The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-02-17
LEGISLATIVE
news letter
News From the Capital City
By Our Special Cores
pondSnt

Bismarck Impeachment proceed.
ings were started in the house We'd
nesday for the removal of Hon. John
r. Cowan from the bench in the Sec
end judicial district This is the frs.
impeachment proceedings that have
ever been brought to remove an Off.
cial In this state and naturally much
interest centers in the case. Attorney
Divet OF Wahpeton was in the city
Tor some days prior to the introduction
OF the resolution. He was getting a.
line on the house to see what probable
action might be taken should such a
resolution be introduced. The resolu-
ton was introduced by Representative
Davis OF Grand Forks, and is as fol-
lows:
whereas, it is charged by reputable
CITIZENS OF the state Of North Dakota,
Fnat John F. Cowan, Judge of the dis
Frict court of the second judicial dis
trlct OF said state, has been and is
guilty of Improbable offenses, to-wit:
f1ahltual drunkenness, crimes, cor.
rupt conduct and malfeasance and
naisdemeanors Of office, and it appears
that a large number of the people of
the state question his fitness to hold
me office Of district Judge, and aver
themselves ready to substantiate such
charges by ample and legal proof, and
nave brought to jurisdiction of the
mouse of representatives to prefe:
charges in the senate of the State OF
North Dakota, to the end that the said
John F. Cowan may be brought to
trial for said offerses.
And whereas, by reason Of such
charges and opinions Of unf1tness the
confidence of the people in the up
Brightness Of the courts in said district
is being shaken, to the hurt and dis
credit Of the state;
"And whereas, there has been sent
TO tie house of representatives a state
ment In writing Of the nature and
character Of the charges aforesaid,
which statements are hereto attached
and offered with this resolution and It
: does appear that the best interests Of
the state require that such charges be
forever settled; now, there
"Be it resolved, that board of man.
asen:ent, consisting of five members.
lie appointed by the speaker to con i.
duct such impeachment proceedings
according to law"
The procedure Of law in such cases
requires that t:ae house makes the
charges and acts as prosecutor and
the senate sits as the jury. Judge
: .Cowan is here in person and will try
TO block proceedings. His friends as
sert that the trouble has arisen over
The fractional and political strife at
home, being the aftermath of the
clearing up Of Devils Lake by the anti
, saloon element last year. There was
much bitterness engendered during
that local fight, and it seems that the
Judge and Mayor McClory, who had
taken the same sides in the contro-
versy, were carrying "the war into
Africa" They started another paper
in opposition to the Inter-O Ocean,
which took leading part in the fight
for clean city government 1t will
he remembered that Editor Brennan Of
The Inter-Ocean was shot in the arm,
and that afterwards the man who is
said to have done the shooting was
arrested and is being held on another
. charge, but that the complainant does
hot care to have the shooting case
tried before Judge Cowan, as he is d.
rideGly prejudiced in the matter.
, Editor Brennan is also here and is as /.
|. sisting in the case against Cowan.
The special committee that was ap-
pointed to investigate the condition of
the state capitol building made its re-
port and the majority recommended
the building Of a new capitol. Ac-
cording to the figures in the office of
the state land commissioner. here are
some 10000 acres Of the capitol ell :
, 6owment remaining unsold. There is
something over 100000 in the perma-
/ ent and interest and income fund be-
longing to the capitol fund, and about
three-quarters of million dollars in
contracts of land that has been sold.
. When all contracts mature and the
, balance of the land is sold there would
. be nearly $1,500,000 for the erection OF
a new capitol. It is doubtful if any
thing will be done along the line for
new building ct this session.
The promised excitement on the d.
!. vision of the state into three congress
. sional districts has faded away. In
Formation from Washington to the ef-
feet that North Dakota could only
, hope for two congressman under the
new federal apportionnient put many
Of the bills into the waste Basket. The
only bill that means anything now
las been introduced by Representative
IJomnes, making two districts, an
eastern and western. It is not like.
ly to pass, as most Of the members
bre in favor of electing two congress-
men at large.
!, Representative Frame has introduce
cd bill authorizing a popular vote on
the question If calling constitutional
convention to amend and revise thu
constitution Of the state. The first
Tuesday in November. 1912. is ths
cate fixed for the election.
There is a hard fight being put up
! for a tax commission. It is said that
II this bill becomes law that Auditor
j Irving Of Sargent county Is hot on
the trail to be tax commissioner.
Asked Writ Of Attachment.
Bismarck-Wednesd Hon. s. e.
i ellsworth Of jamestown. appearing for
II tho ropnan State hank Of DawsOn In