Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1905-03-09
THE LEGISLATORS RETURN

SS6 1SusV1UO OSOV III VuSU
Ststsman County Members Did Coed
Work, and Were Amono the Most
ist!sentlal Of the Body.
Il Speaker Piefcy returned from Bis
marck Sunday and went home Mon
day. He IS feeling we'll satisfied over
the results Of the legislature, and the
passage of many excellent bills, and
in the handsome way in which he was
treated by his fellow members at Bis
marck. He retains by vote of the
house as mementoes of the session.
handsome chair, the gavel and ink
stand of the speakers desk. Refer
ring to two of the more important
bills that have been passed Mr.. Piercy
says that the bank bill which kept
the capital stock at $4,000 was
good measure for the smaller towns in
the growing parts Of the state. That
the oil inspectors bill will also be a
fine law for the people In that it
gives gravity test which should
improve the quality of both gasoline
and kerosene.
The most important law affecting
the general public was undoubtedly
the primary election law. and on this
Speaker Piercy is very willing that his
record should be we'll known. The
fact is that the amended primary
election Law goes as far as was deem
ed wise by the best informed party
leaders in the state and while it does
not give the whole loaf, as some Of
the radical advocates wanted,
it makes reasonable compromise and
gives the primary principle finn
foot hold in the state. 1t is identi.
cal with senate bill number 88, the
original bill, in the nomination Of
county officers and members OF the
legislature, but instead of the blanket
ballot we have a split ballot which
provides for the republican names on
one ticket and democratic or other
party names on another ticket. The
original bill placed all the names on
the ballot. This split ballot forces
party adherence, and prevents dem
ocratic or members of an opposite
party concentrating thalr forces upon
one strong man. and voting for the
weak man as a nominee of the oppos-
lite party. '.
Mr.. Piercy has teen unfairly critiz-
ed through some sources, In stating
that his vote on the primary election
defeated the original senate bill 88.
This report Is, as usual in cases
where criticism rather than facts are
desired, incorrect. When senate bill
go came down from the senate 1t was
ordered read the first and second time
and referred by the speaker to the
committee on privileges and elections.
Representative Gilbert Of Cass county
Immediately moved that the bill be
J., placed upon the calender for third
reading and final passage. This would
have prevented any amendment to
the bill. On this motion to place the
bill on its final passage, Speaker
Piercy with other members including
Mr.. Davis, Streeter, and Ryan and
others favorable to primary election
Law, voted sno' which sent the bill
back to the committee for amendment
and on the report Of the committee
the rules of the house allowed mem
bers the right to amend and to dis
cuss the bill. After the bill hau TAX
en- its due course and had come up
for final passage, Mr.. Piercy voted in
favor of the bill, and the vote for 1t
was some Sc; Davis and Streeter and
others voted for the bill. All Of the
members OF the Stutsman county
delegation voted the same Way, ex.
cepting Mr.. Fried, who voted nc"
& Senator Sifton, who also returned
home Saturday is receiving congratu.
lations on his excellent work in repre-
senting the county in the state Sen.
ate. Although q new member he
grew rapidly in influence and was rec
ognized as one Of the leaders Of that
| body long before the session adjourn.
f ed. Senator Sift0n introduced some
Five bills all Of which, became laws,
I tand which Is considered q 6ne record
flor one member where 1917 bills were
! passed by 40 members, each one
anxious for more or less legislation.
| RThe laws that were secured largely
Through Dr.. Sifton's efforts we're to
lllow mutual insurance companies I'd
Increase their territory which appli-
d bd to the local mutual fire insurance
/ company Of this city. Also bill ap
propriating $50, 900 for new buildings
Tor the ASYLUM; bill propriatinQ
! BIAS. 800 for main intenance; bill CIV.
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