Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-03-13
Review Of the Work Of the Re-
cent Legislature.
NOW UP TO The PEOPLE
Woman Suffrage and Initiative and
Referendum to Be Voted on in
General Election of 1914.
Especial Correspondence.)

blSllldlCh. MARCH -SCllSluGI DlS
very important legislation was enact
ed by the Thirteenth biennial assem-
bly, of the North Dakota legislature,
which came to a close at 10 o'clock
Saturday morning, overlapping the
constitutional limitation by ten hours
by reason of the tremendous amount
of business that was disposed of dur
ing the final day.
Most important among the acts of
the Legislature was the passage of
women suffrage and initiative and ref
erendum bills. and both subjects will
be presented to the people at general
election in 1914.
The provision for the election of
woman suffrage is made in the Bron-
son bill. No. s, and it will require a
majority Of all voters participating in
the election to carry the proposition.
Initiative and referendum has been
submitted in two forms. One relates
to constitutional amendments and the
other to statutory laws.
Under the Gibbons bill, which pro
vides for amendments to the consti-
tuition, a petition of 25 per CEN Of the
voters in at least half of the counties
of the state is required before a propo-
sition a be submitted. The petition
must be filed six months in advance
of the election, and if voted upon ia
vorably must be passed by the next
succeeding legislature, when it be-
comes a part of the constitution. Fail
ure upon the part of the legislature to
adopt the amendment results in it's
being automatically submitted to the
people again.
The same provision is made cover
ing statutory enactments, contained in
the diversion bill, except that a petition
of only 10 per cent is required to sub
nit a question.
Z The bonding department is the most
important new state adjunct created
by the assembly. This department
will be maintained under the direc-
ton of the commissioner of insurance,
and was established as a protection
for officers who must bond, it being
shown that rates by the bonding COM
panies were high. Senator Ellingson
of Steele county, father of the meas
ure, submitted statements tending to
show the existence of a trust agree
ment between the bonding companies.
All county, city, township, village
and town officials must be bonded I'M
der the state department. The fee is
so cents each $1OO a year. The de-
partment becomes operative Jan. l,
1914. This is the first state bonding
department established in the United
States.
An Inheritance tax will become effec-
tive July l., the bill proposed by the
state tax commission being adopted,
made. The state will collect the tax
on all estates going to husband or
wife of $40, 600 or more, and on es-
tates Of 100000 going to children.
Originally the tax commission sought
to secure a tax on estates of 500 o
going to husband or wife, but the SEN
ate raised the amount.
The anti-snuff and the anti-cigarette
laws were the most interesting pro,
hibitory laws that were passed. Dur
was discovered that the snuff bill had
not been sent to the governor for ap-
prevail and investigation revealed the
fact that it had been stolen. How
ever, the engrossed bill was still in
the possession Of the committee, and
ant governor a new bill was enrolled
for the governor.
Decision to continue the probate
code commission in existence was
made. This commission was created
two years ago and made a report
favorable to many big changes in the
method of practice, but the judiciary
committee of the senate contends that
the changes were so great and the
time for consideration so comparative
ly short hat it was not advisable to
adopt the code at this time. The com
mission will continue work and make
another report to the Fourteenth as
sembly.
Under changes in the laws regulat
Ing the care of paupers, more work is
given township officials. Instead Of
direct aid being given by the county
commissioners, the township officials
must care for all cases within theil
jurisdiction, having to appoint ar
overseer of the poor who will be theil
agent. Only in cases where township
officials fail to make proper provision
are the county commissioners detailed
for duty.
The next legislature will be calla<
upon to select the site for the pro