Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-01-16

lowed IN the courts t...~re ere indica.
tons at present that the delegation
from Minot will meet serious oppcsi.
lion In seeking its appropriation from
the legislature, but it is likely this
opposition towards Minot will els. y
pear before it becomes critical. The
TACT that the senate committee on
appropriations will have a new chair
man this session will cause whatever
action that committee takes to be
followed with interest. Ever since
statehood Senator Jud La Moure was
chairman of that committee, but he
is not a member this session. How
ever, Governor Hanna is a trained
%f1nancler. He is thoroughly posted
as to the esOurces of the state. He
knows exactly just what the various
institutions will be able to get along
with and he will probably leave no
dissatisfaction by the adjustment he
makes of the amounts the appropri&-
ton measures will finally carry.
4 i X
The matter of woman's suffrage
will play no small amount of prom
lnence during the coming session.
The women of the state have taken
an active interest in the movement.
They will maintain a lobby at Bis
marck during the session and as so
far there has been no decided oppo-
sition to the movement the cause
may stand a show of meeting success
< :! <
There are rumors at Bismarck to
the effect that the American Tobacco
company will have active representa-
tives on the ground during the SEES
sion with plenty of money at their
command to head off anti-cigarette
legislation and an amendment to the
present snuff bill. Former Senator
La Moure has been mentioned in this
connection, but because of his ad-
vanced years and his retirement
from politics it is not likely that he
will make an appearance at Bismarck
during the session.
j. !. !.
The legislature will be relieved of
a big task this session in the matter
of reapportionment. 1t may be p>@i-
BILE that bills on that subject viii! -
introduced, but it is not likely t''y
will receive any consideration Of coii-
sequence. The state was only renp-
portioned last session and the pres.
ent arrangement of districts is prob
ably as satisfactory as could be made
at the present time.
!. !. !.
The attempt to pass an initiative
and referendum bill will probably
create a storm in both branches. That
a comprehensive measure will be in
troduced in one branch or the other
at an early date goes without saying
and the supporters will put up a
strong fight to have it pass this time.
The ardent supporters of prohibition
will just as strongly oppose the meas
ure because they believe that if such
a bill carries an emu will be opened
to submit the resubmission of the pro-
hibition law to a vote of the people,
and they are somewhat doubtful as
to the outcome.
= + X a -a-
An attempt will be, made to cause
considerable changes in the insurance
laws of the state. The statutes regu-
lating fraternal societies operating in
the state will be altered considerably.
The amount of life insurance carried
by these fraternal organizations has
increased rapidly in this state in the
past few years and Commissioner of
Insurance Taylor will recommend the
adoption OF what is known as the
Mobile bill" in this state for the sake
of creating a standard of %solvency
for these organizations. A matter of
interest to the fire insurance compa-
MES will be the attempt to create the
office of fire marshal, which will be
contained among the numerous meas
ures pertaining to insurance.
i. !. j.
One Of the first reforms that Gov
ernor Hanna will inaugurate will be
a complete change in a system of &C
counting. The state departments
nave lOllOWeQ the same system that
was put in practice with the advent
of statehood, but the rapid growth of
the state and the increase of bust
ness handled by the departments and
the changes that naturally follow
with time has caused many of the
practices to become obsolete and the
new executive will establish many
necessary improvements for the pur-
pose of preventing a repetition of
many of the Irregularities that have
occurred in the past.
!. j. X
The tide of patronage seekers that
were anticipated making Bismarck
their mecca when Mr.. Hanna be-
came governor seems to have been
stemmed. No sooner had Mr.. Hanna
assumed the reins of government
than did the impression prevail that
he would decide on the numerous ap-
pointments without accepting coun-
sci from political workers. 1t ap-