Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1909-01-07
BISMARCK
Notes From the State Capital
About Legislative and
Other Matters.

Other Matters.
Bismarck. N. DIT is reported
! that Attorney General Miller will
appoint Alfred Zuger of Valley City,
as one of the assistant attorney gen.
erals. He has served several terms as
states attorney in Barnes county.
The rumor has been confirmed.
! A. l.. Woods Of Grand Forks who
has done the enrolling and engros-
sing for two previous legislatures has
secured the contract for the present
| term.
The maximum coal rate case was
argued and submitted to the su-
preme court Saturday. Attorney
General McCue made the argument
on behalf of the state and in support
of the reasonableness of the law and
Attorney Watson of Fargo, argued
F, on behalf of the railroad companies
whose interests are involved. The
argument were begun at the morning
session and completed at four O'Clock
in the afternoon, and the case taken
under advisement by the court.
The matter Of speakership, keeps
! the friends of each of the candidates
busy, and it was hoped that general
caucus of the republicans could be
held to settle the matter. and petit
! tion for this was in circulation. The
insurgent faction also circulated a
proposed agreement for a caucus.
The leading candidates for the speak,
ership appear to be White Of Trail
! county and Skulason of Grand Forks
county. A number of the progressives
are opposed to call for a caucus
that invovled the qualification of
factions, and believed that general
party caucus would be better for all
concerned. McCrea. of Pembina conn-
| ty, has become a candidate for the
speakership and developed consider
! able strength. There are the usual
"dark horse'' rumors.
Representative Skulason it is said,
will introduce bill to amend the tax
laws which will be appreciated by a
good many poor tax payers. The bill
provides that when the taxes on any
lot or tract Of land shall exceed 81
one half thereof may be paid on
March lst, and no penalty shall at
tach to the other half not paid and
may be paid any time prior to No
vember 1st. Under the present law
taxes are due December 1st and on
March 1st the penalty is attached.
The proposed new law is similar to
that Of Minnesota.
Attorney General McCue and State
Auditor Holmes retired from the
membership of the board of uni
versity and school lands at the
last meeting of the board Saturday.
Mr.. McCue has served as a most COM
petent and faithful adviser of the
various departments of the state
boards and the officials in connec-
tion Herewith. regret the loss of a
courteous and ever ready adviser.
The board of university and school
lands extended a vote of thanks
both to Mr.. McCue and MI. Holmes
for their efficient services on the
board for the past two years.
So far no indication has been
learned in regard to appointment Of
members of the supreme bench, and
it is now stated that the governor
will not make the appointment until
some time next week and possibly
not until the week after and only,
after further consultation with his
party associates.
There promises to be an interest
ing little scrap over the Adjutant
General appointment. Governor
Burke has given out that he intended
to appoint Col. Peake Of Valley City,
to succeed Adj. Gen. Poole. A COM
mittee of the guardsmen called upon
the governor and requested that he
re-appoint the present;Adjutant Gem
eral. The governor is reported to
have said that while he desired to
comply the wishes Of the militia In
this matter, he had decided to appoint
Col. Peake. 1t Is claimed that the
law, as it at present stands regarding
the appointment of the Adjntant
General will not hold water in the
court. As the matter of the adtutant
generalship concerns most intimately
the various militia companies Of the
state, and as such organizations are
sticklers for what is considered mill.
tary etiquette and rewards for en-
cient service, it is predicted that the