The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-02-18
legislature Still
Grinding Away.
MINOT NORMAL BILL
PASSED THE HOUSE.
THE Pen INVESTIGATION STILL ON.

stitutional provisions, was reported
back fayorably to the upper house.
When the bill came up for final pas
sage Senator Simpson of Stark county
made a fight for the inclusion of the
constitutional provisions, which are
bitterly opposed by the ultra prohibit
tionists of the state for the reason
that such a law would permit the re-
submission of the prohibition law.
Senator Simpson argued on the floor.
that the people we're safe to be trust
ed with the matter of constitutional
amendments and that no bill should
deny to any part of the people any
rights that were granted to any other
part of the people. After an extended
argument the Simpson amendment
was adopted by a vote of 81 to 20 and
the bill was passed. It has been sent
to the house and it is safe to say that
no referendum bill will pass that does
not include the constitutional provi-
sion.
i. i. +
The public utility bills, giving city
councils the right to fix rates for cleo
trio lights, gas, water and other public
utilities, have been before committees
of the two houses, but no final agree
ment has been reached. The Near
thur bill, giving the commissioners of
railroads power to fix maximum tel
ephone rates and enforce. telephone
connections, is being bitterly opposed
by the telephone companies in the
state, Of which there is a large num-
Der of farmers" and private lines
that would come within the provisions
of the bill. Franchise holders through
the state are also opposing vigorously
the Duis bill to give city councils the
right to fix maximum rates. It is
claimed that such legislation would
enable political councils and other
bodies to work harm to the invested
interests in the cities and towns of
the state and that it would retard the
growth spd development of the state
by making capital doubtful about in
vcstments.
+ 4 1.
@ !" oOPAVIAV w AdllNVu uOWA q
decision the middle of the week deny
ing the writ of prohibition and also
the writ of quo warranto asked for
in the Poole-Peake case. The effect
Of this decision was to permit the
courtmartial that was trying Poole to
proceed and it concluded its labors
and handed its findings to the gov
0rnnr Tha Infaron MT in M %4oki
mony, relying merely on the testimony
Of the prosecuting witnesses to show
that Poole had not been guilty of con.
duct as charged by the governor. The
findings have not been mao, public.
but rumors are that they find Poole
guilty Of a part of the specifications.
The penalty must be fixed by the
court and approved by the governor
and no official statement has been
given out as to what the result of the
courtmartial is. A result Of the court
martial rumpus was the recalling of
Captain Armstrong, a regular army
officer on the retired list, from his po-
sition as military secretary.
+ ! i
Inc state ta1r proposition mas Occu-
pied a good share of attention of the
members during the week and all of
the state fair bills have now been re-
fcrred to the committee Of the whole
house. There are bills locating a state
fair at Devils Lake. Jamestown and
other places, but the main contention
in the matter is as to the final loca-
ton of the state fair now on wheels
at either Fargo or Grand Forks. The
Fargo representatives have a bill to
locate the fair permanently at Fargo
after 1910 and this is being bitterly
opposed by the Grand Forks people
and their friends. Grand Forks claims
vested rights In it's institution and
that the agreement made four years
ago for an alternating fair was made
IN good faith and should not be VIC
lated at this time. The matter will
probably be out Of the way as far as
the house is concerned in a few days.
i + !
The recommendations Of the rail-
road commissioners for additional leg
islation have been referred to the at
torney general of the state by the rail-
road committee of the senate with a
request that bills be drawn covering
the recommendations of the commits
sion. A joint meeting Of the house