The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-03-11
CHARGED GOVERNOR
WITH MEDDLING

Bismarck, N. D., March 5.-Follow.
ing closely on the heels Of the fight
over the tax commission bill came the
third reading of the new immigration
bill which provides an appropriation
of $4,000 for 1915 and $4,000 for 1916
for the purposes Of advertising the re-
sources Of the state with the idea OF
attracting settlers here. There was a
strong line up against this bill which
had passed the senate with only few
opposing votes and it was thought for
a time that there would be little trou-
BILE in the house. The bill passed by
SO to 46. ''~
When the bill came to the front
Smith Of Ward county stated that he
was opposed to the bill for the reason
that the money appropriated two years
ago had not been wisely expended and
he challenged any man to show one
family or person that had come to the
state as a result of the activity of the
present immigration commission. FIRE.
itag of Mclean and Kellogg of Morton
were both on their feet at once and
stated that to their own personal
knowledge certain families had NOV
ed to the state as result Of the work
of the department. They gave names,
dates and places. Hickle was against
the bill as he stated he was not for
getting outsiders in but keeping the
land for the children who might grow
up in the state. T. Twichell spoke
for the bill and gave some statistics
showing that the board could accom-
plish great deal. About the only
opposition to the bill seemed to be
that there would be a chance for
some real estate dealer to make a
little money. There was no argu-
ment supported by facts to the effect
that it would not be good thing for
the state. Harris, Helmjstad, Watt
and Pendray spoke against the BILL
Fraser of Mclean showed what a
small appropriation had done for their
town Of Garrison.
Bismarck, N. D., March 5.-After
over an hour of argument over the
passage of Senator Hickle's bill pro-
viding for the one man tax commits
sion in place of the present three
man commission the bill lacked but
single vote of passage. There were
Sc for the bill and 81 against and the
bill failed for lack of a constitutional
majority. The bill had previously
passed the senate with only eight op-
posing votes. On the clincher motion
was carried with two more votes than
the bill, Tallock and Rott switching
on the second vote.
More political and personal feeling
was injected into this bill than in any
measure before the house during the
present esssion. During the morning
session Divet accused the governor
of supporting this bill for selfish rea-
sons and to build up political ma
chine. He stated that the governor
had busted himself with sending mes
sages to members of the house on this
bill and others and not only asking
their support but threatening them if
they did not promise their work for
his. measures. In an address follow
ing this Twichell, who stated at the
opening that he had no axe to grind,
was not the lackey boy for anyone
and did not agree with the governor
on many questions, said that after
hearing the accusations made had
seen the governor and been as 'ured
that the charges that he had sent mes
sages or letters to any member Of the
house regarding this or any other
bill was not so. Twichell insinuated
that he was ready to take the COVER
nor's word in preference to that of
those who made the charges against
him. Twichell also told of the politi-
cal activity of the present tax COM
mission, showed that it was a costly
proposition for the state and called at
tention to other states where there
were one man commissions and
claimed that there was not work for
more than one man on the commits
:sion in North Dakota.
Charges of unfairness in dealing
with the present tax commission stat
ed by opponents of the bill were met
with the contention that the present
commission has shown itself not only
inefficient but spending most of their
time making political dope and that
the only cure was removal from Of
fice. The fight ended at five O'Clock
with the following roll call:
Ayes: Acker, Axvig, Balsdon, Bart
10y, Batter. Bixby, Burgett, Balnch'