Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-01-29
Legislature
AND ITS WORK

Bismarck-So far this legislative
session has made a record for get
ting down to business, and for free
dom from sensationalism. It SEEM
ed right from the start that the
members were going to take Govern
or Hanna's advice in his message
and practice economy, and conduct
the session strictly on business prin-
ciples.
But two Investigations have been
ordered, that of the board of con-
troll and the tax commission. The
former was cleaned up showing that
the business of the board OF control
has been conducted in a business
like manner and nothing seriously
out of joint, while the tax commits
sion Investigation has not been COM
pleted as yet.
Owing to the vast number of con-
stitutional amendments which have
been introduced, quite sentiment
has been created favoring consti-
tutional convention. There is no
particular interest at work for a
constitutional convention but the in
adequacy of the constitution of 25
years ago appears i'll 80 many places
that it is considered that such con-
vention would be short cut to
remedy many weak spots, and to
place the state in an up-to-date con-
dition. Nine constitutional amend
ments were killed by the senate in
one day while that body sat as a
committee of the whole. At each
election the :.umber Of amendments
increases. They are long and intri-
cate, and couched in terms which are
hard for the average person to un-
derstand clearly, and when the-
come up to be voted on, there is
really no intelligent vote, except in
cases which have become an issue
and the result is much like a throw
of the dice. No formal move has
been made for another convention,
though it is in the air.
Would Bar Lobbyists.
Several lobbyists have appeared
and it is said have been doing bust
ness within the walls of the house
and senate chambers. There was a
mild sensation and ripple of mer-
riment few days ago when Chap
lain Craig, of the senate, mentioned
the fact in his prayr, saying, "The
festive lobbyist is here. Some are
In petticoats and some in panta-
looms" Later mysterious and
anonymous communication was read
by the secretary of the senate advo-
eating the barring Of lobbyists from
the floor and corridors. It suggest
ed that parties attending the legisla-
ture interested in certain measures
be heard only upon invitation from
the various committees, and that
anyone guilty of trying to influence
members vote in the corridors or
on the floor of the senate be guilty
of misdemeanor and fined.
i. May Take Recess.
. The house and senate will proba-
bly, take a short recess beginning
Thursday, Jan. %, and lasting till
Feb. 2. This will be the first oppor-
tunity for legislators to go home for
few days since the session conven-
ed and will be welcomed by many of
them. The first legislative pay day.
Monday, Jan. %, was welcomed.
These occur every twenty days
three in all.
Both houses adopted a wise rule
when they decided that there should
be no bills introduced after the 25tn
day of the session which will be
Feb. 8. This will give the members
rs days in which to clean up all the
work of the session, thereby avoid
ing the hard siege of the last two or
three days. Work on the last night
often continues till daylight the next
morning, which affords many chanc-
es for error, some question as to le-
gality, and is very hard strain on
all concerned. The senate has in
troduced over $50 bits, while the
house is much ahead of this number.
Quite a fight in the house on Sem
ate Bill no. 81 killed it. This bill
provided for the payment of rail-
road fare of district judges outside
of their resident counties. Mr.. Bur-
nett and Mr.. Ployhar actively op-
posed this bill, the former referring
to 1t as another skirmish in the bat
tie for salary grab and pointed out
that where there are a couple or
more Of counties in a district the
Judge would draw double travel al
lowance. Mr.. Ployhar argued that
the Judges were perfectly willing to
be elected to their office and to take
their petition at the time of their
election, not complaining then of the
existing allowance. Ole Axvig NOV
ed that resolution be passed allow
ing Judges to ride on passes again.
No Terminal Elevator.
It looks very much like there
would be nothing more done toward
the terminal elevator enterprise, as
the report of the board of control.
which made very extensive investi-
cations, was rather discouraging to
the project. It was found that 1t will
be very expensive, in fact too much
SO for the finances of the state. It
is also found that the laws of Min
nesota and Wisconsin would control
1t absolutely and that the elevator
could be used by the farmers and
grain men of those states as we'll as
by the North Dakota farmers, and
In many o.her ways the project
would be unsatisfactory and unprof-
table. The whole matter is now in
the hands of the committee.