The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1907-02-14
SESSION HALF OVER
LEGISLATURE MUST HUSTLE IN
ORDER TO COMPLETE WORK.

~-.-
Members Receive Numerous Letters
In Regard to Pending Measures.
Bismarck, Feb. 1.-THE legislature
reassembled after weeks recess last
Thursday. In both branches the roll
call was dispensed with SO that intro
duction and first and second reading
of bills could be proceeded with. A
roll call would have disclosed no quo
rum. However, the night trains brought
in many of the absentees and work
has gone forward without delay.
Thursday was the first day of the Sec
ond half of the term and the work
before the legislature now almost stag
gers one, not to think of the scores of
BILLS which are yet to be introduced.
Quite number of members re-
turned with changed ideas on a num-
Der of subjects, especially on the mat
ter of the proposed new apportion-
ment, and there are men in the con-
servative ranks who predict that the
new apportionment is the rock on
which insurgentism in the Republican
party is going to pieces. Then there
Is the primary election law. On that
question the insurgents are decidedly
in the limelight and their every move
Is being watched most carefully. AS
one insurgent seriously remarked the
other day he had been in three legis-
latures and never before had he seen
such plain evidence Of the people of
the state sitting up and taking notice
as they are this year. He said rou-
tine reports were being read and that
Is known by the large number Of let
ters members receive from their con-
stituents receive on this and that sub.
ject
To Enforce Prohibition Law. r
Out Of fifteen new house bills intro.
duced Thursday four of them were de-
signed to more than ever accelerate
the enforcement of the prohibition
law. One bill provides for the seizure
and confiscation of intoxicating liquors
imported into the state in violation Of
law. Unusual quantities will be prima
facie evidence that the stuff has been
brought in for sale. Another is one
which provides for the publication and
registration of tax receipts and H.
censes from the United States gov
1ernment. Lists are; to be published
monthly, one time, in the local papers.
which are to receive legal rates. The
notice will give the licensees name,
place Of business and the nature of
the license. In one bill the makers of
all sorts Of bitters and other concoc-
tions, malt, ale, ETC., are given a. hard
blow. Enforcement leaders in differ
ent parts Of the state have so far
been greatly handicapped by the
paucity of funds with which to carry
on prosecutions. One bill provides
that fines which have heretofore gone
into the school fund will go into the
liquor prosecution fund until the lat
ter amounts to over $1,000 and over
that amount will be placed to the
credit Of the school fund as before.
The section of the prohibition law
which defines what shall be construed
and held to be intoxicating liquors will
be very materially strengthened.
Boost State Officers Salaries.
At an early date the senate ways
and means committee will present a
bill which will provide for the mate.
rial increase of the salaries of state
officers from the governor down. 1t
is generally conceded that IL the state
is to have her of1icialdomS at high
standard of efficiency 1t must pay re
munerative salaries. The cutting of
of passes has added to the individual
expense account of officers and with
some of them it amounts to good
deal. With the contemplated raise OF
salaries comes a very strict provision
that officers must reside at the seat OF
government during their term of office
and until successors are elected or ap
pointed and duly qualified.
The governor is to receive $4,000
annually, to include all services as ex
officio member of boards and commits
sions as by law are devolved upon
him.
The secretary of state, the state au
ditor, the state treasurer, the commits
sioner OF agriculture and labor, the
commissioner of insurance are each
to receive an annual salary Of $500
The annual salary of the attorney
general, to include all services rem
dered as ex-officio member of any
board or commission. shall be $4,000
The majority of the committee would
like to have made the, salary for this
officer $4,000, but it was thought the