Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-03-07

In the house Wednesday the nael.
strom whirled around two bills which
the reform element of the house seem
to have set their hearts upon, namely,
the demurrage bill and the bill giving
the governor power to remove county
officials who are derelict in their
duty, particularly in the enforcement
of the prohibition law.
These bills came up in general or
der in the afternoon. Mir. Stevens
made a. vicious attack in The removal
bill, which was warmly replied to by
SoYley Of Grand Rapids, during which
there were several warm passes be-
tween the two. The latter quoted at
length from the Minnesota law, on
which the proposed bill is largely
founded, while Stevens, Mechler.
Streeter and one IL two others stated
that inasmuch as the people elected
these officers, and as long as they were
satisfied with their way OF enforcing
the law, the state had no right to in.
terfere.
The bill was recommended by the
committee of the whole for passage.
1t provides that where complaint
against an officer is made the public
examiner shall investigate, and If he
reports further need of inquiry the
governor shall appoint commission
which shall examine the official COM
planned Of. with such witnesses as are
needed, and the governor shall act
upon the report of the commission.
The reciprocal demurrage bill by
Shirley took up about an hour Of the
committees time and was finally
recommended for passage.
Another bill over which there was
considerable debate was that relating
to warehouses; in counties of over TO-
900 population. This finally was killed.
The house adopted a resolution call
ing upon the railroad commissioners
to appear before that body Oh the
evening of Feb. %, with books and
papers to show what they had done
and to explain what they expect to do,
the impression being that very little
had ever been done by this or any
other commission in this state.
In the senate there was considera'
BILE debate over the anti-pass law,
which was up for final passage. The
bill was further amended in minor de-
tails and passed.
In the committee of the whole the
senate virtually killed the bill to in
crease the salaries of state officers by
failing to pass it. The members of the
house are already known to be opposed
to the measure.
The house, realizing that the time is
getting short, held morning session
Thursday and passed the following
bills: Permitting county boards to dis
pose Of county property under certain
conditions; furnishing stenographie
help to the supreme court; giving liens
for keeping and pasturing stock; pro
viding for the payment Of teachers In
unorganized districts and for the pay
ment to Prof Chandler of a salary TO,
services as state engineer for two
months in 1905; an appropriation Of
about $4,000 to repay citizens for con
tributions to the state exhibit at Port
land; restricting the sale Of impure
drugs, analyses 10 be made at tho
state experiment station; striking Out
the word gross" in suits for damages
against railroads where negligence IL
charged. This bill makes it only nee
essary to prove negligence in order Il
secure damages.
The bill empowering the governor Il
make removals Of county officers fol
neglect of duty failed to pass, being
one short of a constitutional majority
when motion to lay on the table
finally was carried by vote of 40 t
4S.
Seventeen new bills went into tn
house, one for resubmission bein;
among them. Other new bills were 70
uniform system OF accounting 70
state institutions; refunding of villag
bonds; increasing the term of impris
onment for grand larceny; prohibiting
hospitals in residence blocks withou
consent of other lot owners; prohibit
ihg delay of over thirty minutes ii
sending telegraphic messages by com
panies save in case of accidents, ETC.
assessment Of coal underlying land
In case Of several owners.
Both houses adopted a resolution 70
the appointment of committee TO in
auire into adverse reports of condi
lions in this state. and report SO tina
they may be denied in case they ar
found untrue.
The senate passed bill giving tn
state auditing board control over tn
state house clerical force; also bill
providing that majority Of the entir
vote shall carry the question of count
division. This amends the present Law
which requires majority vote in bot
old and proposed divisions. The bi
affects Mclean, Morton and War
counties, where county division ha
been prevented by the old law. Ther
will be a hard fight over this bill whe
It gets to the house.
The senate also passed Cashiers gel
eral drainage bill. which is much desi
ed by the Red River Valley Drainas
association.
The only important bill Introduce
in the senate was the one definin
freight line companies, car equipmel