Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-02-21
THE STATE LEGISLATURE

resulting for a time in deadlock In
conference but with victory it is COM
monty predicted, for the Sharpe bill.
There is little difference in the meas
nres except in detail, and the wishes
OF the people will be met by either.
Both houses were 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 result the
senate passed it's bill, took 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 OH the part Of MIR.
Stevens that the bills provisions were
unconstitutional until Mr.. Streeter an
no,,nced in substance that it was
strange that every time Il measure in
behalf of the people was before the
house some person had to make two
announccments-that it was unconstl-
lu.ional or that the senate would not
pass it. The members in favor of u
full primary We're in the saddle, how
ever, and the bill was passed after a
number CT amendments proposed by
them were agreed to.
A question as to the constitutional
ty of the primary filing fee provision
having arisen. q section was added to
the bill providing that in case one sec
ton OF the law was found unconstitn-
tional the decision should apply to
that section only. There were several
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 81
time. The ruction occurred over the
two reports OIL Cranes anti-pass ana
2-cent fare bill, which had been badly
emaciated in committee and then re-
ported by the majority for indefinite
pusrponement. Gilbert of Cass cham
pioned the majority report and Pierce
OF Ransom the minority, which was
| for Il bill prohibiting passes only.
/ Crane moved Il substitute to both mo.
tons and that amendments be refer
rcd to committee Of the whole for con-
! sidcration ON Friday, and there was IL
rand crOss-tire debate. Senator TAI.
| colt announced that he intended to in
troduce the anti-pass law just passed
| by South Dakota and wanted his bill
10 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 3 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 1S. The sem
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 inttia-
] 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 a,
arms. Through the vote of the Pro
hibitionists the motion to report the
bill unfavorably was carried. 81 to ~
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 problematicai
and it is thought the only chance of Its
J 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 thu
majority report of the railroad com
mittee was for cutting out the anti
pass part of the Whitehouse bill ant
amending the 2-cent rate to 2 IL cents
and providing for thousand-mile bool
at $40. good for members of tn
purchasers family whose names wer'
on the book. The minority reported
practically the Whitehouse bill, chang
Ing it to 2 1.2 cents. Lamoure object
ed to the consideration Of the matte
and it went over.
The chairman Of the senate ratiroa
committee will introduce bill Frida
making railroads liable to employe
for damages regardless of negligenc
of other employees. This is bill to
which the railroad employees have bee
} striving for many years.
Among the important new bills i
the senate were: BY Little-Concul
u rent resolution for five judges in tn
| supreme court. BY Crane-Amendin
4 laws relating to banking corporation:
5 This bill Is aimed at the banking bus
], ness alleged to be done by expires