The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-01-19
Department i. .
.... PROBES. ASKED
N-a. ..,ung!. uta Ea" .s," -a.
Several Resolutions otIaQu'1y IN
Legislature . =.
FLOOD Of BILLS INTRODUCED
ooRate s~t hoHoe Committee Nsvs ~
AAsos>oes a Material ss@ ,~e"
considsr alien.
FLOOD Of BILLS INTRODUCED

busy one 20 Tar - legislation - con,
eernod, but resolutions already pre-,
sented calling tor Investigations OF va
riOus departments and of the funds
disbursed by them promise good
deal of side interest as we'll. Senator
Gunderson of Nelson county Is the
author Of several resolutions calling
for Investigations and won q victory
IN the senate with his resolution call
ing for an inquiry into the expenditure
OF the funds of the state game and
fish commission. Opposition to the
passage of the resolution was made
by Senator Duis of Grand Forks and
others. who thought the Investigation
should DO delayed until the report of
the state game commission had been
aled. A roll call was demanded on a
motion to refer tie resolution calling
1or IN inquiry to the COMMITTEES on
s1aAe affairs. and this was defeated
40 the resolution was adopted by the
senate. 1t now goes to the house and
tAoro Is likely to be another fight on
4 there. II it carries the investigating
committee will be made up from mem
hers of both houses and proceed with
H. work. The game and fish board has
expended some $4,000 since its or
Ganization in 1909 The claim 10 made
that q good deal of the fund was ex
pended for political benefits to the
Democratic party and it is this report
that has led to the resolution tor au
investigation.
Resolutions calling for an inquiry
into the business methods Of the state
land department and into tho methods
a the state auditing board will be re-
ported by the state affairs committee
% which they were referred: These
Fssolutions also arc the subject OF
much interest, az 10 tho possibility OF
resolution into the conduct OF the
once Of the retiring state treasurer
for The past two years II Ia charged
In this connection that @ L. Bickford.
The retiring treasurer. has been favor
Ing his own bank 1t Bowbolls with
STATE funds and when the time came
10 turn over the funds Of the state 70
the new treasurer there were some
~, 900 Of certificates Of deposit Of the
retiring state treasurers bank carried
- cash. The fact was me subject OF
considerable comment In the Hobbies
and in newspapers, especially when
tho incoming state treasurer refused
70 accept the certificates and demand
ID that they be converted into cash 1t
u reported that the state treasurer
md his friends have arranged to GOV
or the necessary amount of cash into
the state treasury. but up to the time
Of this letter no transfer has been
made The friends of the retiring
treasurer say the matter Is merely an
irregularity and that the cash will be
forthcoming at once It is likely an
oficial investigation will be called for
soon and that the facts in the case
will be presented to the people OF the
state
Senate and house committees have
boon busy with the consideration Of a
food Of bills in both houses Some
new rules have been adopted by the
house, one of them being that no bill
shall be printed until it has been ia.
vorably reported BY = committee This
y departure from the old custom,
where all BILLS were printed a. lutr"
duced The senate has made no
change in it's rules. and will work un-
der the Old plan The house will print
bills when majority Of the body SO
decides The bills introduced up to
the present time cover multitude OF
topics. but so far no reports have
been made on any measures in either
house. The committeeships ur both
houses were settled only after consid
cradle argument and discussion he,
tween the various aSpirants for places
and the presiding officers OF the two
houses A good many changes are to
be noted in the chairmanships The
senate and house chairmanShips both
in good many instances go to the
younger members of the bodies and
the insurgent or progressive element
Of the party controls the committees
Senator La Moure Of Pembina county
still remains at the head of the sen
ate appropriations committee. how
ever. State affairs goes to J f Davis
of Sheridan county and judiciary to
H. H. Steele of Renville county There
was keen rivalry for this chairman.
ship between Steele and Simpson of
Stark county. but the matter was
finally settled in favor of Steele
!. !. +
Several appo"tionment bills have
been introduced ard more are coming.
There is little que tinn hut the'e viii
be considerable chs..c IN the 'cg;s
la districts and that the Red River
v, country viii lC.e a number Of
districts which will go 10 the western
and central parts Of the state If the
reappartionmen Is maze en- the basis