The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-02-10

the attorney general, as shown by
house journal for Thursday. Feb. 8,
1913, on pages IL. 13 and Ia, ! desire to
respectfully communicate to your
honorable body in respect thereto,
calling your attention to what in my
candid opinion marks the resolution
as grossly unfair and impartial to the
officers and offices Ii seeks to investf-
gate, and so palpably unjust and err
roneous in its charges that | am justi-
fed in believing that it was introduced
without investigation as to the facts
charged therein by Mr.. Fox at the
i%nstigation of persons not members of
the legislature who inspired the reso-
luton purely for personal and political
reasons. In support of such / respect
fully call your attention to the follow
ing language found on page 10:
Whereas, the attorney general has
had three offices fitted up for the per-
sonal use of himself, his two assist
ants and stenographers, on the same
floor of the state capitol building as
the state law library and supreme
court" / expressly and explicitly state
that there has never at any time been
such a. report current; that no person
ever reported suc a statement of
facts to Mr.. Fox.
Again, on page Ia, the following
statement: Whereas, it is currently
reported that the fees received by the
secretary of state during the years
1911 and 1912, under the provisions of
section 6 of the session laws of 1911,
were not turned over to the state
treasurer according to the provisions
of section 379 of the revised codes of
1905" This statement fairly charges
the secretary of state with having col
lected certain fees and neglected Co
pay them over to the proper officer
as provided by law. / charge that at
the time Mr.. Fox introduced this reso-
luton he knew of his own personal
knowledge that the provisions of law
governing the disposition OF the fees
mentioned by the secretary of state
was contained in section IA of chapter
6 of the session laws of 1911, which
provides. that the secretary of state
shall at the n of every month pay
said fees in to the county treasurer
and not the state treasurer; that Mr..
Fox was a member of the 1911 session
of the legislature and voted for said
chapter. That no claim is made that
the secretary Of state has. not properly
and fully accounted to the various
county auditors of this state for al
such fees so collected; but that he
intended to convey the impression to
your honorable body that the secre-
tary of state had collected fees which
he had not disposed of according TO
law, when he either knew such state
ment to be false or was without any
information on the subject.
That at the twelfth session of the
legislature an investigation was had Of
several Of the state offices, but among
such offices investigated there was
none investigated where the head of
such department was what is known
as a "stalwart republican," that in
Mr.. Fox's resolution for investigation
he includes only such offices as are
filled by what is known as progressive
republicans" or democrats"
1 therefore respectfully request your
honorable body to not only make the
investigation of the offices mentioned
III this resolution thorough, and in. re-
Spect to the office of the attorney
general / pledge to aid your committee
in every way / can in its investigation,
u / also respectfully request that in
fairness to those of lis who are to be
investigated and in fairness to the
slate, and in fairness to your honor
able body, that you include II such
investigation all other state offices.
Very respectfully yours,
Andrew Miller,
.,..o Attorney General.
Streeter Speaks,
Representative Streeter, declared
that it is rather an unusual proceed
ure for one of those subject to the
Contemplated investigation to submit
a communication of that character,
and he moved that the communica-
ton be referred 10 the special COM
mittee named to conduct. the investi-
cation. The action carried and Mr..
Streeter than moved that the special
committee be authorized and instruct
ed to investigate other state Offices.
Mr.. Fox requested that the motion
be withdrawn, inasmuch as another
resolution relating to that subject
would be introduced on Monday. His
request was granted.
Many Bills Reported Back.
At the opening of Saturday after
Moons session, a greater number of
bills were reported back by the
various committees han has been
the case on I'M previous single oc-
casion.
The committee on. livestock rec
commended h passage of bill No. So,
relating to property exempt from tax
alton, and also bill No. 80, relating to
garnishment proceedings in justice
court. Senate bills Nos. rs and SIS
were recommended. for passage by the
committee on elections and election
privileges. There was a majority and
minority report from the III COM
mittee relating to house bill No. 174,
relating to primary elections, and
house bill Nc. 225, relating to charit-
able contributions, by candidates and
office holders, was recommended for
passage.
State Affairs Committee.
Twenty-one bills were reported
back by the state affairs committee.
Those recommended for passage are:
No. 213, relating to ond of school
district OFFICERS; No. 1853, entry of no.
tations of prior tax sales of land upon
the tax list for subsequent years; No.
1913, providing for the preparation of
La state budget; No. las, relating to
cost of treatment and board at the
state hospital for the insane; No. 248
commitment of nonresident insane
patients: No. PAP, relating to the Civ
ing n receiving of tips: No. 213, re-
lief of poor persons. n No. 1873, pur-
chase, sale and management Of an
asylum for the poor.
These Were Turned Down.
The same committee recommend
ed the indefinite -postponement of
bills Nos. 244, 232, 222, zoo, 1876, 1853,
1876, 1O1, SO, 81, Z, n Representa-
tive Sorlie moved that No. 1876 be
considered separately. The bill pro-
adjoining land owners build, maintain
and keep in repair, partition fences
between them. The motion prevail
ed and the gentleman from Trail
then moved hat the bill be rerefer-
red to the committee on ways and
means, and the motion carried.
The committee on ways and means
recommended the passage of senate
bill No. IA, and 1t also recommended
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