The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-05-01
Judge Aikens Tells Of Bis PItliul
Record In Legislature at
Bismarck
HOW he WOBBLED BOTH WAYS
Statements Made From Cold Records
That Every Voter 10 State
Should Read

To the Argus-Leader: Much has
been said on the part of the stall
warts with reference to the attitude
of Governor Crawford with regard to
the Gross-Earnings law when he was
q member Of the territorial council
a 1889. The whole case. however,
las o been laid before the people
n that they may understand it and
nave q better idea of the character
OF the candidate for United States
senator ! have concluded to give
more In detail the facts connected
with the measure.
One Of the strangeeI things hap
pening in connection with this law
IL the fact that on the very day that
the council unanimously passed
Council Bill No. 2, which repealed
the grOss-earnings law, Mr.. Walsh of
North Dakota. recognized as being
identified with the railway interests
OF that section of the territory, intro
duced Council Bill No. 40, which
was in effect the reenactment of the
Law that he voted to repeal (Coun-
Gil Journal 2. 141). In saying this l
do not wish to be understood as in
ttmating that MI. Crawford had any
thing to do with its introduction.
This bill was read the second time
and referred to the committee ON
railroads on the 25th day of January,
1883 Council Journal p. 1907; 1t lay
In the committee until the 4th day
Of March when 1t was reported with
the Recommendation that 1t do not
rass Council Journal p. 697). On the
same day the bill was read the third
timc when Mr.. Erickson of Union
moved that the further considera-
ton OF Council Bill No. 40 be indefi-
nicely postponed" Council Journal
p IT'D. The contest ON this bill was
% spirited that q call Of the house
was demanded Council Journal p.
1922. When q vote was taken upon
the motion OF Mr.. Erickson it re-
suited in its being lost S to Is, Mr..
Crawford voting with the majority
(Council Journal p. 1913. This in
dictated q wavering attitude. Mr..
Erickson then moved that the re-
port OF the committee on railroads
be adopted. Mi. Hughes, 1.-THE at
torney for the Northern Pacinc)
moved: AS q substitute to the mo-
ton Of the gentleman from Union
that the report Of the committee on
railroads be not adopted" The vote
on this substitute motion resulted in
tts being adopted II to 8. Mr.. Craw-
ford voting in the affirmative. (Coun-
cil Journal p, 7lsl; This action in
dics.sd that Mr.; Crawford was .
then ofiered ! certain amendment
which was carried. MI. Pointdexter
offered another which was adopted
Hughes then offered an amendment emit
which struck out certain portions Of
the bill which was adopted. The
council then took q ecess until 8
?. n. Council Journal 2: 7l5l;
fered an amendment which was
adopted Council Journal p. 71S). Mr..
fered an amendment which was ad-
opted Council Journal p. 718). Mr..
Crawford then moved another amend
ment which was adopted. Mr.. Err
ickson then undertook to amend the
act BY increasing the percentum Of
300 KIO0OCAA NUS W w p0Aus AlS
motion required Q direct vote upon
the measure and Mr.. Lrickson's am
endment was lost 8 to 10. Mr.. Craw-
ford voting with him. which indicat-
Cd that at that time he was inclined
to be friendly to the people Council
Journal p. 7l9). Mr.. Mcdonald, up
70 this time also friendly. offered an
other amendment which was lost
,.s Journal Journal 2. t IlSo; Mt; ma Doi
ment which proved conclusively
that he was opposed to the vicious
measure under consideration, tO-wit:
Aerovlded that nothing contained In
the provlslons Of this act shall be
construed 20 exempt from taxation
the iands Of any railroad corporation
si'i Il :; the s"e e .'ans 3 u" Business : "o Of
railroads." This proposed amend
ment brought on another test and 1t
was lost 8 to 10. Il 10 to be noted
thot Nj. croWford voted with Major
QojDard at this time and the indica-
ttono were that he wat still with the
eeopoo Council Journal p. 72O. Mr..
~ Lost. Then Major Dollar Dollard moved
"a, strike out the enacting clause and
~ insert IN act which would subject
the property Of railroads and espe-
c1ally ct the real estate owned by
them, 10 the same mode Of assess
mont and taxation IS lands belong
m @ Individuals Council Journal p.
az0-1t). Mr.. Hughes moved to lay
fh1S equitable amendment on the
table. ~ this 1unctura Mr.. Poinde1.
t9r. un6ertook 70 have the Council
SNfo0rA Int his motion waS lost.
2(Connctl Journal p. 1869. The call
NJ 80 house w0s then demanded: 10
mpnbogO W6re present. It not look
Vo1l to- Mr.. Hughes and the Nor
haclnc ~ moved that the
0ll 1dtOurn. The motion was
M. 6Fiekson them moved that
erSooGE haired refrain from vot-
- NJ. Hughes then moved TO
ulotion o. the table. which
S1fSod 81 ! vote Of 10 to Z.
s nS(esd More voted with the
m peoples which indicat.
r. 49, still true. Council
1S5.. Mr. Hughes then
~ fsif To council adjourn
a loot. He then moved to
- q ten minutes. which
S6G1M3 Mel 80 HaM8A 1&HH 8N4s&5