Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-01-15

John Steen, of Rugby, has taken
over the duties of state treasurer,
succeeding Gunder Olson, of Graft
on. j. o. Lyngstad, of Rugby, is
deputy and LATE Swennumson is
chief clerk.
House Bills.
Two bills introduced in the house
are identical, reducing tho legal
rate of interest from per cent to
6 per cent. One was introduced bN
Bass, the other by Everson. Both
call for the contract rate being red
duced to 10 per cent.
Roble introduced a bill changing
the primary election from the last;
Wednesday in June to the first Weld
nesday. He also introduced bill
calling for the election of national
delegates, presidential electors and
national committeeman to be held
also on the first Wednesday in June
instead of in March.
Hedalen introduced bill making
the terms of senators eight years
and that of representatives four
years.
The Noyse bill provides for the
of railway cars used for the trans
portation of live stock.
The Carney bill provides the
changing of penalty and interest act
and providing that real estate taxes
become due on the first day of De-
cember in the year for which tax is
levied and delinuuent on March 1
following, with per cent penalty
when tax becomes delinquent; addi-
tional 2 per cent on June /, and on
November l an additional 3 per
cent.
Governors Message.
On the day following the conven-
ing of the legislature the state Off
GERS were formally sworn in before
joint session of the senate and
house. Immediately following which
Governor Hanna reac his message.
The message is accepted on all sides
as one of the best state papers in the
history of North Dakota. Mr.. Han
ma covered the entire field of inn
por:ant issues and handled them in
clear, concise and fearless manner,
at the same time being quite broad
in his views. Among the things
which he advocated were: Joint
committee to investigate state fin
ances; an efficiency commission to
study state conditions and submit
plan for scientific budget making
and reorganization of the state gov
eminent with view to efficiency
and economy. Reapportionment of
senator's and representatives, maxi
ing terms of representatives four
years and senators eight, and MAX
ing gubernatorial terms four years
with ineligibiIity for consecutive
terms. Four year terms for county
officers; state business agent and
reduction of contract rate of inter-
est from twelve to ten per cent;
amendment of corrupt practices and
act to increase responsibility of the
press; increase of minimum capital
stock of state banks from $4,000 to
$4,000; board of regents for Uni
versity. Agricultural College. and
schools of Wahpeton. Bottineau and
Glendale; investigation of financial
condition and charges of extraya-
gance and duplication of work in.
educational institutions; abolish
ment Of School Of Forestry and es-
Enlistment of School for Juvenile
Delinquents.
Many other subjects were treated
by the governor. but these are the
most important ones. Their import-
ance to the states welfare is appre-
ciated by the LEGISLATORS and COM
mittees from each house have been
appointed to consider them.
Constitutional Convention.
There is considerable talk among
tho members of the present session
relative to the holding of another
constitutional! convention. There
arc many features in the const''-,>
ton which. it is claimed. make it.
both inadequate and conflicting. and
in order to cure the wrongs without
retarding the progress of the state
by having to wait eight years q con-
stitutional convention ia necessary.
II is claimed tho prohibition peo-
nile will onpose this proposition. be-
lieving 1t is Sian at their plank in
Tho constitution. hnt on the other
hand It is argued that the prohibi-
ton people need not have any fear
from this standpoint as there is alb
solutcly no chance of the people de-
featinE prohibition. New York has
a constitutional convention this
year and Ohio had one two years
ago. However. this may he but
mere talk. AS there is no concerted
action as yet in that direction.
New Dairy Commissioner.
Bismarck.-Peter Miller of Grand
Forks. who has been appointed dairy
commissioner to succeed r. F. Flint,
who has just assumed his new office
Of commissioner of agriculture and
labor. has arrived and taken charge
of tho dairy department. Mr.. Mil
Ter is q thorough dairyman and
crea meryman, and judging from his
past record and energy in such mat
ters will prove valuable man in
the position.
Senate Committees.
The following list shows the
membership of the cenate's most
important committees:
Appropriations Kretchmar,
Wartner. Gibbons. Loftsgard. Car
!