Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-01-14

ouch a law might be also unconstttu-
tional in this state.
have examined this subject for the
purpose of ascertaining whether you
can, by legislation, authorize the pur-
chase and construction or leasing of
an elevator in Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin and. in my opinion, such a law
would be in conflict with section 195
of the constitution of our state.
Experiment Stations.
We have, in connection with the
Agricultural college and under it's SUI
pervision, experiment stations at
Edgeley, Williston, Langdon and Dick
inson, each established for the same
purpose; and each should receive the
same eeatment from the legislative
assembly. AT the present time there
is an annual appropriation of S., 200
for the support of the Edgeley sta
ton, an annual appropriation of SO, 1000
for the Williston station and no an
uual appropriations for the stations at
Langdon and Dickinson. The Williston
station has a special member of the
board of trustees, while the Langdon
station has a trustee having the same
power as the other trustees of the
Agricultural college. The law in re.
lation to the same should be com.
piled and amended so that there
would be but one law for all. If one
station is given a member of the
board of trustees each station should
be given a member with the same
power. The annual appropriation for
each should be the same; but as each
station is a part and under the con.
troll of the Agricultural college the
appropriation necessary for the main.
tenance of each might be added to
the appropriation for the Agricultural
college and expended under the super
vision of the board of trustees of the
Agricultural college. including the
trustees of each station.
Game and Fish.
In my message to the Tenth legis
lative assembly | called attention to
the necessity of legislation for the
protection of game and recommended
the abolition of spring shooting. NORTH
Dakota is the natural home and the
natural breeding ground of geese and
ducks and the spring shooting drives
them away from their nests and GU,
of the country and if game is decreas
ing in this state it is because the laws
are insufficient for its protection.
There is some question about tho
authority of the game warden to ac1
as fish commissioner. The game laws
should be revised and amended sc
that it will appear plainly that the
game warden, or some officer, has au
thority to act also as fish commits
sioner.
Little attention has been paid to the
propagation of fish in this state an(
yet there are enough fresh and deel
cold water lakes in the Turtle noun
tains to supply not only the game
fish for the game fisher but to supply
fish as a food for the entire state.
recommend a reasonable appropria
ton to establish a fish hatchery al
Fish lake, in the Turtle mountains
and also II at Devils Lake.
Legislative Extravaganza.
The legislature has always been ex.
%travagant in employing unnecessary
clerks and employees. This was early
recognized by the members and as a
means of providing against this ex-
travagance a law was passed by
which all enrolling and engrossing
was done by contract. AS the greater
oort Cf thn rrNrly for Tho n1~r;oo1 eo,az
was in the enrolling and engrossing
of the bills it was thought that if this
was done under contract it would al
most dispense with the necessity of
clerks in the legislature and, while
the enrolling and engrossing has since
been let by contract, the number of
legislative clerks and employees has
seemed to increase.
In the last legislative assembly
there were thirty-six more employees
in the house than the law permitted
and fifty-siX more employees in the
senate than the law allowed; making
altogether eighty employees in the SEN
ate and s%ixty-five employees in the
house. The legislature has not only
OOSA GANid III luC Employ L1GUl
of clerks, but it has by resolution in
creased the pay of clerks and favored
officers and has by resolution given
away state property.
You are here as representatives of
the people, who have reposed a sacred
trust in you, and have no legal or
moral right to give away the property
or the money of the state as a gift or
in a spirit of good fellowship. You
are entitled to have necessary and
competent clerks to facilitate tv*iness
and the clerks are entitled to fair and
just remuneration for their services.
Most of this extravaganza
through a spirit of good fellowship.
without wrongful intent and from
force of custom that has prevailed
for many years. l call your attention
to it now, at the threshold of your
duties, so that you may be on your
guard against this pernicious custom
throughout the session. 1t is no kind
ness to young men or young women
to put them on the payroll unless