Bismarck daily tribune., 1912-06-08
TASK GOVERNOR
TO Use CLUB
Urged to CaniAnother Extra
| Session If Reapportlonment
Not Passed
Senate Will Name Reception
Committee and Puts Lid
-. on FiI6ustefinq

cI hui EOcludII 1lSIcuS " oOulC VI Luc
friends Of reapportionment in the
House he will convene the legislature
in another special session provided
the senate refuses to concur with the
house in the passage of a fair reap
portionment bill. The senate lead
ers are determined not to embark at
this session on the stormy seas of
eapportionment. House members, un.
der the leadership of r. c. Dunn,
Princeton; c. H. Warner, Aitkin, and
others, are determined to force con-
sideration of the Congdon reappor-
tionment bill with few revisions at
this session. Immediately following the
reading of the governors message
Tuesday several of the most militant
advocates of immediate reapportion
ment conferred with the chief execu-
tive and urged him in the event re.
apportionment fails of passing at this
session, to reconvene the legislature
in extraordinary session.
Governor Reserves Decision.
"The matter has been laid before
me by friends Of reapportionment," "
declared Governor Eberhart, "but I
have not given them any assurance of
what I shall do"
II told Governor Eberhart," said R..
C. Dunn, that If the senate does not
concur in the action of the house and
pass a reapportionment bill he should
Immediately reconvene the legislature
Whether he has backbone enough to
do it I don't know, but his stand on
reapportionment in his message was
manly and progressive"
Steam Roller Does Its Work.
Reapportionment is the rock upon
which the two houses seem likely to
split. If the house would recede on
this issue there probably would be lit
tie or no difficulty in getting a ratl-
fication of the proposed federal con-
stitutional amendment through the
senate
The senate indicated that it is anti
Eberhart from the first tap of the
gavel Senator G. H. Sullivan of
saltwater. an administration man
| was the first Eberhart senator to feel
the impact of the senatorial steam
roller.
The steam roller consists of two
main parts: Pledges from forty-five
senators to consider only { primary
law and a corrupt practices act; and
the creation through the Gunderson
resolution Of so.cal1ed reception
committee
This committee is to consist of nine
members. All bills exclusive of pri'
mary and corrupt practices acts,
which may be introduced are to be
referred to this committee. None can
be reported out without the unani-
nous consent Of the committee. 1t
the senate members get restive. how
ever, any bill can be forced out OF
the committee by a two.thirds vote.
Won't Let Sullivan Win Glory
Senator G. H. Sullivan, at the open
ing of the session, tried to break up
the machine by forcing vote on the
ratification Of the proposed federal
constitutional amendment providing
for the direct election Of United
States senators. Although fifty.hve
signed the pledge to consider no other
legislation, and eight stood pat
against the gag rule, upon motion to
suspend the rules and place the Sui
Ivan resolution to ratify the amend
ment on final passage, sixteen voted
for the suspension and thirty one
against it. This indicated' the CO.
fesion of the senatorial agreement.
Three Votes to Make Call.
To prevent filibuster in the senate
and further grease the senatorial ma
chine for rapid action the senate
rules committee met at the Merch-
ants Hotel Tuesday afternoon and al
tered Rule 81, providing for call Of
the senate In the extra session it
will take three members to make a
call of the senate, instead Of one.
This was favorite means of delay
ing measures at the regular session.
The rules committee also refused to
recommend that the senate elections
committee be enlarged.
The Primary Bill.
The primary bill introduced by Sen
ator w. w. Dunn Of Ramsey county,
are regarded as administration bills.
Senator Dunn's bill merely extends
the present primary law to the state
officials, exclusive of the judiciary,
leaving the way open for the intro
duction Of a non-partisan judiciary
bill later, his presidential preference
bill follows closely the formal type
Of preference primary bills effective
in California. North Dakota and New
Jersey. 1t provides for the election
Of delegates to national conventions
and affords an opportunity for the ex-
preston of presidential preference.
Senator julius E. Haycraft Of Ma
della, chairman Of the senate cleo
tions committee. was expected to in
troduce his primary bill on Wednes-
day. It provides for the first and
second choice and has the ten per
cent clause. Nominees are not re-
quired under it to secure signatures OF
voters to petitions before fling. A
majority Of the senate is in favor OF
the first and second choice feature,
and it is unlikely that Senator Dunn's
bill will get any farther than the COM