The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-02-04
Legislators Give Committees
Chance to Catch Up.
WORK OF SESSION TO DATE
Large Number Of Measures Are Die
posed Of, a Majority of Them
Being Killed.

days, without recess with exception
of one day for the house following the
inaugural ball, the good resolutions
of New Years to stay on the job and
attend strictly to business fell by the
wayside and the legislature adjourned
for a week of rest. Perhaps there was
some reason in the plea that the men,
bers would have a clearer view of leg
islation by getting home and talking
the matter over with their constitu-
ents; also in the claim that this strict
and close attention to legislation may
have narrowed their viewpoint. But
the fact is that a good many members
were anxious to get home and look
after personal affairs for a week and
; that a great deal of committee work
| must be done before much real prog
ress can be made in passing laws, par
ticularly appropriation measures, and
both bodies must mark time till the
committees can catch up.
4 i. i
The CasuaIties-Up till adjourn.
ment the house had introduced 227
measures and the senate 165, these
| aside from some concurrent resolu-
lions. The house killed fifty-six OF its
own bills and had two killed in the
| senate; it passed forty-tive of its own
and seven of the senate's. The senate
killed %thirty-ive of it's own bills and
had one killed in the house; it passed
thirty-five Of its W and five original
ing in the house. Thus there remain
1872 house bills and 100 senate bills
yet in the hands of the committees.
If the new rule holds Feb. 9 is the last
day that bills a be introduced. There
will, therefore, be but v days
when the present recess is ended In
which new measures a be introduce
ed. It is easy to see that it is unlikely
that a large number Of bills can be in
troduced in that time, and the posi-
bility of a last minute rush and scram-
BILE is diminished. The total results
uf the first twenty-five days is seen
in the passage of twelve new laws,
two of which have already been signed
by the governor, one Of which reduces
the legal rate of interest from Z to 6
per cent and the other making 1t a
felony for a bank officer to make a
false statement or entry with regard
to the affairs of the bank.
J. + :.
Almond the Dead-Of the house bills
which have been killed may be found
some OF general interest. No. 81
would provide for personal bonds for
county treasurers, instead of surety,
under certain conditions-a whack al
the surety companies and their high
premium rate. No. A would have
taken away the $500 a year expense
money from the judges of the supreme
court; this matter is being taken
care of by senate bill 142. No. 1T
threatened to raise a religious ques
tion by permitting the inspection Of
converts, monasteries and religious
schools and was therefore shelved
No. "a would compel pool halls tt
close at midnight, but when some en-
terprising member tackled on al
amendment requiring public dances
to cease at the same hour nothing
could save it's life. No. 81 woulC
have forbidden newspapers to hole
subscription contests-end it died. No
1872 would prevent the employment o.
, teachers who have only passed the
eighth grade of the ommon schools
it would require something addition
al, each year; but teachers are scarce
and wages are low and the qualitica
lions could not be raised without In
creasing the pay-hence these tears
The majority Of senate bills restins
in the mortuary are proposed amend
ments to the constitution to affec
the length OF term of various officers
No. 60 would prevent the state treas
urer from placing his w surety bon
and would permit the state auditin,
board to handle it.
Rural Credits-A proposed constitu
tional amendment that is attracting
wide attention among the farmers i
that introduced by Senator Bond o
Williston. Congressman Norton o
this state has attempted to have tn
federal government take action alon'
these lines and his example has bee
followed by United States Senator
Gronna and McCumber, each of WHOM
have followed Mr.. Norton's exampl
and introduced measures. Mr.. Bond
plan promises speedier and prompte
relief, for it involves the use of 500
900 of state money as a guarantee TO
The issuance of state bonds, none
from the sale of which is to be loane
upon farm lands in the state, throug
the state banking board. The loan
can be made payable on tie plan c
building loan association payment
and the interest would amount to 4.
per cent. There is money now o
hand in special and sinking fund:
which is deposited in banks that pa
the state 3 per cent per annum for i
and in turn lend it to farmers at
to ~ per cent. Why should not tn
state lend it direct? 1t now lend
money on farm lands through tn