Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-02-22
ASSEMBLY FACING
TREMENDOUS TASK
LAST DAYS DRAW NEAR WITH
MANY BILLS UP
House Killed Rural Credits Bill
New Highway Laws U@Corrupt
Practices Act-Freight Tariffs
"A Knock at Booze.


Bismarck.-The Fifteenth legis-
lative assembly of North Dakota is
now in its last quarter and the time
is waning rapidly. With the arri-
val of this stage in the sessions ex-
istence comes the usual grist of new
bills; in fact an unusual number,
over 100 having been introduced in
one day in the house alone. And
this means serious thought for all
concerned, for the time is short for
consideration of the vast amount to
be cleaned up before the sixtieth day
which will be at hand on March 2,
and when the session must close.
Every committee is busy. while the
heavy committees, such as judiciary,
ways and means, appropriations,
etc., are working, many times all
night in order to handle the vast
upon them. It is tremendous task.
The fact is, there is great deal
more work before the legislature
than it will be able to get through
with, and there is now talk that It
may be necessary for Gov. Frazier
to call an extra session in order to
complete it. In case it is decided to
call an extra session there will be
no limit as to how long it may stay
in existence. Should there be no ex-
ira session, there is but one thing
left to do and that is to allow the
session to close with large number
of bills dying without consideration.
The committees will only be able to
sift out few, care for them and
throw the rest away. The probable
ity is that night sessions will soon
be the order.
House Killed Credits Measure
There are some strange things
happen at this session, but the one
which cannot be explained occurred
the other day when the house killed
the constitutional amendment pro-
viding for rural credits. This bill
passed the session of two years ago
and had passed the senate this ses-
sion. Had it passed the house this
time it would have gone to the peo-
pie at the next general election.
But the unexpected happened and
the bill was instantly killed in the
house. This having been one of the
issues of the Nonpartisan league.
there never was a thought but that
it would pass, and its failure in the
house where the league is in control
has caused considerable comment
and speculation.
House Has Highway Bill
Two bills which are attracting
considerable attention from the leg
islators, as we'll as all others who
are interested in better highways,
are house bills 1877 and 16S. Bill
1877 is an act providing for dealers
motor vehicle license fees and
amending sections relating to same,
the disposition Of license money for
the improvement of highways. With
it is bill 1853, authorizing state aid
for the establishment, construction,
maintenance and repair of public
roads and bridges, making appro-
priation therefor; asserting to the
act of Congress, through which act
the U. s. government will give large
sums to the state for the improve
ment of highways. This is an OPP
portunity for the state of North Da-
kota to place in shape within four
or five years the finest roads in the
United States. It is a very popu-
lar move, and there is no question
but that the bills will both pass.
Bill 1913 also provides for the ap-
pointment of highway commits
sion, to be composed Of the govern
or, the state engineer, the commits
sioner Of agriculture and labor
with two members to be appointed
by the governor, and prescribes
their duties.
With the automobile license
money, the state appropriation and
the vast amount Of money to be Civ
EN- by the government, and which Is
to be made larger each year for sew.
eral years, the great improvement
to roads in this state can hardly be
estimated.
Tho Game Laws
1t is quite probable that there
will be little If any change in the
Fame law Of tlis state at this ses
sion. Senator Lindstrom introduc.
ed resolution signed by 8,047 per
sons against any change in the game
law except as to cutting down tn,
bag limit on prairie chickens ant
removing the protection on beavers
These two items may be allowed
but probably no more.
Allows Sale Of Cigarettes
Senator Martin has introduced
senate bill zee which permits tn
sale of pure tobacco products excep
to minors. This would undo tn
SNUFF law also the law against Gig
arettes. or at least some IT them
1t is limited that there is big ma
jority with a club awaiting chanc
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