Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-02-12
Legislature
AND ITS WORK


OF tho legislature, after a recess of
week, the members have been very
busy and getting down to business
IN q manner which indicates that
tney intend to carry out the balance
OF the session as they begun it
That Is, in a businesslike manner.
In all probability this session will
be recorded as one of the best in
history. Everyone seems full of
business and anxious to make the
very best record possible. There
has been no sensational act; no bad
feeling; investigations nave been
carefully conducted and have been
thorough; there has been no dras-
tic action and much wise legisla-
ton.
Board of Control Probe.
In the beginning or the session
there was an investigation of the
board of control called for. This
was held but it was proven there
was nothing out of Joint and 1t was
supposed the incident was closed.
A few days ago, however. Attorneys
Knauf, Seller and Buck of James
town preferred charges against the
board claiming funds had been di-
verified and used for other purposes
at the jamestown asylum than they
had been appropriated for. 1t was
shown upon investigation that GER
tain money appropriated for the
asylum had been used for the erec-
ton of hospital building which
was absolutely necessary. but the
board had received full authority
from the emergency board to do so,
hence, instead of offense or wrong
being committed. it appears to have
been the right thing to do. Othe.
charges made have fallen, being
without foundation. A continuance
of the investigation will be carried
on at jamestown this week.
Lathrop Committee Work.
During the recess which came to
a close on Feb. 2, the special joint
committee which was appointed un-
der tho Lathrop resolution, worked
right through without taking a va
cation. There was much to be gone
through and the time was short for
the amount of work to be done.
This committee was headed by Rep
resentative Treadwell Twichell and
during the recess they had the head
of every educational institution in
the state on the carpet inquiring of
them as to expenditures. of the
needs of each institution, amount of
salaries paid, number of instructors.
etc. Inasmuch as the budgets or
the various institutions exceeded
the income of the state by several
hundred thousand dollars, the COM
mittee was compelled to make
some heavy cuts, in all amounting
to about 100000. Tnero will he
no new buildings erected for the ed
ucational institutions during the
next two years as it is necessary to
economic in every way possible in
order to keep the expenses within
the income of the state. While it is
not believed the institutions will
suffer seriously, yet all the frills
and every item which is not abso-
lutely necessary will have tc be dis
pensed with in order to pull through
tbs next two lean years. The mat
ter of duplication of studies was
recommended to be discontinued,
that is where two or more institu-
lions conduct identical departments
which are not properly within their
curriculum. AS one member said.
Eve are willing for the institutions
to sweat but We don't want them to
bleed" A board of regents will
probably be tho outcome.
Senate Changes Mind.
The senate has evidently changed
its mind regarding the lengthenins
Of the terms of governor, state and
county off1ceD. for the bills which
provided for this and which were in
definitely postponed, were recalled
and the senate acting as a commit
tee Of the whole recommended them
to pass. 1t is considered exceeding
ly doubtful If they get pass the
house where there is said to be con-
siderable opposition to the plan.
For Immigration.
A bill has been introduced in the
senate creating the office of immi-
grafton commissioner, and appro-
priatipg $4,000 for each year 1915
and 1916. He is to have an office
in the capitol, with agents to visit
any part of the world necessary in
order to induce immigrants to come
to North Dakota. It is quite prob
able the bill will pass with the
amount reduced, probably to $685.
900 per year instead of $4,000.
It is considered that this is the psy-
Geological time for the state to
make positive movement in the
attempt to secure immigrants. The
big successes in the last few years
in raising corn. alfalfa, hogs, cattle
and the rapid development in dairy
ing and diversified farming has sud-
denly placed the state in the class
of eastern diversifying states, and
the opportunities for the eastern man
to get located while prices are not
high appear never to have been bet
ter.
Big Days Work.
The house had quite killing
and at the same time did quite a
stroke of business passing bills
when the session reconvened. In
one day 46 bills were reported back
from the committees. OF these, Fl
were killed, % passed and two were
re-referred. This is the biggest
grist yet turned out at one sitting.