The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-25

.P0LYGAMY QUESTION
Continued from page ~
ments have been added during the last
hundred and twenty-seven years, to
the original instrument, and each and
every one of those amendments have
become part Of the constitution of the
United States by the mode proposed
In this memorial. That is to say, when
congress by two-thirds vote In each
house proposed the amendment, and
three-fourths of the several states ac-
cept it, it then becomes a part of the
constitution. You will observe that in
addition to the great and vital ques-
ton. morally speaking, (polygamy)
now agitating the country, 1 have in
cluded in the memorial, that other
question, divorce, which is also agitat-
ing the public mind and attracting
the attention of the moralists, and
philanthropists, and in fact, all the
good people Of the land. l believe
that congress should propose an
amendment to the constitution to en-
able the country to have proper, just
and the necessary uniform divorce
laws, SO that they would be the same
In each and every state; and it is
for that reason that l have introduced
this memorial to congress, requesting
them to propose the necessary emand-
ment covering these two subjects, be-
lieving that the necessary and proper
laws upon these two questions, when
properly enforced, would result in
great good to the welfare and happi-
ness Of our country. I observe that
a number Of the different states have
already sent memorials to congress
upon the one subject, to-wit, that of
polygamy, yet believe that the mat
ter OF divorce should be uniform
throughout all the several states; and
for that reason, hope that the memori-
al will be adopted.
The matter of having the railroad
commissioners before the house for
the purpose Of giving the members in
formation on the matter upon which
they desired legislation was given
new life today by the passage of a
resolution summoning them to appear
for that purpose.
Representative Bernt Anderson in
troduced memorial on the matter of
meandered lakes and streams and
asking congress to enact legislation
allowing the drainage destruction or
obliteration Of the same as we'll as the
drainage into the same of any
streams. The memorial reads as fol-
lows:
Whereas, numerous "meandered
lakes and navigable streams, located
in North Dakota, by reason of higher
attitudes or of distractions made by
silt and other materials thus hold
ing back the water, are made to over
flow and annually flood and keep in
a state of moisture many thousands
Of acres of swamp or smi-swamp
land and whereas by virtue of large
spring freshets. many Of such
lakes, streams or rivers overflow or
inundate vast areas of land; and,
whereas, in order to drain such lands,
1t becomes necessary to ditch into,
alter, or destroy such lakes, streams
or rivers by which means the water
can be conducted away and thereby
drain such named lakes, fitting them
for tillage or agricultural use; and,
whereas, by such method of drainage
the wealth of the people of North Da-
kota can be increased millions of dol
lars, and the taxable property of the
state can be equally multiplied.
Now, therefore, the Legislative As
sembly of North Dakota hereby pass
es Joint Memorial, or Resolution, to
the Congress Of the United States of
America, praying that body to pass
a law giving to each respective state
of the union the right to ditch into,
alter, modify or distroy, If needs be,
part or the whole of any "meandered
lakes or navigable streams, If the
same shall be necessary to drain any
swamp or smi-swamp lands within
their respective borders, provided said
drainage, alterations or notifications
of such lakes, streams or rivers, shall
be done under the saction of, or in
cooperation with, National Commits
sioners or agents who shall be ap-
pointed or detailed under law, for
such purposes.
Therefore, belt resolved by the leg
islative assembly of North Dakota,
that engrossed copies of the Joint
Memorial be at once sent to the
North Dakota senators and represen-
tatives in congress and they by in
structed to draw up and introduce a
bill in congress that shall cover in a
clear and comprehensive manner, the
different features or phases herein
named Of the question of drainage in
the different states of the nation.
Committee Of the Whole.
The greater portion of the session
was devoted to the consideration Of
bills in the committee of the whole,
with Mr. LELAND in the chair. House
Bill 108 introduced by Mr.. Dean re-
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