. He also asked
for an assignment on the committees
on agriculture and forestry which re-
quest was granted. Thus Senator
Hansbrougb stood in a position to
| look after the needs of the state with
reference to legislation pertaining to
public lanes, agriculture and forestry
and irrigation. In addition to tn is
he was assigned to the committee on
| finance, the second most important
Committee in the senate and one which
carries with it great weight, respon-
sibility and Importance. He is also
serving on the committee on District
of Columbia, which ranks as the Fl fth
committee in Importance in the SEN
ate and the committees on industries
expositions, and the committe on the
library. Senator McCumber in ad-
dition to serving on the committee
on pensions, of which he is chairman,
and Indian affairs, is a member of the
committee on public buildings and
grounds, the committee which has
charge of all appropriations FOR pub
lie buildings throughout the count y.
He is also a member of the committee
census. manufactures, and transport
alton aud sale of meat products.
Thus the stat is represented on every
committee which deals with questions
pertaining to tho needs. of North Da-
kota. What wonder is it, therefore,
that North Dakota s rep1 esentativss in
the senate should have been as sue,
cessful as they havs. But the fact
should not be lost sight of that it has
required thirteen years of continuous
service for Senator Hansbrough to
reach his present position. Promo
ton in the senate, as in the house,
goes by seniority Of service on com
nittee assignments. Thus should
Senator McCumber be defeated in the
next election his successor would be
assigned to unimportant committees
and would be practically valueless to
the state for six years to come,
Over at the house end Of the capitol
similar arrangements were entered
into. Congressman Marshall and
Spalding SO manipulated Affairs that
they are able to secure assignment on
the committees of the house which
have direct supervision and charge of
all matters pertaining to questions
coming before congress from the state.
By close application to their congress
sionsl duties they have won promi-
hence in the house, and thus the
leverage furnished them by their
committee work has been carried
through to fruitiou expeditiously on
the floor of the house.
A summary of the work accom-
plishea by the North Dakota delega-
ton during the last session reads all
most like romance to one who is
familiar with legislation usually se-
cured by delegation consisting Of
four men, Here are some of the
things the representatives from North
Dakota have accomplished:
The last congress app ropriated
$165, 600 for public bli ding ut
Grand Forks, and $50, 900 for the
extension of the public building at
Fargo. The work on the preparation
OF the plans aud specifications have
been pushed with vigor aud ii is
confidently expected that the con-
Sfructirn of tho b1,;1dipo, 9TH ].