Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-01-23

ing Iue legislature uOI W COISluei any
legislation in that respect. These
resolutions have been filed in both
branches, and it is anticipated there
will be a merry var waged should the
measure appear for passage. The
church and prohibition people are op-
posed to this class of legislation. as
they fear that it would be dangerous
10 resubmit the prohibition question
to a direct vote OF the people.
1t is predicted that a provision for
woman's suffrage will be enacted this
session. There are two measures in
PRODUCED providing for an amendment
to the constitution permitting woman
the right of franchise, and as there is
no apparent opposition over the state
it is very likely that the committee
will report a comprehensive bill that
may become a law. 1t being a con
s%titutional amendment, however, it
will be six years before the measure
will be in effect.
Early in the session the board of
control sent a communication to both
branches calling attention to the
crowded condition OF the insane asy-
lum at jamestown and asking that i'm
mediate action be taken by the legis-
lature to relieve the situation. Addi-
tons are needed to present buildings
and a large amount OF repairs are also
needed. So far the only relief the
legislature has seen tit to extend is
by proposing to establish insane asy-
lums in other cities OF the state. In
the senate there have been bills intro
duced to establish an asylum at Rug
by, one at Leeds and another at Rock
ford. A bill in the house establishes
n at Fessenden.
= :. i.
Blue sky" legislation received con
siderable attention early in the week,
and five bills pertaining to that sub
ject were introduced in the senate in
one day, and one in the house. This
bill proposes to regulate and supervise
corporations operating in the state. All
the senate bills on the subject have
been referred to the committee on
judiciary, and will be reported back
in one bill.
:. :. :.
There seems to be a disposition to
create the Office of state fire marshal
this session. Such a measure has
failed OF passage in many previous
sessions, but opposition seems to have
disappeared this time. The senate
bill now in the hands of the commit
tee would create a fire marshal who
would be under the supervision of the
state commissioner of insurance. Hen
ry Reade of Bismarck, who has been
secretary of the North Dakota Fire
mems association eve since state
hood, has been frequently mentioned
as the man who will receive the ap.
pointment if the Office is created this
time. He has just returned from St.
Paul, where he had a conference with
the fire marshal of Minnesota. He
also visited the Minnesota legislature
and has accumulated a mass of infor-
nation which he will impart to CON-
mittees before whom the bill is now
being considered.
Seventeen bills were introduced in
the senate Saturday, one of which pro-
vj1aH for tho arnptior Of m inHrcfrio I
building at the school for deaf and
dumb at Devils Lake. Another provid-
ed for the removal of the institution
for the blind from Bathgate to Devils
Lake. Both were referred to the state
affairs committee. Among the fifteen
bills introduced in the house was an
act to compel railway companies to
protect employees from the inclemency
OF the weather while performing du.
ties, while a measure proposed by
Representative Everson would make
bootlegging punishable by p%enitentiary
Imprisonment from six months to two
years.
1t is the charge of many legislators
that an effort is being made by a SEN
atorial delegation to advance senti-
ment for a constitutional! convention.
The object is said to be the defeat of
the initiative and referendum. which
now is before the legislature. The
endeavor is attributed to corporate in.
t%erests.
X :. =
Martin of Morton has introduced a
bill looking toward more publicity for
laws of the state and would have
them printed in every newspaper in
the state Immediately following the
close of the legislature. He will also
offer a bill providing that corporations
publish a statement OF their condi-
lions, the same as is now required of
the insurance companies.