Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-02-25

Bill Passes Both Houses-Measure
Permanently Locating State Fair at
Fargo KHled-House Opposes In.
ereaslng Powers Of Governor.
Bismarck, Fab. DEMONSTRATIONS
Of various state departments have
been authorized By the two houses
Of tie legislature in the course of the
past week, following cr%ininations and
recr;minations INDUCED in among the
different state officials. For several
days past newspapers OF the state
have had rumors as 10 the DISPOSE
ton OF fees TO the extent OF a number
OF thousand dollars a year collected
by State Superintendent ". L. Stock
well for teachers certificates, 1t has
been charged b. innuendo in the state
press that Stockwell collected from
$4,000 TO 5000 q year for these certih-
Gates and had tailed TO make an &C
counting. Under the present laws OF
the state the state superintendent is
authorized TO charge from So TO s. an
nually for various grades OF certif-
Gates and the money is TO be expend-
ed in paying for the reading and
marking OF examination papers, in
promoting county teachers reading
circles ard for other purposes. The
newspaper reports that have been cir
culaied were 10 the effect hat there
was 10 record OF the payment OF these
amounts.
= = =
Following on the publication Of
these charges the state superintend-
ent presented q communication TO the
senate and house asking for the APP
p~ointment of a legislative committee
On inquiry to probe the matter. The
senate named Messrs. Simpson, Davis
and Purcell to make the investigation.
The house referred the resolution TO
the committee on education and that
committee presented a report author
;zing the Investigation OF the Office Of
the secretary OF state. against which
newspaper reports have been made in
connection with the purchase of legis-
latiNe supplies, the commissioner of
insurance, the department of agricul-
ture and labor and various other state
Offices that handle fees. The commit
tee named in the house consists of
Nessrs. Purnam. Ployhar and Collins.
Both committees began work the last
of the week and a report will proba-
bly, be presented to the legislature in
the curse of the following week.
= = =
The feeling that exists among the
various state Departments is not cor
dial At the present time various de-
partments are. some of them in the
hands of Democratic officials, some of
them in the hands of "insurgent" Re
publicans and some of them in the
hands of "stalwart" Republicans. The
principal difficulty seems to arise
yer the distribution of off cial patron
age and the disagreement over this
has led to a lack of reciprocally cor
dial feelings. The result OF this is in
the newspaper charges pro and con,
which have resulted in a demand for
Investigations.
:. :. :.
Both the senate and the house have
taken what will be the last recess IN
til the adjournment of the legislature,
which takes place in two weeks. The
adiournr.ert is over Washington's
birthday and until Tuesday, Feb. %.
The house first refused to consent to
such an adjournu ent, hut finally
passed an Independent resolution tc
adjourn for four days and the senate
did likewise. There will be only ten
working days left after the recess and
as the appropriation bills 1ill take
at least a full day to pass in each
house it will be seen that the time TO,
work is limited.
4 tariff resolution in the senate. di
recting the members Of congress from
the state to favor a high tariff or
hides, wool and farm produce, caused
some oratory and vas opposed by the
Democratic leaders on the floor of the
upper house, but was finally passed
by the senate.
= = =
The game law has been reported ir
the senate with a number of amend
ments and some amendment to the
present game law will probably be
come law 1t this session. The mair
thing desired is to prevent spring
shooting. Another bill is in to pro
hibtt the killing Of deer for five years
but it is a question whether this vii
pass.
!. + :.
No apportionment bill has yet beer
reported. but the committee has beer
working and a bill will probably be
reported this week designed to- give
representation to the new counties ir
the state and to readjust the appor
tionment of the other counties. Nortt
Dakota is growing SO rapidly that fire
quent reapportionment is necessary
and new counties have been created
In such numbers the past few years
that they must be provided for. Thu
committee has not yet finally decided
on the manner of the reapportion