Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1916-05-12
PLANS TO C0NTEST
CAPITOL REMOVAL
BISMARCK TO ATTACK NEW ROCK.
FoRD's PETiTIoNs-MAY AP.
PEAL TO COURTS.
NEWS LETTER FROM CAPITAL
Interesting News Of State House Hap.
penings and Reports Of Officials
Arranged for Convenience
Of the Busy Reader
Bismarck.


With New Rockford's petitions, pro-
posing the removal of the state capital
from Bismarck to New Rockford, on
file in the office of the secretary Of
state, the Bismarck committee announ-
ces it's intention of testing in the
courts the sufflciency Of the petitions,
as we'll as the right to hold an cleo
ton under the initiative amendment to
the state constitution.
The law providing for initiative
amendments to the state constitution is
rather indefinite. This is responsible
for some uncertainty. The act provides
that petitions must be signed by "at
least 25 per cent. of the legal voters Of
a majority of the counties"
Secretary of State Hall has made a
call on county auditors for statement
of the total legal voting population. 1t
has been shown that the statistics
with respect to the vote at the last gen.
eral election is not sound basis on
which to determine the percentages,
for they reveal that only about 60 to 10
per cent. of the registered voters ap-
peared at the polls.
X X X
Explains Taxing Methods.
Under the authority of the board Of
equalization, State Auditor Jorgenson
has published pamphlet giving in full
the proceedings of the meeting held
in January by the county auditors the
state board of equalization and tho
tax commission.
Attention is called to the fact that
the tax commission in their biennial
report recommended the adoption Of a
modern taxing system for the state
like the one in. force in Wisconsin and
Minnesota. The new schedule is taken
with notifications made necessary by
North Dakota taxing laws direct from
that of Minnesota.
Calling attention to the statements
made in the press that the new sche-
dule taxes property not before put on,
Jergenson explains that all property
has always been taxable in this state
and that the new schedule was adopt
ed in order to facilitate proper equali-
zation and remedy inequalities in pres
ent taxing methods. Copies may be
secured from the county auditors.
X X X
immigration Board Not To Organize.
The board of immigration will not
organize. Although Judge Neussle de-
cided that the law was constitutional
the various members have agreed to
do nothing towards putting it into
operation, it is reported in Bismarck.
This law has been the foot ball of
politics since it was passed year
and half ago. Formerly there was
an appropriation for encouraging i'm
migration into the state, which fund
was expended under the direction Of
the Commissioner Of agriculture and
labor.
Under the present situation every
member of the board is said to be in
contempt of court. Captain I. P. Bak-
er brought mandamus action several
months ago to compel the board to or
ganize. The supreme court after
hearing the argument ordered that the
members go ahead and put the law
into operation. The members met,
discussed matters and after adjourn
ing have done nothing.
X X h
To Test State Tax Law.
When the 1915 session Of the legis-
lature passed chapter 254, session
laws of 1915, it did not consider the
effect which this law might have on
the county tuition fund for the sup
port of the public schools. This chap
ter forbids any officer or board hav-
ing the power to levy taxes from levy
ing an amount which is greater than
five per cent. for 1915 and ten per
cent. for 1916 in excess of the levy
for 1914
Very few of the county boards have
paid any attention to this provision.
The Great Northern railroad proposes
to test out the law. Thru their divf-
sion attorneys they have brought &C.
ton to recover back $345 paid under
protest to the county treasurer Of
Grand Forks.
K X K
Big Demand For Maps.
That the latest map of North Da-
kota, compiled by the Department Of
Agriculture was issued at time when
1t was most urgently needed, Is
proved by the rapidity with which
the $4,000 maps so ordered we're
bought by those who could use this
method of state advertising in their
business.
X X X
Baking Powder Case Delayed.
The hearing on permanent injunc-
tion in the case of the Calumet Bak-
ing Powder Co., against DR.. E. F. Ladd
as state food commissioner, which was
to have been started in the United
States district court, has been con-
tinued. A restraining order was
granted some time ago by Judge
Charles F. Amidon preventing the car
rying out of DR.. Ladd's program
against the Calumet product. Owing
to the fact that DIR. Ladd e i'll, con-
tinuance was taken.
X X 4
Dairy Commissioner At Minot.
State Dairy Commissioner Miller
will make his headquarters In Minot
for tho noyt fow months and will give