The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-02-23
cowAA CASE HARD FOUGHT
Large Number OF Witnesses Sum
monsd Before the Committee %
Give Testimony.

tucTS 10 d COuSlueFdUlS QudutNy TO
naming. A number Of matters outside
the regular limits Of legislation have
come in to divide up the time of the
legislature. Half dozen special COM
mittees ars working on departmental
Investigations and none of these have
reported yet. The time for the intro
duotion of bills is about over and few
n any new matters presented to the
legislature from now on will receive
much attention, except in cases OF
great emergency. The special COM
nittee of the house named for the
suppose of inquiring into the charges
against Judge Cowan has been taking
testimony and . large number Of w.t.
nesses has been brought down from
Devils Lake and vicinity to give to-
Gmony. The Cowan case is being bit
terly fought on both sides. All kinds
q yumors are being circulated In con
Hsction with it and the legislative lob.
biss are full of people who are work.
ing on one side of the case or the
ether.
/. + +
The special committee Investigating
~ expenditures of the game and fish
board has been taking the testimony
OF members of the game and fish com.
mission and some special officers OF
~ commission and Is expected to
make report to the legislative assem-.
bly, before long. The committee inves-
t1gating the state treasurer's office has
also been working and has been given
until the fifty fifth day Of the session
70 make a report. ;..4a ..,..y4,r
- ... + +
The Trimble insurance bill, which
provided that old line companies
should invest IS per cent Of their pre-
MUM receipts In the state in loans on
real estate in the counties wherever
Tie premium receipts reached $4,000
Q year, was killed BY the senate, but
afterward reconsidered and sent back
10 the insurance committee with q
view to such amendments as might
overcome the general objections to it..
There was long debate on the bill.
Senator Trin1ble claiming that the
real estate of this state was ample Sc
curity for loans and that the bill was
fair and equitable. The opponents Of
The bill claimed that it would drive
Tie big old line life companies out Of
the state and work harm to the states
credit. Whether the bill will pass In
any form is doubtful. The time 10
short now and the opposition to the
bill Il strong.
1. + +
New judicial districts arc being Gre
ated. The bill for the new Twelfth
district, creating a new district out
Of the counties Of Williams and ad:
jacent counties, has passed and been
approved by the governor and Frank
Fisk of Williston, Q brother Of Judge
Fisk of the supreme court, has been
named as the new district Judge. The
bill providing for q new district west
Of the river has also passed the sen.
ate and will probably 30 through the
house. . r..
+ +
The proposed amendment. to the
drug permit bill, to put the prescrip-
tons for liquor into the hands of tho
physicians Of the state and take it out
q the hands Of the druggists, was de-
fsated after a lively debate. The sen.
ats voted for the indefinite postpone
ment of the bill by a vote of 80 to IL
and tho matter is dead for the session
4 number of the druggists Of the state
wanted the change, but the physicians
q the state opposed the bill and the
Prohibitionists were generally against
the bill also. Chairman Garden Of the
senate temperance committee led the
fight for the proposed new bill and
Senator Talcott Of Cass county led
the fight against change from tho
present system
Another important bill passed BY the
senate was the repeal of the lien law
20 far as material men are concerned.
Ever since the formation of the state
enOr1 mas been law giving lumber.
men and others who furnished mate.
rails for building q mechanics lien.
Senator Hookway Of McHenry county
led the fight for the repeal Of this lien.
A number of members Of the upper
house opposed the repeal, claiming Il
would be a detriment to the develop
mont Of the western part of the state,
but the bill passed the senate by q
bare constitutional majority-twenty.
Ave votes. There will be another fight
made on It in the house.
+ + +
4 special committee was named By
ahe two houses Of the legislative -
oombly 20 draft resolutions Of respect