Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-03-13
posed new asylum for the insane. The

posed new asylum for the insane. h
legislature just ended passed. a nil
providing for ,he cstah.!>. ,,W Of
such an institution, but did not select
the city in whicN It was to be located,
leaving that duty to the next assem-
bly,. 1t probably viii b. !OcGted in the
northern part Of the state. as the only
asylum for the insane 0 in existence
IS in the southern section. Harvey,
Fessen6en. New Rockford, Leeds,
Rugby. Lakota, Cando and several 9TH
er cities are in the race for the insti-
tuition.
Steps were also taken this session
for the establishment of a new normal
school, Dickinson being the city Sc
lected. The measure will have to pass
! the mex assembly before it will be
submitted to a vote.
The plan Of removing the Bathgate
school for the blind to Devils Lake,
and making it a part Of the school for
the deaf and dumb. failed to pass.
An absent electors law is probably
the most important piece of political
legislation outside of the initiative and
referendum and woman suffrage. I'm
der this measure voters who expect to
be absent from their homes on cleo
ton day may make application to the
county auditor for a ballot, especially
prepared for the purpose. He must
go before a notary, swear as to his
eligibility, and fill the ballot, mailing
| If tn tho anHitOr in Tina tn ,orr,it tho
latter to send it to the election Off
Gals of the precinct in which the
voter resides. The ballot must be in
the precinct on election day, and must
be opened and regularly cast hat day
by the election officials.
The state fairs at Grand Forks and
Fargo received an additional $4,000 al
lowance annually. Heretofore the state
fair has been accorded a $4,000 .ap-
preparation each year. Under the bill
that has been passed the associations
must use $4,000 of the amount for
premiums and $4,000 for maintenance
and general operating expenses.
Amendments to the hail insurance
department law remove that branch
from the office of the commissioner of
agriculture and labor to the commits
! sioner of insurance. The rate is
rf:sed from 10 cents per acre to 80
cents per acre. Provision is also made
for the appointment by the county
board of commissioners of a hail in
surance adjuster. taking the duty Of
doing the actual adjusting out of the
hands of the commissioners. The
township assessors are still charged
with the duty of writing insurance,
and are allowed a half cent for each
acre that is written by them, the for
mer law allowing them so cents for
each $50 acres or part thereof.
LOCALIZED aid for the better farming
movement is another interesting fea-
ture. Heretofore the counties of the
aid to such movement, but under the
bill passed the county commissioner
may levy a tax for the purpose Of
creating a fund to be used in the en-
ployment OF county farm experts, or
the fund can be paid over the North
Dakota Farming association, and that
organization must eXpend the same
within the county.
Important good roads legislation
was brought about. Under one bill
the people of the state will next year
vote or the question of state aid for
the construction of highways.
Under another bill the appointment
of a township superintendent of roads
is provided for. The farmers must
pay their taxes in cash unless they no.
tify the county auditor before April
1 of their intention to work out such
tax.
The proposal to create a state COM
mission and the establishment of a
series of state roads was not favored.
Under another proposed constitu-
tional amendment which will be sub
mitted to the people in the 1914 cleo
ton provision is made for uniformity
in taxation by classes. The legisla-
ture would be empowered to provide
for the taxation of various classes of
property on different basis of value,
doing way with the present clause
which provides that all property shall
be assessed at full value, and under
which clause much property is not
reached.
The mechanics lien law was slight
ly amended. Under the new provision
it is necessary for a seller, before he
can file a mechanics lien, to have no
tilted the purchaser of his intention of
doing SO, such notice. to be given at
the time of the purchase. With the
lien must also be filed the written
agreement Of the purchaser to the
filing of the lien.
Several important railroad bills
were also passed. These include the
electric headlight, clearance and am
bulance chasing act.
The electric headlight bill provides
that trains shall be equipped with
headlights of at least 1900 candle
power.
The clearance bill provides for a
clearance of eight feet from each side