The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-09
SPECIAL SESSION

CONTINUED from page IL
the legislators would be able to con-
fine the session to four days, adj
journing the Saturday evening fol-
lowing the converting Of the as
sembly.
The latitude allowed the legislative
assembly when called into special
session is thought to open a wide
range Of possibilities in view Of the
present unsettled conditions at the
capital.
Financial Aid Needed.
Governor Frazier says:
I'm view OF the extraordinary
conditions existing, that our nation
needs all the food products, especial
ly grains that can possibly be pro-
ducad and that owing TO the poor
crops OF the past two years, assist
ance is necessary in about half the
counties of the state to supply seed
grains and feed, and that all means
thus far devised 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 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 a good crop
acreage being planted next spring"
Gov. Andrew Burke issued a similar
appeal when he called a special ses-
sion for June /, 1892 when he con-
vened the second legislative assembly
IN the only other special session in
tho history of North Dakota. The
legislators convened at the capital
June / and adjourned June 3.
War Legislation.
One thing which the Fifteenth
legislative assembly will probably
con1sRS under the head OF war
mEhSaMs Is a bill creating a North
DaES$a State home guard or state
militia. Although every city Of 500
or more population in. North Dako-
ia has q home guard, they are prac-
tically without official sanction. An
other war measure in all probability
win be a bill creating a state safety
commission. A third measure will be
a bill to provide for the proper
financing of the North Dakota de-
Tense council.
The latitude allowed the legislative
assembly, when called into special
session, is thought by astute poll
bilities in view Of the present unset
tied conditions at the capital.
Investigations Galore.
There is nothing to prevent, If
any legislator chances to will 1t, the
investigation of every department at
the capital, and of every board and
constitutional body over which the
legislature has any authority, and Of
every state institution" said a
veteran member OF the senate from
| west Of the river who CHANGED to be
in the city when the news was all-
nounced.
Sen. Paul Kretschmar of Ventura,
| Tuesday morning when there was
/ still some vestige of doubt as to the
| governors ultimate decision, express
ed the opinion that a special session
might not be advisable.
For political reasons a number OF
state officers and heads Of depart
/ ments are said to have disapproveo
! of the extraordinary assembly, and
| TO have expressed 10 the governor
| their disapproval.
Representative Peterson OF Gwin-
| ner, Nonpartisan floor leader in the
last house, while in the city in
| December went on record as opposed
to a. special session, providing any
other way could be found of financing
North Dakota farmers in need OF
assistance. Developments have come
since that date which no doubt would
cause Representative Peterson to
change his mind.
Hsaan's Plan,
This method of relieving the farm
er is said to have the endorsement
of. il it did not originate with, John
M. Hagan. commissioner of agricul-
ture. Mr.. Hagan has only recently
returned from Washington, where he
conferred with North Dakota's con-
gressionaI representatives, and with
Secretary of Agriculture Houston
He came home convinced that Con-
gresham Baer's bill. appropriating
$50, O0O, 900 to be loaned the farmer
would not pass, and that Secretary
Houstons bill, carrying $6,0O0,000
even Il Il should pass, would not
greatly relieve the situation in North
Dakota, inasmueh as it does not con-
template loaning 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
cannot buy seed, even when it is
sold al cost" said Mr.. Hagau in dis
cussing the extra session possibility
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