The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-01-18
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sured. and when so ratified it will I've
placed before the legislature in the
hope of receiving sanction there for
submission to the voters at special
election to be held next summer. 1t
seems to be contended by league
leaders that while an amendment" to
the constitution would require the
sanction OF two successive legislative
assemblies. an entire new constitution
could go direct to the people without
the formalty Of further legislative
sa anction. point which is more or
less stoutly resisted by alleged author
tiles outside the league membership.
Mr.. Bowen, however, declares that
similar. proceedings have been upheld
in other states.
Objections Of the "oId Guard"
Against the plan Of procedure as
here outlined. the non-league members
more or less generally protest on the
ground that the method proposed for
securing amendments is not. in their
Judgment. constitutional: that it al.
lows insufficient time for thorough de-
liberation on the part Of the public,
and that 1t places the virtual powers
Of a constitutional convention in the
hands OF The legislature, whose mem
bers. the ohiectors insist were not
elected with the intention that they
should fulfill such functions.
In the meantime the league leaders
have begun a thorough campaien to
bring pressure to bear upon senators
who are not with them. President
Townley and others having made some
Of the more prominent points in the
state this week in q speaking tour de-
signed to present their cause favor
ably before the voters. A vigorous
contest is inevitable. and the out.
come will he watched with interest.
tion bv Senator Nelson Of Grand
Forks county, providing that teachers
| in rural schools must he equipped to
teach commercial law and farm book
keeping
A rural credits act will he among
the proposals considered durin" the
session. designed to provide that the
state school fund be loaned out on
| farm mortgages for a tWentv-five-
year period, the loans to be repayable
on basis Of 4 per cent interest an
nua1ly.
Legal end Maximum Interest
Numerous bills are being introduced
covering the subject Of legal and max
lmum interest rates. under the general
Recommendation on this subject con-
tained in Governor Frazier's inaugural
message. These bills make the MAXI
mum or contract rate 8 to 10 per cent.
with legal rates, where interest is not
specified, running from to per cent.
One bill proposes fine Of 5000 for ac-
cepting interest above the contract
rate. Other bills deal with the rate
which may be charged during periods
of redemption.
Motor registration laws are coming
In for a share Of the proposed work
Mt amendation. Representative Guam
has bill providing that all townships
may share in license receipts according
| to size Ipe present law allows 10
road funds from this source to town
ships which do not levy at least six
per cent of their own taxes fdf' road
purposes.
Senator Englund's banking bill. s.
B. No. 3, proposes n minimum capita'i-
cation Of $4,000 for state banks in the
smaller towns, with a graduated scale
of increasing minimums for towns Of
larger size. ranging up to 100000 for
towns Of 1000 to 5000 population. and
10000 for towns above 5000.
Budget Board Is Late.
The state budget board. which has
been at work for several weeks pre-
pairing the budget of state and insti-
tutional expenses. has asked for more
time to prepare it's report. Under the
law by which this board was created
the members are required to report
within ten days after the opening OF
each biennial session Of the legislature,
but the difficulties to be overcome were
more than the board had been able to
foresee. and the elapsed time is said
TO have found them with their report
not yet completed.
Test Of League Strength.
The first bill to pass the house was
Anthony Waltons house bill No. l
providing for an emergency fund OF
s6.G70 for use Of the attorney general.
The measure was sponsored by the
Nonpartisan league, and the vote is
test of it's strength in the house. "a
members voting for and 10 against the
measure.
The printing Of the stationery for
separate committees was one of the
items of expense which the Nonparti-
san caucus decided to be unnecessary
and has decided to abandon in the in
terest of economy.
Nonpartisan league members have
been holding daily caucuses. and tho
usual marked interest in presentation
of bills is notably subservient to the
interest in the general constructive
policies of the organization. An act of
the house designating a committee of
bills. with whom members were ad-
vised to consult, has doubtless resulted
in some decrease from the usual num-
ber Of personal measures.
For Missouri River Bridge.
The commercial clubs of Bismarck
and Mandan have had their heads to-
gether for some time on plan for
the erection Of a wagon bridge across
the Missouri river, thereby connect
Ing those two cities. Burleigh and
Morton counties are to have a hear
ing before the highways committee Of
the senate on Senator Wolford's bill
which provides for the increasing Of
the amount which any county may
spend on wagon bridge spanning a
navigable stream to 100000. At pres
ent each county is restricted to an
expenditure Of $150,0O0 for bridge pur-
poses. Representatives Of the Bis
marck and Mandan commercial clubs
were authorized to meet with the
committee regarding the matter. This
will complete the connecting link of
the Red trail across the continent II
the bridge is built.
Dates Highway Board Meetings.
1t is probable that the bill Of Sem
ntor Mostad OF Ward calling for Il
change in the date Of meeting of the