The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-30
ADMINISTRATION
LEADERS DUE IN
BISMARCK EARLY
TO PROGRAM
With Legislature Conyen-
ing Next Week, League
Forces Will Gather

Bismarck, n. D., Dec. 30.-North
Dakota legislators win begin to gath
er in Bismarck about Thursday or
Friday of this week. a number of the
administration leaders being expected
at the time to begin the process of
organizing the house OF representa-
tives.
The Nonpartisan league leaders
who will be on the ground early, iL
is understood, viii include William
Lemke, vice president of the Nom
partisan league, and A. E Brown,
chief clerk of the house in the last
session.
So far as known there is no avow-
ed Nonpartisan league candidate for
the speakership of the house, al
though it is generally believed that
candidate has been picked by the
league leaders at St Paul, and at the
proper time they viii bring their
candidate to the front and bring
about his election.
Nonpartisans will control the house
of representatives by a majority of
about 26 votes, and win maintain q
caucus agreement by which they will
bind all league members to caucus
decisions, just as worked out two
years ago.
Senate Committee.
The state senate committees, it is
understood, are well mapped out, and
some important committee chairman
ships will go to newly elected Nom
partisanS. Senator Mcbride. of Dick
inson, an independent, probably will
not succeed himself as chairman of
the judiciary committee. as the
league leaders viii not consent to
any such arrangement. Likewise A.
S. Gibbens of Towner county may be
denied the honor of succeeding him
self as chairman of the appropria-
tions committee, because he has de-
clined to work with the league.
Many Contests.
The unusual crop of legislative con-
tests Will create a little added inter-
est in the early phrases of the organ
ization. Two league men defeated
in Stark county have contested seats:
one league man in Sergeant county
has instituted a contest for a seat in
the house, while one senatorial con-
test is pending.
The state budget committee will
conclude its preliminary work this
week and begin the task OF compiling
its report. The appropriations re-
qnested by the several institutions
this year are far greater than they
were two years ago, while the gener-
al state appropriations are likely to
exceed those of 1917 by 20 to 80 per
cent.
Amendment Action Uncertain.
The fact that a contest has been
launched against the group of five
constitutional amendments that fail
ed TO receive a majority of all votes
cast in the election, as required by
fhn cpncfifl1finr h1If r,hin6s n
clared passed by the Nonpartisan
league controlled members of khe
state canvassing board, may alter the
early plans of the leaguers.
No injunction has been issued, the
supreme court merely issuing an or
der to show cause why the canvass
ing board should not be required to
stibmit its records for the examina-
ton Of the supreme court.
This procedure would permit the
secretary of state to certify to the
legislature the action of the canvass
ing board and open the way to leg
islature the action of the canyasisng
hoard, and open the way to legisla-
tive action. Before the amendments
can be declared finally passed, they
must have the approval of a major
ity of the members of each house.
1T has been announced in Nonpar-
tisan circles within the last few days
that it is the intention of the league
to force early passage of bills call
ing for the construction of state
owned utilities. and one of the league
owned newspapers has indicated this
plan editorially when it insisted that
speedy action" must be taken.
Budget Recommendations.
The state budget commission has
announced that it probably will rec
ommend that the legislators pass a
law requiring all institutions to name
the state treasurer, their treasurer.
AT present each institution has irs
own treasurer.
Another proposal is the abolish
ment of the standing annual appro-
priation to the colleges and other
institutions, it being proposed that an
appropriation for each institution to
cover only the actual expenses, should
be made by each successive leg1sla-
ture.
"He worships the ground she
walks on" said the neighborhood
gossip.
"Does he love it well enough to
plant a vegetable garden in it for
her benefit?" was the answer.