Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-04-29
May Call Extra Session.

"0/ SSs 1~SV0 0SooSVus
While Governor Hanna has not
committed himself, it is generally be.
lieved that he will call an extra ses-
sion, if the laws are suspended Pro
badly such legislature would pro.
vide for special ection so that an
expression Of the people can be had
upon the laws suspended as soon as
possible.
On the other hand, a special ses.
sion could re-enact the suspended
laws and affix the special emergency
clause lifting them out of the referen-
dunn. 1t would Ehen be up to the
courts to decide just how far this
special emergency clause can be ap.
piled to get around the referendum
Deceiving No One.
The politicians, however, who are
attempting to put someone in hole
are deceiving no one. II the tax pay
ers can get off with the cost of only
an extra session, they will be fortu-
nate. The last legislature cost about
$1,000 day and it is reasonable to
suppose that an extra session would
cost about the same
Should it be deemed necessary to
hold specia. siect1on rather than
wait until the general election of 1916
there would be an additional expense.
! In any event, II there is neither q
special session nor special election.
the cost of placing these fourteen
laws before the people will be cOnsid-
cradle. 1t cost some $4,000 to publish
the constitutional amendments voted
upon at the recent election. 1t will
cost much more to publish the four
teen laws, If the petitioners are sue
cessful, so in any event the tax pay
ers of the state will have to pay the
freight. a,a
Oregon Decision.
Governor Hanna would be absolved
from all criticism for incurring ex-
pense if he called an extra session
and special election were ordered.
In recent Oregon supreme court de-
cision the court gives this interesting
opinion on the point:
"The argument about the expense
to the taxpayers is political, and
would be very properly addressed to
the legislature, or to those who might
be inclined to become petitioners to
invoke the referendum. The people
| by their constitution have put 1t into
the power of per cent OF the legal
voters to bring about such expendi.
tures, and the people must bear the
burden until they change the law"
This puts the correct construction
upon The whole. affair The men who
circulate the petitions and those who
sign them are directly responsible for
what will ensue and no one else.
HelIstrom's Letter.
The following letter is being sent
out by Mr. Hellstrom. At the top OF
the page is good sized cut of li.e
ex-Warden. and the word referendum
is spread across the sheet The let
ter reads as follows:
Dear Sir:
am enclosing a set of Referendum
Petitions. Each law that it is pro-
posed to refer is vicious or unwise.
The last legislature passed bills ap-
propriating 1885, 44S.76. This ex-
ceeds the revenue of the State and
will make it necessary to increase the
tax burden about SO 1-3 per cent. It
you sign and circulate the petitions
enclosed you will stop the useless ex-
penditure of $450,943.51. There are
fourteen separate petitions and there
fore it is necessary for each signer to
sign each sheet, as each sheet has q
separate petition. Get as many sign
ers as soon as possible. Any person
who is q legal voter in the State may
sign. It is necessary that the petit
CONTINUED on Page Two.)