The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-03-06
THE LEGISLATURE
NG0S BRIBERY CASE CAUSES A
sENSAriON AT TIE srATE
CAPITOL
LEGISLATORS GET BUSY
Appropriations Agreed IN Cor Various
Stste institutionS-State Otsices
. eeine Neutrality-suspicious.
New Legislation.

o"u ""uuAhNy WILMA OAa peIVAuetl
the atmosphere Of legislative circles
Of late was shattered the other day
when two dynamite bombs were
dropped, and which have caused com.
motion again.
The first sensation was in the form
OF charges brought for the purpose OF
investigating the acts of Attorney
General Miller and il possible to GUST
him from office through impeach-
ment. But at this writing the Miller
matter has been somewhat lost sight
OF through the alabsorbing topic OF
attempted bribery of certain house
members. AS is we'll known, the anti.
snuff bill has occupied considerable
attention, and 1t is a we'll known fact
in legislative circles that there has
been considerable influence at work
in the effort to prevent the passage of
same. In fact, there have been par.
ties here with money, it is charged
and quite good deal of it, which was
to be used in the hopes of defeating
the proposition.
Inc climax, however. came when
the sheriff of Burleigh county was Civ.
en- a warrant for the arrest of Ben
j. Ness. formerly a druggist of Devils
Lake but now state agent for life
insurance company, and he was taken
into custody. Ness was taken before
Judge Neussel of the district court on
the charge OF trying to bride members
or the legislature, and was bound over
IN the sum Of $4,000. This bond Ness
was unable to furnish and was sent to
Jail. The next day the house of rep.
resentatives issued warrant to Ser;
geant at Arms Ash, commanding him
to bring Ness before the bar of that
body 10 answer the charge of con
tempt by trying TO bride members In
the afternoon his case was heard by
the house. Members Twichell OF
Cass county, and Divett of Richland
took the stand and told the story in
detail as to how they had worked the
matter to get Ness to bride them and
claimed that it was a put-np deal in
order to see how far the bribery
would go. Ness was represented by
Tracey Bangs of Grand Forks and
Theo, Koffel of Bismarck Ness did
not take The stand, presumably for
the reason that his attorneys did not
care to show their hand till Ness
hearing which comes up later in the
district court Of Burleigh county
The case was finally rested. and it
was the decision of the house that
Ness should go to Jail for two days.
which order was carried out Ness
will be tried in the district court soon
The affair upset things for about three
days. but they settled down and since
then there seems to have been moth
ing more heard Of the Miller case
The session from this on out XII be
busy one cleaning up business AL
ready forenoon sessions are being held
and It Is thought the call will soon
come for night sessions
Memorial Service.
Saturday. February ~, BEING L.
gal holiday, there were no sessions.
but the afternoon was devoted to me-
mortal services In honor Of the mem.
DRY OF Judges Morgan and Templcton.
The senate convened and moved over
in body to the house chamber The
euiogies were profuse and the service
quite impressive and appropriate
Speakers were as follows: For the SUI
preme court, Judge Ellsworth; for the
district courts. Judge Buttz; for the
state bar. Tracey Bangs. These ware
in honor OF Judge Morgan Those
speaking for Judge Templeton were:
Chief Justice Spalding for the 81
preme court and the district cour's;;
Scott Rex for the state bar. The pro.
gram CLOSED whistle singing OF The
Star Spangled Bauner".
For Clean oepots.
The house has passed bill requir-
ing the railroad companies to keep
; their depots clean, and providing a
penalty for the failure to do so. Dirty
'dspots are a constant menace to the
travelling public and inasmuch As this
bill appeals &c almost every one. It is
thought the senate wiz concur, and
that the bill wilt become q law.
"chioroformed" Gmbaimers.
The senate seems to be after the uD-
Desirable embaln,ers and has passed a
bill Tightening up the requirements on
THAR qualifications. Not only did they
do this but they have made provisions
for the ousting Of an undesirable prac-
titioner, when he has been proven in.
competent or unprofessional The bill
has created some amusement
Regarding Automobile Signs
The senate has passed a bill which
promises to become a law, providing
that all automobiles must display
numbers from both front and rear
There was some objection to this tut
It carried. The secretary OF state As
also required by this bill to turn over
the automobile license money each
week, which 10 good idea. and whioi,
has mover been done heretofore.
4 Gettysburg 0eI.sate.
Governor Hanna has named b. r.
Sisgfried Of Fargo to represent this
state at the flftieth anniversary cele-
bration of the battle of Gettysburg.
Comrade Siegfried was In the Gettys-
burg battle from start to finish In
fact he was member Of the troop Of
cavalry which rounded Up the Confed-
crates and punched them out at the
beginning of the fight. Mr.. Siegfried
Is past commander OF the G. A. r.
post at Fargo, is chairman Of the
beard Of trustees of the Soldiers
IYavwo ~ fb;y 81. ~ .,uA n,,{fA naSaslAS