The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1909-02-18
likely TO amend
THEPRIMARY Law
Many Legislators Favor Chang;
Ing Present System
SUCCEEDS N PASSING SENATE

SS00su0 NVu0SWUstOuNs AmOU0m0uS9s
STATE Fair Proposition Given Much
Attention BY Asmbsrs-Publie utlL
tty Bills Still Under Consideration
81 Committees Of Both Houses.
Bismarck. Feb. 15.-From all the
mass Of bills that have been presented
to the legislature on the subject Of
elections It seems likely that there
will be . substantial amendment of |
the primary election law ct this ses.
sson. It Is not known yet just how
far the legislators will 60 in changing |
the present law and 1t may be that |
IN the end all proposed amendments |
Of the present primary law will fail,
but the present sentiment seems to
favor law that will take state off,
GERS and judges from the list of off,
cials nominated by direct vote of the
people and place them back again un-
der the convention system, with a
referendum to the people in case q
Atnority Of the delegates to the con:
Vent1On so desire.
/. i. +
The house elections committee has
been discussing the matter of primary
election for some time and at the last
meeting held was nearly unanimous
in favor of a change from the present
system Of direct nominations. The
objections that are urged to the pres
ent system are that It is too cumber-
some, that the candidacy for Office is
too expensive, that people in one part
Of the state have little opportunity to
learn the real worth or merits of can
didates living in another part Of the
state and that convention system,
properly safeguarded, with possible
referendum to the people, would bring
about better nominations, would more,
nearly insure party integrity and
would not make campaigning for NOM
nation nearly as expensive as now.
4. {. + -szys
All Of the present members Of the
legislature and state officers have
campaigned for ofiice under the exist
ing law and few of them are satisfied
with its provisions. It is admitted that
% far as county and legislative Offices
are concerned the districts are COM
paratively small and candidates may
have q personal acquaintance all
through their district. In the state
at large such thing Is hardly possi-
ble. The White bill. introduced two
years ago by Representative White
Of Traill county and reintroduced at
this session, will probably be the
basis. for any legislation that is at
tempted. There is some opposition to
changing any of the principles of the
present direct primary law, but that
h iikely to give way to the insistent
demand for system Of nominations
that shall be less cumbersome, less
expensive and less destructive Of
party entity than the present Law.
+ I. 1.
The Initiative and referendum has
occupied a good share of the attention
Of the two houses for the past few
days. After killing the Ueland bill,
providing for direct legislation and
for direct proposal and referendum Of
constitutional amendments, the house
subsequently killed the Skulason bill.
providing for direct legislation with
out reference to constitutional amend
ments. This bill was subsequently
resurrectcd and in the meantime the
bill of Senator Plain, providing for
referendum without reference to con-
stitutional provisions, was reported
back favorably to the upper house.
When the bill came up for final pas
sage Senator Simpson Of Stark county
made fight for the inclusion Of the
constitutional provisions, which are
bitterly opposed by the ultra prohibit
ti0nists 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 were 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 vote Of 81 to 20 and
tho bill was passed. It has been sent
to the house and 1t. is safe to say that
no referendum bill will pass that does
not include the constitutional provi-
Sion.
+ + +
The public utility bills, giving city
councils the right to fix rates for cleo
tic lights, gas. water and other public
utilities, have been before committees
Of the two houses. but no final agree.
naent 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 q large mum.
her 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 hx maximum rates. Il is
claimed that such legislation would
enable political councils and other
bodies to work harm 20 the invested
interests in the cities and towns ol
the state and that It would retard thu