Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-03
Rule or Ruin" Policy of N.
P. League Has Prevented
Passage Of Good construc-
tive Legislation at Session
Just Completed at Capitol.

(0y VW10 8N&1RoC JU0k0D
Bismarck. March s.-The nftsenth
general assembly has cost the people
Of North Dakota $4,000 and given
in the way Of legislation. OF approx
imately 500 bills introduced so per
cent, or $40, have been enacted into
law. OF the $40 enactments the
governor has signed 56 Of which -
are senate bills and 10 are house bills,
and two are house resolutions. Ap-
proximAtsly 1eo bills. covering vaxi-
Gus subjects, await the governors
SiGnatur0.
Important New Laws.
OF the most importance are the
two bills relating to equal suffrage.
The eastman rates bill which
wrecks every advantage the state ever
gained in favorable commodity rates
industries, natural resources and job
bing enterprises:
A bill concurring In tho constitu-
tional amendment referred by the
fourteenth assembly, providing for
state hail insurance. and which be-
comes effective with the approval of
the people 1T the next general cleo
ton:
Several bills relating to taxation de-
signed to add new taxable property to
the lists and to increase revenue.
A dossn bills Of more or less i'm
portanos affecting tho stock Of mu-
tual and cooperative insurance COM
panies:
A bill providing for a constitutional
amendment to bs approved at tho
next general election requiring q four
fifths F, decision from the supreme
court to hold . law unconstitutional.
More liberal Sunday laws with tho
le8alixation Of Sunday baseball.
A bill providing for modified Tor
rsns system for the transfer Of land
titles and an immigration act. carry
ing no appropriations. but adding GER
tain duties In connection with the ad-
vertisement Of North Dakota products
to the once Of the commissioner Of
agriculture ana labor
Bulls Killed.
To bills that were killed after bit
ter fighting were House Bill ~ under
taking to legislats into existence a
now constitution moro radical than
that Of any other American state,
and Senate Bill - empowering the
governor to create q terminal elevator
commission and appropriating $780,
900 to be used by that commission in
the construction of terminal elevator
At such point az 1t might select.
House Bill ~ perished in the senate.
early in the session. Senate Bill 81
came up for nnal disposition in the
senate this afternoon.
No Constructive Work.
Labor legislation of any type con-
structive or otherwise. constructive
railway legislation, and legislation of
real benefit to the farmer 10 sadly
lacking. Bill after bill originated in
and passed by the senate, designed to
improve conditions for the farmer,
was killed in the house which. after
the defeat Of House Bill a adopted
q rule or ruin slogan and stuck to 1t
through thick and thin, turning down
the rural credits bill, the terminal
elevator bill and similar measures.
Good Road Work.
There was large amount Of good
road legislation, creating . state high
way commission and making an ade-
quats appropriation therefor: divert
ing . large, part Of funds derived from
the registration Of autos to the use OF
this commission: providing for state
aid in the building Of highways and
bridges: passing an act specially de-
signed to enable the state to know
the advantages Of federal aid for post
roads, ana enacting drag law which
will compel the keeping in good con-
ditdon of highways once built.