The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-01-28
According to Best Estimates Law.
makers Will Be Asked for Appro-
priations T%otaIins s4,2oo,ooo.

portion have been Indefinitely post
poned, a large number have been
amended, but the great majority of
them still remain in the hands of the
committees. There has been no hes
fancy, so far, on the part Of commit.
tees to recommend indefinite post.
ponement and any measure that would
increase the expenditure Of the states
funds or open new channels for its
outflow has been handled without
gloves. 1t is certainly q time of re-
trenchment.
f. 1. j.
MISUNDERSTANDING to the
best estimates at this time the legis-
lature will be asked for about $4,200,-
900. The revenue Of the state will
yield about 5 1,0o0,0 900 less than this
amount. It is evident that if the leg
islature is to handle the financial af-
fairs of the state, as 1t promises to
do, instead of leaving the governor
the job Of trimming down the appro-
priation bills after adjournment to fit
the income, it will be compelled to
discount all bills 20 per cent before
passing them. 1t is a serious question
and one that will not bear triling
with. The revenue of the state is
limited by the constitution to a tax of
4 mills on the assessed valuation. A
suggestion is made-in the form of a
bill-to increase the valuation, and
{h,~ %h1 ~%n{Df
But as the salaries Of nearly all coun
ty officers are based upon the valua'
ton the increase would be too ex
pensive. A further point is made that
the bonding capacity of cities, towns
and villages. as well as school dis
tricts, is limited to a percentage O
the assessed valuation. Were this
valuation to be increased the bond
ing limit would Immediately ris.
above what many regard as a SAFE
limit. No acceptable solution of the
puzzle has been offered other than
the extremely commonplace, yet high
ly acceptable one, Of keeping the ap
preparation figures we'll inside tn
revenues.
:. X !.
The Judiciary-None of the depart
ments are escaping attention at thu
hands Of the legislature, and tn
courts are not exempt. Probably tn
greatest fight, both on and off tn
floor of the house, that has occurred
this session came up over Hendricks
sons concurrent resolution providin'
for an amendment to the constitution
which would require unanimous dc
cision on the part of the suprem
court to declare a law unconstitution
al. The bill passed the house, VI tt
II, with four not voting. Anothe
is that repeating that par
Of the law making an appropriation
for the expenses of the supreme court
In former days the court held ses
sions at some of the larger stiles O
the state. but this practice has Ion
since been given over. Yet the e,
pense money a drawn and becam
. part of the salary, and If the meas
IRE passes this will be cut of. |
amounts to $500 for each judge. Al
other was intended to supply the s,
prene court with two commissioner
to assist in the'hanaaiag of the worI
but this bill has been killed. Thes
are all house bills. In the senate W
and a concurrent resolution for a
amendment to the constitution to II
erease the term Of supreme coul
judges from six to ten years. A sin
liar amendment was decisively n
jected by the voters 1T the polls l
1912 by about $4,000 majority. DiI
trict Judges who are called out {
their districts are. according to Sci
ate bill No. 81, to be allowed thei
expenses.
The First Law-Senate bill No.
has the honor Of being the first mea'
ure to become law. 1t prescribes
penalty for making false entries Q
statements as to the condition q
banks, the act being made a felon!
Through some strange oversight Mort
Dakota has never had such a law an
bank officials have been found who
in making returns to the state banl
ing board, have handled the trut
rather carelessly, and there has bee
no method of Furnishing them. tn
bill passed the house the 18th an
was approved by the governor o.
Jan. 20.
f. +
Woman suffrass-It will not down
The ladies have been out in force d.
AanAing that the concurrent resslu
ten passed by the 1913 Assembly
amending section III Of the constitu