The Dickinson press., 1917-01-20
CHARTER GOSSIP
IS INTERESTING
Lawmakers Divided on ConVen-
tIon Method.
RESOLUTION IN THE SENATE
Constitutional Convention Proposition
Main Topic of Discussion at
the Capital.

Bismarck - Especially - Constitu.
tional convention possibilities continue
to be the chief topic of conversation
around the hote! lobbies and in the
caucuses at the capital On tha. cues.
ton the lawmakers are divided into
two camps--tH2 pr1-irlmediate revi
sionists and t!le. 2C.i-ir'Mciiate reyi.
sionists. Those CCEtEniin, for an i'm.
mediate revision propo.e that the leg.
islature be resolved into q constitu.
tional boGy ana draft and submit to
! the people Il proposed constitution at
a special election in March or April
Those who oppose the plan propose
that a special initiative election be
held Permitting the people to pass
upon the question as to whether there
shall be a constitutional convention
or not. If it is decided that they do
then delegates shall be elected in No.
vember, which delegates shall meet
for the purpose of revising the con.
stitution in July, 1918. This consti.
tutional convention shall hold forth
not more than forty-fve days and shall
submit their proposed constitution for
the approval Of the people in Novem.
Der, 1918. If the document is then
approved by the people it shall be.
come effective in July, 1919.
4 \ j.
The above is, in substance, the pro.
visions Of the concurrent resolution
Of Stark. The resolution Ia now in
the hands of the senate judiciary com.
mittee and will be reported out soon,
it is reported.
i i +
Those members ~contending for an
immediate revision, by the legislature
sitting as a constitutional revision
body, oppose the Mcbride resolution
on the grounds that it unnecessarily
delays action and that it is uselessly
expensive. They argue that the pres.
emit assembly could just as we'll revise
the constitution and have It set.
tied in one special election instead OF
having three special elections and also
a forty-ive days. session of a consti.
[ %tutional convention.
+ i j.
Legal authorities admit that such a
procedure would be perfectly lawful,
as the document would not be binding
until approved by the people. At any
rate, an interesting fight is expected
to develop over the question before
many days and a test of strength will
be made. In the meantime both sides
are digging themselves in" for the
struggle and saying little or nothing
to shed light on the question.
! + \
An interesting measure introduced
in the senate is that presented by Mar
tin of Morton county. It proposes, in
substance, the commission form of
state government. According to this
measure the state would be divided in
to nine districts and that one member
be elected from each district, that the
term of office be four years, that no
member be less than thirty years of
age or having resided in the state less
than four years, in addition to being a
| qualified elector. The members SO
elected shall be divided into two
classes, one class serving two years
and the other four years, so that cleo.
lions will occur biennially. One Of
the members shall be elected as presi-
dent pro tempore and may take the
place of the lieutenant governor and
the lieutenant governor shall be presj-
dent Of the assembly, but shall have
no vote except in case of a tie vote.
+ i. !.
Members of the assembly, accord
ing to the Martin resolution, shall
'thave no other gainful occupation or
hold any other Office for profit" ex.
cept that Of commissioner. Other
provisions are: Members shall not
make any prediction promises to vote
for any measures pending or n
measures that are proposed to be in
troduced and in cas- he does will be
guilty Of solicitation Of bribery and
punished according to law. All 8
sions "shall be open unless the bust
ness is such as ought to be secret"
and no bill passed by the commission
shall become law until the supreme
court of North Dakota has rendered
its decision that same is constitu-
tional." Members of the commission
shall receive a salary Of $4,000 per
year and $1,000 for travelling expenses.
!. X !.
Senator Mclean Of Cavalier intro
duced five resolutions looking to con-
| stitutional amendments which. If ap-
proved, will make some radical
changes in the state assembly. 8. B..
No. % proposes to extend the term
Of Office Of house members frdh two to
four years and four to six years for
senate members. s. B. No. "a faxes
the pay Of assemblymen at SO per
day and 10 cents per mile mileage,
coming and going, s. B. No. rs fixes
the membership Of the house not less: