The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-09


ing the converting of the assembly.
The executive under the constitution
can only express this as his desire
or urge it as suggestion.
Sec IS of the North Dakota con-
stitution, on this subject, provides
simply that: He shall have power to
convene the legislative assembly on
extraordinary occasions.
Sec Sc provides that no regular
session of the legislative assembly
shall exceed sixty days but places no
restrictions upon the length of special
assemblies, and Sec. 81 provides that
neither house shall, without the con-
sent of the other, adjourn for more
than three days, nor to any other
place other than that in which the
two houses shall be sitting
The latitude allowed the legislative
assembly, when called into special
session, is thought by astute polite.
ians to open wide range Of possible.
tiles in view of the present unsettled
conditions at the capitol.
Investigations Galore.
There is nothing to prevent, if any
legislator chances to will it, the in.
vestigation of every department at
the capitol and of every board and
constitutional body over which the
legislature has any authority and of
every state institution" said vet.
eran member of the senate from west
of the river who CHANGED to be in the
citv when the news broke
Senator Paul Kretchmar, of Ventu'
ria, Tuesday morning when there was
still some vestige of doubt as to the
governors ultimate decision, express.
ed the opinion that special session
might not be advisable.
For political reasons number of
state officers and heads of depart.
ments are said to have disapproved Of
the extraordinary assembly, and to
have expressed to the governor their
disapproyal. ............-...
Rep. Peterson, of Gwinner, Non
partisan floor leader in the last house,
while in the city in December went on
record rs opposed to special session,
providing any other way could be
found of financing North Dakota farm
ers in need of assistance. Develop.
ments have come since that date
which may cause Rep. Peterson to
change his mind.
Extraordinary Conditions
In his preamble, Governor Frazier
says: In view of the extraordinary
conditions existing: that our nation
needs all the food products, especially
grains,' that can possibly be produced;
and that owning to the poor crops of
the past two years, assistance is nec-
essary in about half of the counties
of our state to supply seed, grain and
feed and that all means thus far de-
vised to make provision for sufficient
seed and feed have seemingly failed;
and that the present laws of our state
are inadequate to meet the situation,
it is deemed necessary that a special
session of the legislature be called to
revise the county seed bonding law,
in order that the necessary seed and
feed can be supplied to assure good
crop acreage being planted next
spring"
hagan'S PIan.
This method OF relieving the farm
err is said to have the endorsement of,
if it did not originate with, John n.
Hagan, commissioner Of agriculture.
Mr.. Hagan has only recently return
ed from Washington, where he con-
ferred with North DakQta's congress
sional representatives, and with Sec
rotary of Agriculture Houston. He
came home convinced that Congress-
man Baer's bill, appropriating $55,000,-
600 to be loaned the farmer, would not
pass and that Secretary Houston's
bill carrying $6,0C0,O00, even if it,
should pass, would not greatly relieve
the situation in North Dakota mas
much as it does not contemplate loan
ing this money to the farmer, but
merely the purchase Of seed to be sold
the farmer at COST
IF the farmer has no money, he can
not buy seed, even when it is sold at
cost said Mr.. Hagan in discussing the
extra session possibility Tuesday.
We must look to our county bond
ing act" said Mr.. Hagan, land in
its present form it is inadequate. 1t
was drafted to meet the needs of the
16C-acre homestead. Today the aver
age North Dakota farm is of 300
acres. Under the present bonding act,
no county can isue warrants for more
than, $50 bushels of seed wheat or