The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-01-25

InVeSt1gatlOn rever this year was
manifested a few days ago when the
house passed a resolution, said to
have been promoted by State Auditor
kozitsky, calling for an investigation
of the methods and work of his pre-
decessor Carl Jorgenson.
No More Street Railway?
The budget board has recommend
cd that the legislature abolish the
capital street car service, claiming
upon instructions from the attorney
general that the creation of 1t was
unconstitutional and that the state
has no right to engage in the bust
ness. This service has been ques-
tened for several years, but tia mat
ter received a fatal blow when the
paving a. ordered in Bismarck The
franchise granted to the state by
the city provides that the state shall
pay for the paving between the rails
and eighteen inches outside each rail.
This will cost about $4,000. This
In addition to the deficit of about
$1,000 a year in operating the a
line makes the service prohlbitive.
League Sees Precedent Herr
But a peculiar turn has appeared
In the situation. The League mem
bers are now credited with the state
ment that they will not only con
tinue the street railway line but they
will extend it and improve the ger
vice. claiming that to do SO will be
the first step along their proposed
program of state-owned utilities.
They also state that to abandon this
would be to acknowledge that their
arguments in favor of state owned
Institutions was without foundation.
It is a part of the program to extend
the line to the pen where the power
can be furnished without much extra
Expense and with a great deal Of av-
ing over the present method of fur
nishing power from the power house
at the capital.
State to Carry Its Own Insurance
Senator Gronvold, Of Pierce county,
provided for the states carrying its
own insurance. It provides for a
fund into which the money ordinari-
ly paid for insurance shall be held
each year until this fund has reached
the sum Of 100000. which shall be
maintained as a permanent insur-
ance fund. Provisions are made for
any emergency which may arise
while the fund is accumulating.
No Imposition ON Minority
While the house was sitting as a
.ommitte of the whole, Representa-
i've Lathrop, of Steele county, init
mated that there was no chance for
matters introduced by minority mem
oers, and further that he had been
refused a hearing by a committee
IN house bill No. Z. Representative
Peterson voiced the sentiment OF the
majority of the house when he stat
I'd that there would be no attempt
% kill the bills of the minority.
To Remodel Depots
II House Bill No. 43, introduced by
Representative Peterson, becomes a
law it will require that 80 percent
Of the deots in this state will have
to be remodeled. The bill reqcires
that in all towns of more than 400
population provide separate waiting
rooms for men and women. This
would hit the larger stations in
Grand Forks, Fargo, Jamestown,
Valley City and other places, 1t is
claimed.
Would Repeal Blue Law
A step was taken to repeal the blue
law which prohibits the sale Of news
papers, cigars. keeping open of drug
stores. etc., when Representative
Brown. of Noonan, introduced a bill
providing that cities on referendum
vote can suspend Sunday observance
laws. The bill is not as complete as
some would have it and 1t is thought
that this one may be turned down
md another substituted.
Includes Incompetence"
The Nonpartisan program calls
..or another cause to be included In
.:1e constitutions provisions for i'm
,eachment, and that 1t "incompe-
:ence". The present constitution
nantions as causes ''Habitual drunk
snnes crimes. corrupt or malfeas-
nee or misdemeanor in ofsce." and
he League is of the opinion that in
competence should also be consider
ID a cause.
Insurance Bill Killed
The insurance bill introduced early
n the session by Senator Martin.
vas rejected. 1t was not agreeable
% the League members and others
IS they claimed 1t was not the kind
If a bill necessary to regulate insur-
nee matters in the state. A bill
,long tle lines which the League ap-
prove is said to be forthcoming be-
re long.
New Road Fund
It Is reported that Representative
Cole, Of Fargo, will introduce a bill
to provide for payment of the pen
.lty and interest on delinquent taxes
INTO the road fund. This together
With other funds which are to be
.aised should loon make North Da-
kota p~ossessoi Of the finest roads Of
my western state.
Too Much Power
There is some opposition 10 House
Bill NO. 6, which provides that when
sver a trial judge Is disqualified to
ut in a case, the supreme court SHALL
designate the Judge who shall sit In
ais stead. 1t is reported that the
Judiciary committee does not look
:avorably upon the bill and 1t may