Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-01-17
HOUSE and SENATE
Will ELECT SENATORS
M'CUMBER AND GRONNA WILL
BE FORMALLY CHOSEN BY
BOTH HOUSES.
Joint Assembly and Canvassing OF
the Votes Will Occur Wednesday
at High Noon.

| wv vSsVo WIZ ~SS~'
at High Noon.
Today at 2 o'clock the house ane
senate, balloting individually, will
elect two United States senators
Porter J. McCumber for a term Of
six years to succeed himself, and
Congressman A. J. Gronna for term
of four years as the successor OF Hon
M. N. johnson, deceased.
Tomorrow at high noon, as provided
by the constitution of the United
States, there will be joint assembly
and at that time the vote of the two
houses as cast today will be can
vassed and the election made official
Republicans have lid no definite
plans as to who will make the nom-
ination addresses in the two houses.
The Democrats in both the house and
senate have taken such action and
in the senate Geo. E. Duis Of Grand
Forks will nominate w. E. Purcell,
with Wesley C. Mcdowell of La
Moure county nominating John Brueg-
ger. Mr.. Purcell opposed Gronna,
while Mr.. Bruegger opposes McCum-
| Der.
Neither Senator McCumber or Con-
gresham Gronna will be present at
the election, their duties at Wash
ington making 1t impossible for them
| to come to the state at this time,
although they were here during the
early days of the session when they
met with the solons.
1t is expected that the ceremonies
incident to the election of the two
senators will take precedence
over everything else-will be wit
messed by large crowds both today
and tomorrow when the joint session
takes place.
Messrs. McCumber and Gronna
stand as the unopposed candidates Of
the Republican party by virtue of
their victory in the primary election
of last June.
Immediately the resolution had
been read, Mr.. Hawkinson moved
that it be adopted, which was amend
ed by Mr.. Doyl of Foster who asked
that it bereferred to committee,
Mr.. Ployhar seconding the motion.
Mr.. Hawkinson, urging the adop-
ton Of the resolution Immediately,
declared that 1t has been common
talk over the entire state for some
time. that there was something
wrong in the treasurers office and
he felt that the house could no longer
let the matter pass unnoticed.
Mr.. Doyle stated that it was not
his intention to attempt any delay or
obstruction, but that it had been the
custom to refer matters of this ma
ture to q committee. On a rising
vote the amendment was lost and the
resolution was carried, almost unani.
| mOusly.
For some time there have been
rumors current as to the situation in
the treasurer's office. Two weeks
ago when Mr.. Bickford, the retiring
treasurer, was about to check out it
was found that instead of having as
much cash on hand as there should
have been, that certificates of deposit
from the Bowbells State bank, owned
by Mr.. Bickford, represented over
| $50, 900 of the supposed cash.
Gunder Olson, the incoming treas
urer, refused to receive such certi-
ficates of deposit as cash, and since
that time an effort has been made
to obtain the cash necessary to re-
tire the certificates. In the mean
| time the state bank examining de-
| partment is conducting an examin-
alton of the office.
Hardly had the echoes from the
furry involving the state treasure
ship died away before another inves-
tigatlon question was before the
house. 1t was the game and fish
commission resolution transmitted
from the senate after adoption by
that body and providing for an in
vestigation into the affairs of that
board during the past biennial period.
| Mr.. nomness of Divide moved that
the resolution be made a special or
der for Thursday afternoon at 4
o'clock but that motion was amended
! by Mr.. Hoge of Mclean who wanted
immediate adoption of the same.
! Mr.. Frame of Walsh discussed the
matter, declaring that it had been
common gossip for some time, and he
felt that the work of the house would
be expedited by making the resolu-
| ton special order. Mr.. Sorlie of
Trail held similar view, speaking
of the commissions report which
will be available tomorrow or the
day following. Mr.. Doyle of Foster
explained that an unavoidable delay
in the publication of the report had
been met with.
Mr.. Hoge, supporting his motion
for concurrence, stated that mas
much as the resolution allowed only
till the twentieth day of the session
in which the special committee was
to report, that steps should be taken
| at once.
Mr.. Nestos of Ward made the same
argument and said that the fact that
the report of the commission was
coming should make no difference
with the house action at this time.
In fact he felt that to refer the mat.
ter to q committee would give such
committee full opportunity of look
Ing INTO the situation, whereas mem.
bers of the assembly, acting individu-
ally, would be unable to do so with
any great degree Of satisfaction for
themselves.
Mr.. Frame, speaking on the ques-
ton of time, said that he did not be-