The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-02-16
LEGISLATIVE
news letter
News From, the Capital City
By Our Special Corres-
pondsnt

~ OV4 op00i0l O01rOe
pondsnt
bismarck - Impeachment proceed
ings were started in the house We'd
nesday for the removal Of Hon. John
+. Cowan from the bench in the sec
end judicial district. This Is the hrs.
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 tho city
for 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
resolution be introduced. The resolu-
ton was introduced by Representative
Davis Of Grand Forks, and IL as fol-
Jews:
whereas. it is charged by reputable
eitizens Of the state Of North Dakota.
that John F. Cowan, Judge Of the dis
trict court Of the second judicial dis
trict Of said state, has been and is
guilty of impeachable offenses. to-wit:
fHabitual drunkenness, crimes, cor.
imisdemeanors Of office, and it appears
Nhe state question his fitness to hold
themselves ready to substantiate such
charges by ample and legal proof. and
have brought to Jurisdiction Of the
house Of representatives to prefer
charges in the senate Of the State Of
North Dakota. to the end that the said
5ohn F. Cowan may be brought to
trial for said offerses.
"And whereas, by reason Of such
charges and opinions Of unfltness the
confidence Of the people in the up
.ightness Of the courts in said district
10 being shaken, to the hurt and dis
credit Of the state;
"And whereas. there has been sent
to tho house Of representatives state
ment in writing Of the nature and
character Of the charges aforesaid id,
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
agenent, consisting Of five members,
De appointed by the speaker to con-
duct euch impeachment proceedini
according to law"
The procedure Of law in such cases
requires that the house makes the
charges and acts as prosecutor AMI
the senate sits as the jury. Judge
lCowan Is here in person and will try
10 block proceedings. His friends as
sert that the trouble has arisen over
:he factional and political strife al
home, being the aftermath Of the
cleaning up of Devils Lake by the anti.
saloon element last year. There wat
knuch bitterness engendered durjnf
that local fight, and it seems that thu
Judge and Mayor McClory. who hai
taken the same sides in the contro'
versy, were carrying "the war int
Africa" They started another paper
in opposition to the Inter-Ocean
which took a leading part in the agh
for 4 clean city government. 1t viii
bo remembered that Editor Brennan o
The Inter-Ocean was shot In the arm
ana that afterwards the man who i
said to have done the shooting wa
arrested and is being held on anothe
charge, but that the complainant doe
not care to have the shooting cas-
tried before Judge Cowan, as he 10 d.
cidedly 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 Q
the state capitol building made its re
port and the majority recommende
the building Of new capitol. AZ
cording to the figures In the ohice
the state land commissioner. here ar
some 10000 acres of the capitol ell
Gowment remaining unsold. There
something over 100000 in the perma
! ent and interest snd income fund be
longing to the capitol fund. and abou
three-quarters Of a million dollars !
contracts Of land that has been sol
When all contracts mature and tn
balance Of the land is sold there woul
be nearly $1,500,000 for the erection
a new capitol. It Is doubtful If an,
thing will be done along the line II
new building at this session.
The promised excitement on the d
vision Of the state into three congres
sional districts has faded away. II
formation from Washington to the e
feet that North Dakota could on
hope for two congressman under IL
new federal apportionnlent put mar
Of the bills into the waste basket. II
cnly bill that, means anything no
has been introduced by Representati'
Homnss, making two districts,
eastern and q western. It IS not hk
~ to pass. as most Of tho membe
sre in favor Of electing two congress
men at large.
Representative Frame has introdu
I'd 4 bill authorizing a popular vote
The question Ct calling consultation
convention to amend and revise q
constitution of the state. The mr.
Tuesday in November. 1912, IL t
cate fixed for the election.
There 10 q hard fight being put
for a tax commission. It is said tn
II this bill becomes law that Audit
Irving Of Sargent county Is hot
the trail to be tax commissioner.