The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-01-05
SENATE BEING
LINED Up FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL
Upper House Members Pledged to
Convention Composed of
Legislature
EQUAL SUFFRAGE BILL
TO GIVE WOMEN VOTES
Measure Similar To One Now in
Force in Illinois Will Avoid
Amendment

Further evidence that the league
hopes to get early action on the con.
stitutional convention proposition was
found today in. the statement OF a
prominent league senator that mem
bers of the upper house are being lin
ed up in favor of the measure. The
league is not confining its attention to
league members, who are slightly in
the minority in the upper house, but
are approaching friends and neutrals
alike.
The argument that if the independ.
ents do not line up for the league pro.
gram their appropriations may be held
up in the house,-where the league
control is absolute, is being used in
some quarters.
I'VE are not responsible for the pres
ent administration" said hold-over
senator today who opposes the plan
of a legislative constitutional cOnven-
ton. 1--WE have no governor nor any
other member of the administration to
protect. If the league wishes to 60
ahead and cripple the institutions un'
der it's administration by denying
them their appropriations, l do not
see why we should object. II we had
the administration, there would be
something at stake. and we might be
as much alarmed at these threats as
some people have expected lis to be" /"
Thrivesf on Opposition.
League leaders say, however, that
if the senate1 blocks the league pro-
gram, the league can 60 back to the
people two years hence with a demand
for solid senate, and with an alibi
for any failures which may attend its
present legislative assembly. The
league, they assert, is an organization
which will thrive most on opposition.
Such has been the history, leaders
pointed out, of all similar movements.
Equal Suffrage.
A bill is now being drawn providing
for a modified adoption of equal SUI
frage along lines now in force in ILL.,
nois, where the women may vote upon
any public Office or proposition not in
cluded in the state constitution, which
gives them a voice in the selection OF
presidential electors.
This measure, which will 60 in dur
ing the next few days, will. it is said,
obviate the necessity. of amending the
state constitution, and, while 1t will
not permit the women to vote on the
governor, secretary of state and other
state officers named by the constitu.
ton, it will 60 @ long way toward CIV
ing them the franchise,
The senate this afternoon received
a report of the investigation of ter
minal elevators from the retiring rail.
road commission which explains the
physical impossibility of making an
adequate investigation in the time al
lotted. .'siJ". '.i' '',-j. -
Senate bills introduced were as fol-
lows: s....,E..
Senate bill No. 3. Mr.. Ellingson-
Providing compensation for wrongful
imprisonment of innocent persons.
Senate bill No. 4-C0ncurrent reso-
lutions amending the constitution. pro-
viding for the organization of local
loan association. This constitutional
amendment was adopted by the 18th
legislative assembly and referred by
it to this present assembly.
Senate bill No. 5, Senator Hamilton
Defines the crime of misdemeanor
Of usury and fixes the legal rate at
per cent per annum.
Senate bill No. 6-Fixes capital
stock of state banks at the rate of
$1,000 for each inhabitant, approx
mately so and provides no state bank
will b. incorporated for less than $780,
900. The senate adopted the joint
resolution providing for the employ
ment of Ivan A. Acker as assistant in
the legislative reference library.