The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-18

W pass SuCn laws unuer disguise. Mr..
Sorley of Grand Forks favored the pas
sage OF the bill and said he did not
see what reason Mr.. Stevens had for
thinking the bill was aimed at the
railroads. When Mr.. Stevens rose to
reply. he said with considerable sar-
casm, Il always smell something OF
that sort when you (meanlng Mr.. Sor-
lew get on the floor" Mr.. Mockler
called attention to the fact that the
bill made no provisions for the pay
ment of the county auditors while they
were attending the meetings of the
state board of equalization. and while
he said he favored the bill as a prin-
ciple he did not believe It was right
to force hardship upon the men who
would be put to large expense and
Inconvenience in attending to their
duties. The bill was passed by a vote
OF fifty-nine to thirty.
Afternoon Session.
Immediately after the opening OF
the. session in the afternoon, Mr.. Ste
vens stated that he desired to make
statement. He called attention to
the fact that the state equalization
board had been criticized on the floor
of the house and that their acts had
been construed as favorable to the
railroads. He then read from the re-
ports of the United States bureau Of
statistics. the following figures of the
ratio between the assessed valuation
of tine railroads and their commercial
value in the states which were most
pronounced in their positions OF the
railroad assessment position.
The ratios follows: Georgia, II per
cent; Iowa, 1917; Kansas, 1863; Mon
tana, 1S.7: Nebraska, 1871; North Da-
kota, 49,; Ohio, IA; Washington, 14S;
West Virginia, 14.2. Wyoming, rs;
Arizona, 90; Oklahoma, 1872; New
Mexico, 80.
Committee Reports.
House bills 1874 and 1862 were rec
commended for passage by the COM
mites to which they were referred.
The latter Is the bill introduced by
Mr.. Treat of Cass County and provides
for the care and custody of certain
children who have been abandoned or
who have been left in such clrcum-
stances that they would otherwise be
thrown on the cold charities of the
world. at such institutions as the chill
dren's home at Fargo. 1t is one of
the most humanitarian bills ever in
troduced into any legislature and If
enacted into law will "help many
children to find home"
New House Bills.
Nine new bills were introduced Sat-
urday and the end is not yet in sight
unless the rules are suspended and
the bill introduced into the senate by
Senator Stade is passed at high pres
sure. This number runs the total up
to pa, about twenty-one less than the
senate has to its credit, and this will
probably be overcome by special eff
forts today. The new bills are as fol-
lows:
266 by Mathews-provides that In
counties where the assessed valua-
ton of property is 100000 or more,
the boards of county commissioners
may be required to levy tax for the
support of county fairs and for build
ing structures for the same when the
officers of such associations are resi-
dent freeholders of the county 1t was
referred to the committee on agricui-
ture.
267 by Johnson of Pembina-amend-
ing sections 1858, 1859 and 1851 of the
revised codes of 1905 in reference to
the removal of county seats. Referred
to the committees on counties and
county boundaries.
26S by Piper-amending section 1854
of the revised codes of 1905 relative
to the fees of district court clerk and
repeats section 1854 of the same codes.
Referred to the judiciary committee.
269 by Peake-a new and somewhat
sensational bill which provides for the
government of cities by commission
system when the plan is adopted by
the municipalities desiring the same
The bill is lengthy and has number
of features which are new and novel
to the people of the state.
270 by Blegen-providing plan for
the securing of school district librar-
les. The plan proposes that twenty
five cents for every pupil who is
counted in the enumeration upon
which the apportionment of the state
school fund is based shall be set aside
for the purchase of books for the sew
eral grades Of the public schools un-
til the number of books so secured
shall reach one hundred and then the
amount shall be ten cents on the same
basis. The books shall be selected by
a commission of which the state sup
erintendent of public instruction shall
be one and the other four to be an
pointed by the North Dakota Educa-
tfonal association. The bill carries an
appropriation and was referred to that
committee.
271 by Burdick-providing lien for
the keeping and pasturing OF stock.
1t was referred to the judiciary COM
nlittee.
272 by Halaas-allowing mechanics,
watchmakers and goldsmiths to sell
the property repaired at public auc-
ton for repair bill when such is not
paid within a fixed time. Referred to
the committee on state affairs.
27S by Gansle-limits the meetings
of boards of education for which men,
bers may be paid to two each year.
Referred to the committee on educa-
ton.
274 by Geidt-provides for the or
ganization of cities, towns and viii
lagos when the territory of such lies