The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-02-21

conference but with victory it is com.
monty predicted, for the Sharpe bill.
There is little difference in the meas.
ures except in detail, and the wishes
of the people will be met by either.
Both houses we're considering their
primary measures at the same time,
there being rivalry as to which
would pass their bill first. The house
members could not resist the opportu.
nifty for debate, and as q result the
senate passed its bill, took a recess
and the whole membership rushed
over to the house to see the fun when
the bill was messaged over. In the
house there were the usual number OF
announcements on the part of MIR.
Stevens that the bills provisions were
unconstitutional until Mr.. Streeter an
nounced in substance that it was
strange that every time a measure in
behalf of the people was before the
house some person had to make two
announcements-tha it was unconstl-
tutional or that the senate would not
pass it. The members in favor of
full primary were in the saddle, how
ever, and the bill was passed after a
number of amendments proposed by
them were agreed to.
A question as to the constitutionali-
ty of the primary filing fee provision
having arisen, section was added to
the bill providing that in case one Sec
ton of the law was found unconstitu-
tional the decision should apply to
that section only. There were several
warm passages between Stevens and
Sorley, the latter being the father OF
the bill.
In the senate the proverbial courtesy
of that body was nearly fractured
over anti-pass legislation and the at
mosphere was decidedly hot for a
time. The ruction occurred over the
two reports on Cranes anti-pass and
2-cent fare bill, which had been badly
emaciated in committee and then re-
ported by the majority for indefinite
postponement. Gilbert of Cass cham
pioned the majority report and Pierce
of Ransom the minority. which was
for bill prohibiting passes only.
Crane moved substitute to both mo-
lions and that amendments be refer
red to committee Of the whole for con-
sideration on Friday. and there was a
rapid cross-fire debate. Senator Tai
colt announced that he intended to in
troduce the anti-pass law just passed
by South Dakota and wanted his bill
to have show with the others. Sen
ator Young said that his bill applied
to 81 per cent of the people and the
others only to about per cent, which
brought Crane into the ring again and
he and Gilbert had colloquay as to
the vote in committee on the bills,
which finally ended with apologies and
sending the bills to committee of the
whole by vote of 81 to 18. The SEN
ate killed by committee reports the
bills for assessing bank stock. fixing
the rate Of interest for call deposits,
and the school bill.
The time of the house Thursday was
almost entirely taken up by discussion
in committee of the whole of the initia-
tive and referendum bill. Amendments
were offered so as to eliminate amend
ments to the constitution, as the pro.
hibitionists are fearful lest through
this means resubmission of the pro-
hibition law will be got before the peo-
pie. Much oratory was expended upon
this issue. The amendments were
voted down, however, and discussion
followed on the merits of the bill.
Stevens taking up most of the time in
opposition, during which he and
Streeter had red hot passage at
arms. Through the vote of the Pro-
hibitionists the motion to report the
bill unfavorably was carried, 54 to AZ.
1t is understood another try will be
made to amend the bill to suit the Pro-
hibitionists and pass it Friday. Its
fate in the senate is problematical,
and it is thought the only chance of its
passage there lies in its not being
amended.
At present it looks as though the
anti-pass agitation had somewhat
cooled off. In the senate Thursday the
majority report of the railroad COM
mittee was for cutting out the anti
pass part of the Whitehouse bill and
amending the 2-cent rate to 2 IL cents
and providing for thousand-mile book
at $40, good for members of the
purchasers family whose names were
on the book. The minority reported
practically the Whitehouse bill, chang
ing it to 2 -2 cents. Lamoure object
ed to the consideration of the matter
and it went over
The chairman of the senate railroad
committee will introduce bill Friday
making railroads liable to employees
for damages regardless of negligence
of other employees. This is bill for
which the railroad employees have been
striving for many years.
Among the important new bills in
the senate were: By Little-Concur-
rent resolution for five judges in the
supreme court. BY Crane-Amending
laws relating to banking corporations.
This bill is aimed at the banking bust
ness alleged to be done by express