Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1917-01-04

GOYern0rf FrAZter,S. Message -
Gentlemen Of the Fifteenth Legisla-
tive Assembly of North Dakota:
"You have been chosen by the peo-
pie of your legislative districts to
represent them, to assemble here and
enact laws that will serve the best
interests of all the people of the
state.
cit is my earnest desire to render
you all the assistance possible to car
ry out that purpose and so am TAX
ing this opportunity, for which, our
lconstitution provides, to make few
recommendations and suggestions.
"There has been decided inter-
est shown in political affairs in North
Dakota during the past season and
I want to congratulate you upon re-
ceiving the endorsement of the peo-
pie at this time. The great princi-
pie of American Government Is that
the majority shall rule.
ut is the privilege and right Of
our citizens to say by their ballots
what they want, and having said
what they want, it is the duty of the
men they have chosen to represent
them to carry out these wishes. At
our primary election majority went
on record as favoring the program
of the Non-Partisan League. This
program was later largely incorporat-
ed in the platform of the different
political parties of the state. And
again at the fall election a large ma
iority declared themselves in favor
of the same principles.
For State Owned Public Utilities
Therefore, after the voters hav-
ing twice shown a conscientious de-
termination to have state-owned ter
minal elevators, -four mills. packing
plants, cold storage, state hail in
surance, exemption of farm improve
ments from taxation, state inspection,
grading and dockage of grains and
rural credit banks, earnestly recon-
mend that you let nothing stand In
your way in carrying out these wish
es of the people,"
The governors message proceeded
to cover wide scope. 1t recon-
mended paying taxes on March and
December 1; reduction of the con-
tract interest rate from 10 per cent.
to 8 per cent; the creation of high
way commission to provide money
to meet North DakOta's share of the
national appropriation; labor laws
for the protection of women and chill
dren, including a minimum wage,
with the establishment of Labor
Bureau.
Governor Frazier recommended ex-
tension of civil service system for
certain appointive offices; the abol-
ishing of the state oil inspection law
and the placing of oil inspection un-
der the pure-food department; the
pure-food department also to have
control of the hotel inspection. He
recommends abolishing the Office of
fire marshal, placing the work Of
that department under the commits
sio1ier Of Insurance.; he recommended
Including the tax commission in de-
partment Of the state board of equal,
ization; an appropriation to carry on
experiments in Ignite briquetting;;
Of state drainage and
river valleys.
Considerable attention was given
to the educational department, the
governor especially recommending
necessary state aid and laws promot-
ing the consolidation and standard
izatfon Of rural schools and better
provision for orphan children.
Governor Frazier concluded:
Non Partisan Ballot.
4 believing that national political
party afllliations should. not be con-
sidered In the election OF county and
state officers and that the best inter
ests Of the greatest number Of people
can deserved by the use sof Q nOns
partisan ballot; recommend that our.
election laws be amended to provide
II non-partisan ballot for all county.
legislative and state ofnces.
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