The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-03-01
LEAGUE NOW HAS A
new REVISION PLAN
WILL PROVIDE FOR INITIATIVE
ACTION AT THE POLLS

VIII New Deadlock Result? - Some
Labor Bills - N. D. Grain 1nspec.
tion - Assembly Endorses Presi.
dent - Money for National Guard
Bismarck.-The Nonpartisan leg
islative caucus has solved the prob
lem of what its next action shall be
in the matter of a new constitution
for the state. The initiative, as ap-
piled to constitutional amendments,
will be resorted to as the most expe-
ditious method for securing the re-
Quired revision, the original plan
having failed through the adverse
action of the senate two weeks ago.
This line of action was definitely de-
cided upon at a meeting of the eau
Gus held on the evening of February
9Th, and through this means it Is
hoped that all the essential features
embodied in House Bill "A may be
secured, including a provision estab-
fishing the right of the state or any
Of its subdivisions to enter into any
occupation it may see fit; that the
state or any Of its subdivisions may
issue unrestricted first mortgage
bonds upon state lands or state
owned industries; provisions for
easier amendments to the constitu-
ton; a o workable initiative, re-
ferendum and recall; compulsory
state hail insurance, etc.
The plans being all set for this
part of the leagues program of re-
forms, and the administration hearth
ly %concurring in the method as
the most feasible now remaining to
be used, there remains now but one
deterrins factor in the case. That
factor is the supreme courts recent
decision that the present constitu-
tional provision for initiating amend
ments is imperative until duly pro-
vided for by law. Coupled with this
lies the supposed hostility of the
senate majority to the general pro-
gram of the league, and the question
whether this majority will permit
the passage Of bills calculated to
provide the. necessary legal mean
for initiating the revision now de-
sired.
League to Kill Senate Amendments
Without waiting to ascertain the
senate's probable action on this pro-
gram, it is announced from the eau
Gus that the Nonpartisan members
will stake all upon the success of
thier present plan and will use their
influence unanimously against the
passage of senate bills purporting to
v similar subject matter in the
form of amendments to be resubmit-
ted to the next legislature and by 1t
to the people. The nonpartisan
members recognize the disadvantage
at which they ire placed in having
to vote against measures ostensibly
favorable to their cause. But since
each of the senate measures refer
red to requires nearly four years for
completion, it is held that all Of
them are but a play for excessive
time in bringing the constitutional
question to the test of the polls. The
passage of the senate bills by the
house would also serve to strengthen
the "alibi" which league members
say the senate majority is trying to
establish for itself in extenuation of
Its opposition to the program of the
league.
Will New Deadlock Result?
With this situation existing, and
the house and senate majorities each
apparently inclined to stake all on
n success of opposing programs.
another deadlock is not improbable.
The gravity of the situation from a
league point of view is hardly less
serious because it may be claimed
the senate will not be wholly con.
sistent if it opposes the league pro.
gram while protesting friendliness
toward the sam e issues by more
roundabout means. The league mem
bership will naturally claim that no
fault can be found with the legality
OF the present caucus project, since
there is nothing to hinder it's being
ratified by the assembly at it's dis
erection. On the other hand, mem
bers of the senate majority point out
that the league position itself is not
wholly consistent, inasmuch as 1t
first essayed to revise the constitu-
ton by means less deliberative than
we're provided for amendments, and
now seeks to alter that famous doc
ument by mean provided only for
amendments, although by it's own al
legation the program had in mind
calls for an extensive and thorough
revision. The battle that is likely
to result from the two antagonistic
points Of view is likely to be q fierce
one.
Sunday Base Ball
The senate has passed Senator