The Dickinson press., 1911-03-18
Congressional Apportionment.

Total ..................$1,331,99 5
Congressional Apportionment.
Following the matter of %appropria.
tons the matter of apportionment is
next in interest and two apportion.
ment bills were passed, one for con-
%gressional districts and the other for
the apportionment of the state into
legislative districts. The biggest fight
of the session was over the congress
sional apportionment bill. The mem
bers in the eastern part of the state
presented a bill setting the western
part of the state off in one district
and dividing the eastern and central
part Of the state on an east and west
line. This was bitterly fought by the
western members, led by Senator
Simpson, who succeeded finally in de-
feating the eastern bill and creating
a district in the northern part of the
state, one in the southeastern and one
in the western. This bill was also de-
feated and finally, on the last night of
the session and just before the final
recess, the house amendment to the
senate bill was passed, creating an
eastern, central and western district.
This was the last bill passed by the
senate and the last one to be enrolled
and presented to the governor. And
on the following morning came news
that the government apportionment
bill had not passed and that
North Dakota would =. have only
two congressman. If this proves to be
the case the battle in the legislature
was a matter Of loves labor lost.
Legislative Apportionment.
The legislative apportionment bill
cuts out some districts in the eastern
part of the state and adds them to the
central and western part, where the
population has been increasing. The
First district, which has been repre-.
sented by Senator La Moure since the
organization of the state, is wiped out
so far as Pembina county is" concerned.
The final settlement Of the legislative
apportionment proposition gives the
state fifty senators and ten additional
representatives. The balance of pow.
er is adjusted more according to popu.
lation than it has been heretofore, al.
though the western members claim
the eastern part of the state still has
the advantage.
Election Legislation.
Election laws were a prolific sub
ject of discussion. A recall bill was
passed, and the initiative and referen-
dunn amendment to the constitution
will be submitted to the next legisla-
ture in three different forms. A cor
rupt practices act was passed, which
limits campaign expenses and regu.
lates the conduct of campaigns for Of
flee. A number of subordinate election
bills were also passed intended to
bring about purity of elections In the
state. No substantial changes were
made in the present primary law, how.
ever, under which state and other off.
GERS will continue to be chosen. The
initiative and recall bills will have to
be submitted to the people for an
amendment to the constitution before
taking effect.
Railroad Legislation.
Railroad legislation was not extern
sive, although the powers of the rail.
road commissioners were increased
and they given a larger appro.
priation with which to carry on their
work. The passage of the anti.pass
bill carries out another promise of the
Republicans and the new law takes eft.
feet July l, az 1t passed without an
emergency clause. The railroad com.
missioners were given control over
telephone and telegraph lines in the
state and q new bill passed to compel
the construction Of "Y's" in the state
by in%tersecting lines.
Educational Laws.
The complete new educational code
of the state was passed, with very few
amendments from the bill as reported
by the special commission of
educators which has been work.
ing on It for some time. This is
the r?ost elaborate bill passed by the
legislature and makes a small volume
In itself. It has aimed to harmonize