The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-02-27
WITH ME LAWMAKERS

Bismarck, N. D., Feb. 24.-That the
Sixteenth legislative assembly has now
carried u the program of measures
projected by its majority members is
the claim of its accredited press rep
resentatives since the conclusion Of the
enactments perfected during the past
week. Both the house and senate
have been busy passing upon the more
important measures messaged across
IRON the chambers in which they or
iginated, and as a result the entire
program" so far as the more sig
n1hcant measures are concerned, is
now up to Governor Frazier in the
form Of enacted bills awaiting his
signature.
Recapitulating Program Bills
Chief among the measures to receive
hnal legislative attention during the
week are the following:
The bill creating an industrial COM
mission to have charge Of the estab-
ilshment of proposed s~tate-owned
mills, elevators and other industries,
n the handling Of bonds to be is
sued for the establishment of these
industries.
The bill establishing the Bank of
North Dakota to be operated by the
state without profit for public benefit.
The handling of farm mortgages at
rates which will take out the profits
OF commission loan agents is Il promi-
nent part of the service which pro-
jectors of the measure believe this
bank will perform.
Bills providing for the issuance of
bonds of the Bank of North Dakota,
for Il creation of a fund for the hand
ing OF real estate mortgage loans and
Tor the financing Of the mill and ele-
vator industries.
The creation of the North Dakota
Mill and Elevator association under
direction OF the industrial commission
to construct and operate terminal ele-
vatorS. mills, packing plants and other
industries.
The income tax bill providing for a
graded scale of income taxes,
Exemption and classification tax
bills.
Other important program bills rec
emily enacted are:
The home building bill.
The freight rate bill.
The hail insurance bill.
Workmen's compensation act.
Governor Makes Promise
Considerable interest was attached
to the action of Governor Lynn J..
Frazier, when he Went before the SEN
ate last Monday and pledged himself
to call Il special election for n pOpu-
lar vote on any or all emergency acts
OF h legislature for which IL refer
endum vote might be asked by as
many as 10000 electors, including
farmers as well as residents of cities.
The significance of this action lies in
the fact that Il referendum on bills
TO Which the emergency clause is at
tached is not definitely entitled to be
had. under present constitutional pro-
visions. unless as many as 10000 elect
ors petition for such referendum with
Ing a period of ninety days following
the adjournment of the legislature.
Some League Measures Still Up
While it is true, as has been said.
that the Legislative majority has en-
acted the Legislation which has been
called it's "program,' and thereby
holds itself to have fulfilled the, adj
ministration's promises to it's con-
s%tituentS. it does not at all follow that
IT'S purposes are complete or it's la
bors ended. There may be said to
be 4 fair distinction between that
legislation which has been enacted
IN response to organized demand and
that which the administration feels
that it would like to enact for. the
perfection of its own methods of adj
ministration. A measure coming.
probably. under the last mentioned
head is the so-called administration
bill, which is still before the locis-
1atnre for consideration. At the last
of the week it had just passed the
state affairs committee of the senate.
IN which body it originated, and was
unanimously recommended for pass
ge. This measure is Senate Bill 1874.
and is that bill by which it was or
iginally aimed to place all educational
as well as penal and charitable insti-
buttons of the state IN the hands of
n board of three members to be an
pointed by the governor. AS amended
by the senate committee on state af-
fairs. however. the bill provides that |
the state superintendent of public in |
struction and the commissioner of
agriculture and labor shall be ex-
officiO members of the board. The
measure is one of the most holly
contested of those which have been
placed before the legislature, structures
made upon it being that it aims to
diminish the powers of the state SUD-
%erintendent of public instruction, Miss
Minnie Nelson. by absorbing some of
the functions which have hitherto per-