The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1909-01-14
BURKE TO THE
LEGISLATURE
Governors Message Contains
Many Recommendations.
WOULD AMEND PRIMARY Law


Vote Of the Psople-Reapportion.
ment Necessary to Give Represen.
tatton to New counties-Would
Give State Executive Power to Re-
move ofaeiais Who Fail in Per
formanee 81 Duties.
Governor Burke, in his message to
the legislature. said, in part:
It will be your duty to elect Unit
ed States senator and, II ours is
government of the people. you will, as
speedily as possible, comply with the
wishes of the people as expressed at
the polls at the last general election.
For several years the two great po-
iitical parties of this state have advo-
eted the election of United States
$enators by direct vote of the people.
The people feel that, If the senators
were elected by direct vote the same
as their representatives. they would
b better and truer representatives of
. government of the people and it
vas because of this prevailing senti-
ment that the last legislative assem-
bly, made some advances toward the
selection of the United States SEN
ators by direct vote of the people.
The present legislation upon the
subject, however, does not meet the
demands of the people. It is only a
half way measure. It only enables
the different parties to select their
party choice and does not permit the
selection of the popular choice of the
whole people. If the people really be-
heve in the election of United States
senator's by direct vote then our pres
snt laws should be amended SO that
each party could nominate its candi-
date and the candidate receiving the
aishest number of votes at the gen.
eral election should be chosen sem
ator BY this body regardless Of poll
ues.
New Counties.
Since the last session of the legis.
lative assembly all the unorganized
laeTitory. in the state has been organ.
bed ipto new counties; and in conse-
auence there are the counties Of Het-
finger, Adams, Bowman and Dunn
Without representation in either
branch Of the legislature. It will be
aecessary for you, therefore, to make
such reapportlonment of the legisla-
tive districts of this state as will give
these new counties representation.
Seed Wheat.
In some Of the new counties tho
settlers crops were destroyed with
hail in 1907 and in 1908; thus leaving
many Of them without means to Sc
eu&e seed wheat for the coming sea-
sqaA. In 1901 the legislative assembly
assed law under which counties
were authorized to issue bonds to pro.
cure seed grain for settlers whose
crops had failed during the year 1900.
rhis was wise law, for it enabled
counties to assist the worthy settlers
Dver the, hardships and privations in.
sident to pioneer life; but, being linn
ked to those who lost their crops in
The year 1900. it furnishes no relief
70 those who lost their crops in 1907
and in 1908. I therefore recommend
the re-enactment of chapter Al of the
laws of 1901, with the limit to the
tear 1900 stricken out and such other
amendments and provisions rs in your
Judgment may seem necessary.
Good Roads.
Everybody is interested in the sub
lsct of good roads and especially the
man with the big granary and the big
grain wagon. The better the road the
cheaper is the transportation and the
greater the profit; and yet in our
Btate we have rs many different sys-
TENS of building roads as we have
different road districts. Our country
roads are under the supervision of a.
road supervisor. If the county is or
. yanized into townships there is road
district in each township, under the
supervision of the road supervisor.
Each individual in the district sub
alsct to poll tax has an option of pay
the same or working one day on
I>gSroad. The option is usually ex-
5M14 4sed BY working, or, at least, by
mt cling In the time. The supervisor
W usually honest and does the best
u knows how under the circum-
stances; but he is not an engineer
and 10 followed by a successor who is
not an engineer and who often un.
foes the work Of his predecessor.
Much better results have been ac-
Somplished by the payment Of all road
taxes in cash and expending the same
nnder the supervision of civil en-
gineer, or the building Of all roads
and bridges to be let by contract to
experienced men.
Tho Dattleship North Dakota.
Our state has been recently highly
honored by having the greatest and
largest battleship ever built named
Tor, her. It is the custom for each
state for which q battleship Is named
/ 10 present the ship with silver serv-
tce ana am sure that this state will
not 30 the first state to ignore the
custom. It Is . matter Of state inter-
est Una stats pride. but section 1876 Of
eAe& &constitution prohibits an appro-
n1at Hon tor this purpose and the
- Int A1oSssary will have to bs
4 bd ~ popular subscription.
stats Flas.
With the invitation 70 attsnA the