The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-07
SESSION |SN0W
EXACTLY HALF
OVER
Constitutional Time Limit for
Legislative Session Expires
in Thirty Days.
COMPARISON Of RESULTS
IN HOUSE and SENATE
House is the @Reform" Body-Primary
and Appropriations Among the Most
Important Measures Yet to be Con.
sidered- Status of Grand Forks
County's Delegation.
(By George Davi..>


Bismarck, Feb. 7.-When the legis-
lature re-convenes after the recess on
Thursday Of this week, one-half the
constitutional limit of time for the
making Of laws by that body will have
expired. 1t is interesting to know
something of the work which has been
done and the good that has been ac-
complished in behalf of the state by
the lawmakers. The senate was not
elected as the reform body branch of
the lawmaking body and is rot pos
ing before the public as such. 1t mere
ly claims to b. body intent on legis-
lating in the Interests Of the state con-
servatively and carefully. 1t did not
claim to be able to reform the world
and cut out all the errors of the
past merely by the legislation it would
enact.
Measured by practical results the
senate today has much more to its
credit than has the house. Not only
have several important measures been
disposed of by the higher branch of
the legislature, but it had dis
, posed of a contest in which
a number of grave questions
were involved and it settled the mat
ter so that its record will be guild
ing star to future legislatures in SIM
liar matters, and the precedent es-
tablished is one which only time,
thought and careful judgment could
produce. There are now on the house
calendar number of bills sent in
from the senate and which possess
considerable merit, while those acted
upon by the house and communicated
to the senate are decidedly few.
The passage of the White passenger
and anti-pass bill is among the few
matters of Importance which have
been disposed of by the house for the
time being. 4
In the thirty days which yet remain
Of the session, all the appropriations
bills must be considered, an apportion-
ment bill must be passed, the railroad
bills which cover the matter of re-
ciprocal demurrage will receive con-
siderable attention, and number of
matters of minor importance will need
to be passed. With all these matters
yet before it, the legislature is con-
fronted with the choice of considering
the legislation which is of moment to
the people of the state and reducing
the amount or of rushing it through
without consideration and without
time for proper discussion and advise
ment. So far but one bill has become
law. That is the one introduced by
Representative Stevens in the first
days Of the session carrying into oper-
alton the constitutional amendment
adopted by the people at the recent
election in reference to the invest
ment of the state schol funds. This
bill was rushed through as matter
of emergency SO that the board could
invest the funds in the county bonds
Of McHenry county which were to be
issued for the purpose of erecting the
new court house In that county.
The appropriation bills are matters
of vital interest to the taxpayers and
they should be given the most careful
attention, yet with the large number
of members In the house it Is impossi'
BILE to give even few of the members
comparatively speaking. chance te
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