The Dickinson press., 1917-02-17
Will RESORT TO
The INITIATIVE
hOnpartisan Leagues Plans to
Put Over Amendments.
WOULD MODIFY BLUE LAWS
Senate Passes Measure Relating TO
Sunday Observance and House 10
Likely to Do Likewise.

-
Bismarck-(Special)-The Nonpar.
tisan league caucus held "open house"
the other night and discussed its
plans for the future. 1t recognized
that house bill No. A was dead and
that the clods were patted down over
its grave. 1t was decided that an al
topsy was unnecessary. Mr.. Townley,
president of the league, outlined the
plans for the future and left it to the
caucus, which after considerable dis
cussion endorsed them Governor
Frazier followed Mr.. Townley and
placed the stamp of his emphatic ap-
proval unqualifiedly upon the method
proposed.
It was decided that no compromise
would be accepted. It was pointed
out that the plan of amending the con-
stitution proposed by the Mcbride
resolution meant two elections, a spe-
cial and regular election; a constitu-
tional convention and a regular ses-
sion Of the legislature, or else an ex-
ira session of the legislature. If. a
special session of the legislature were
called to carry out the provisions of
the resolution it would mean that such
assembly would be composed of the
same men that now compose it, which
did not omen much success. It was
concluded, therefore, to resort to the
initiative petition and cause such
amendments as will be necessary to
carry out the league program to be
placed upon the election ballot at the
next general election. If approved by
the people the next regular assembly
would have a free hand in carrying
out its provisions. The initiative and
referendum, law requires that such
petitions must carry Is per cent of
the names of voters from a majority
of the counties in the state. The
league claims that it will get 60 per
cent in all the counties.
+ j. 4
The particular bill that has the cen
ter Of the stage at this time is senate
bill No. 81, which passed that body
with only two votes opposing it. 1t
is an effort to modify the so called
blue laws. Aside from house bill No.
A no measure has commanded the in
terest that this bill has. The bill pro-
vides for the elimination from the acts
that may be performed on Sunday
practically all the inhibitions of the
old law except baseball and theaters.
There is little doubt but what the bill
will pass the house. Another bill tilt
ing the Sunday lid slightly is senate
bill No. 1877, introduced by Hamilton,
which provides that no game of cor
ganized baseball shall be permitted
on Sunday, which means that nonpro-
fessional ball games may be INDUCED
in, provided they are not conducted
within 500 feet of any church build
ing. The bill passed the senate by q
fer, % against and none absent.
D. 4 i !.
Staale Hendrickson, author of house
bill No. ~, got a hard jolt when the
house voted to reconsider it's vote by
which it passed that bill the day pre-
vious. The bill provides for a reduc-
ton on passenger fare on all railroads
which are earning up to $1,000 a mile
per annum on passenger traffic. The
bill passed the house at first with lit
tie opposition. But it was reported
that a well known railroad attorney
was pleased with the passage of the
measure and this caused house lead
ers to begin to look for. an alleged
Trigger in the w%oodpile.' AS a result
Of the search for the Niger it was
concluded that the bill, if enacted into
law, might take the matter of rate
making out of the hands of the rail.
road commission, that furthermore
there was error in the statement
that the three principal roads now OPP
Grating in this state are now earning
more than $1,000 on each mile Of road
per year on passenger traffic. It was
feared that the passage Of such a bill
would give the roads a chance to open
up the question by Injunction on the
grounds that it was confiscatory and
then show that they were not earning
that amount and ask for a n obtain per-
mission to charge not only ~ cents
but 8 cents. Despite MI. Hendrick-
sons protests the vote was reconsid-
cred and the bill indefinitely postpon-
ed. Later it was broughtup again on
the motion Of Mr.. Mackof Of starkto
reconsider. Considerable oratory was
placed on exhibition and not a little
bitterness engendered.
The senate has passed two bills pro-
viding for the construction Of state
owned -four mills and packing plants
and providing for q one-half-mill tax
levy to finance such industries. These
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