Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-03-05

Ill lCSlC"uS lHS WI n VI tlN witt
Legislative assembly, it must be ad
muted that the results accomplished
have been a great deal greater and o.
more far-reacling effect than was an
ticipated in the early stages of the
work. Practically every department Of
state has been affected in some way OF
other by the cnactments of the assem-
bly, that came to close midnight Fri,
day.
Far from being a quiet session, il
has been without exception the mos'
| strenuous, the state has seen. The in
lection during the last thirty days Of
the session of the Cowan Impeachment
case has beel responsible for the I'M
usual interest that has been shown III
the proceedings, and the fights resulting
from that case have been without par
allel. not even excepting the strenuous
days of the Louisiana lottery fight.
From rumors that have been heard IN
Bismarck during the last few days, com
ing from all sections of the state, it
| is quite evident that the state has been
| wrought up to higher pitch OF excite
| menl over the Cowan case than over
any ether matter brought to public at
tention in late years, and when the tria!
of the i,npeached Judge takes place be-
fore the senate that same interest will
doubtless be evidenced.
Th assembly has made record on
the subject of initiative and refcrer-
dunn, adj burning last night with four
measures of that nature to its credit.
1t was the purpose of those vitality i'll
terested in initiative and referendum
to place before the next assembly a
variety of measures, thereby making it
impossible for that assembly to avoid
certifying to the people for their ap-
proval some sort of bill embodylng
this measure. The bills that have been
approved by this assembly are the Bes-
sesen statutory measure, the Gibbons
constitutional bill, the Plain constitu-
tional and statutory, and the Doyle
Ployhar constitutional, statutory and
recall
In connection with the initiative and
referendum bills, there is also an i'll
dependent recall bill which will go to
the next succeeding assembly for ap-
proval and then to the people for their
ratification. q
Railroad legislation has also been of
far-reaching effect, the anti-pass which
has long been an issue in North Da
kota politics will 10 longer be heard
of. as on July first the issuance OF
free railroad mileage comes to an end.
Only few exceptions are made III the
anti-pass bill, and those exceptions are
in the cases of persons engaged i'll FUR
tl1ering the agricultural and industrial
interests of the state, namely. IN the
farmers educational movement and tine
development of the vast Ignite coal
fields of the west.
To the board of railroad commission.
ers greater power i'll the control OF
railroads has been granted, while pro-
vision has been made for more funds |
with which to carry on the work; also
this board has been given control over
telegraph and telephone companies, and
while this may not be all important at
he present time, in the future 1t bids
fair to be an important department OF
activity. -,
In the passage of the wye bill,
he state has taken long step toward
enforcing the construction of connecting
'wyes" at points where railroads cross.
One provision of this measure, which
IS to the effect that railroads must grant
A rate based upon the shortest haul pos.
sible if wye had been constructed
will result in this measure becoming
operative in more marked degree than
INV other provision would make pos
,ible.
Effecting the employees of railroads,
here is the full strength caboose bill.
This measure prescribed that all ca
,ooses must be constructed of standard
strength, equal to that of the 10000
capacity freight cars. 1t has been con-
ended that since the passage OF the
caboose bill, two years ago.
hat the railroads have adopted a policy
If using two of the dinkcy cabooses in
he construction OF one Of the larger
thereby placing in operation
caboose that is not nearly as strong
IS the regularly constructed freight cars
md which, in the event of collision
would not serve to protect the lives of
hose therein.
laws ClldNtSN ~ |
embly have also been very important
The work of the school laws compla-
ion commission, appointed two years
lgo, has been ratified, although there
lave been large number of amend
nents made to the bill as it was orig
nally presented.
The normal board of control bill, un-
Ter the provisions of which the pres
mt normal board of management and
normal school boards are
bolished, is another piece of important
work. 1t places the three normal
chools of the state under the control
II single board of seven members.
made up of three resident members,
llree members at large and the super
ntendent of public instruction. who is
he chairman of the board.
Rural school aid has at last became
reality. During the last few sessions
arrest effort has been made to gain
he approval Of the assembly for such
id. but not until this year has the
movement been successful During the
ennial period about $4,000 will be
expended for the rural schools. This
flows $G,0OO.OO for each classification
# the rural schools and 100000 for
he secondary high schools per year,
saving $5,OoO.00 for the biennial period
:. I, 80, fo~ <1o s,,so1 .,l1o1 :,e~ook | ,