The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-25
Speech of Representative Buh;
in Support of the House
Memorial Offered.
SENATE RESOLUTION on
MAKING OF FINAL PROOFS
And the Modification Of Pres. Roose.
velps Order Relating to Same
Bernt Anderson's Memorial for
Drainage Of States Meandered
Lakes-Skidoo for Sorley's Bill.
(By George Davis.)

(By George Davis.)
Bismarck Feb. 23-The house did
more talking today than it has done
for eome time and disposed Of very
little business so far as bulk was con-
cerned. The several committees re-
ported favoring on the following bills:
House Bill Nos. "a, 354, and Senate
Bills Nos. 7S, 63, 81 and 1873. The fol-
lowing bills were indefinitely post
poned: Senate bill SO and house bill
lib were amended and recommended
for passage as amended.
The concurrent resolution relat-
ing to the matter of the modi-
f1cation Of the presidents order in
reference to the making of final proofs
on homesteads was passed.
The point of order made by Repre-
sentative Stevens some days ago in
reference to the introduction OF the
memorial resolution offered by Rep
resentative Buttz asking congress to
submit to the states for ratification
or rejection constitutional amend
ment giving the federal courts juris-
diction over the questions of poly
gamy and divorce. was overruled by
the speaker as the matter which had
been Indefinitely postponed was not
the same as that proposed in the men,
orial offered by Major Buttz. The
memorial was then offered de novo.
In support of the resolution, Major
Buttz said:
Mr.. Speaker:
The Memorial now before the house,
asking congress to propose an amend
ment to be submitted to the several
states, looking to giving jurisdiction
to the United States courts, over the
question of ploygamy, and also to pro-
vide uniform divorce law, for our
country, is question that is being
agitated by all law abiding people;
and 1t has become more prominent
because of the question of polygamy
now being investigated by the United
States senate in connection with the
senator from Utah. You will observe
that have included in this Memorial
to congress also request that in the
posed amendment to our constitu-
tion that they also submit the ques-
tion to regulate the divorce laws of
the land so that there may be uni
formity in the several states.
Mr.. Speaker, the Memorial now
pending, while it proposes to accom-
plish the same object as the one the
house rejected a few days ago, differs
from that in this:
Article v, of the Constitution of the
United States provides two ways to
amend the constitution,
1st. When two (2-3) thirds of both
houses of congress shall deem it nee
cessary, they may propose amend
ments, or, on the application of the
legislatures Of two-thirds of the sew
eral states they shall call convention
(of all the states) for proposing
amendments, in either case the acts
OF either congress or the convention
must be submitted to the several
states, and when three-fourths of the
said states agree to such amendment,
1t becomes a part of the Constitution
of the United States.
The Memorial that the house con-
sidered and rejected, about ten days
ago, asked congress to call a consti-
tutional convention of the several
states and the sentiment of the house
was largely against that proposition.
While, at the same time, there is no
division among our members upon the
question of taking such steps if posi-
BILE; as are necessary to destroy the
evil complained of.
If you will look at the dates you
will find that the constitution of the
United States was finally adopted
about a hundred and. twenty-seven
years ago; II remember rightly,
North Carolina was the last state.
in 1887, that agreed to it. Since that
time many efforts have been made to
obtain constitutional convention of
all the states to amend that instru-
ment. But there is such strong
feeling, sentiment Of love and rever-
ence for the original instrument, that
the people of the country have not.
and will not, trust themselves to have
another constitutional convention of
the several states, for the purpose of
changing, altering and pulling to
pieces that sacred compact of the Or
iginal thirteen states.
Mr.. Speaker. the remedy that is pro-
posed in the memorial now under dis
cussion provides the shortest and SAT-
est way to amend, without taking
the chances of losing or changing the
intent and purpose of those last two
amendments. You will find upon ex-
animation that some fifteen amend
CONTINUED on Page ~