Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-02
NORTH DAKOTA
LEGISLATORS
MEET TOMORROW
Nonpartisan League Gets
Men to Bismarck Early to
Outline Program.

Bismarck, N. D., Jan. 2.-North
Dakota legislators will begin to gather
in Bismarck tomorrow for the open
ing of the legislature next week. A
number Of the administration leaders
are expected to Immediately begin
the process of organizing the house
Of representatives.
The Nonpartisan league leaders who
will be on the ground early, it is un-
derstood. will include William Lemke,
sssict- sesidoa.. E.. the Nonpartssan
league, and A. e. Bowen, chief clerk
of the house in the last session.
So far as known, there is no
avowed Nonpartisan league candidate
for the speakership. of the house, al
though it is generally believed that a
candidate has been decided upon.
Nonpartisan leaguers will control
the house Of representatives by ma
jority of about 26 votes, and probably
will maintain a caucus agreement by
which they will seek to bind all league
members to caucus decisions. just as
worked out two years ago.
The state senate committees, it is
understood, are we'll mapped out, and
some important committee chairman
ships will go to newly elected Nom
POI IASeIA4os koCudSOl ASAS4OIAuO VI AASn0
inson, an independent, probably will
not succeed himself as chairman Of
the judiciary committee. Likewise,
A. S. Gibbons of Towner county may
be denied the honor Of succeeding
himself as chairman. of the appropri-
ations committee because he has de-
clined to work with the league.
The unusual crop Of legislative con-
tests will create added interest in the
early phases Of the organization. Two
league men defeated in Stark county
have contested seats; one league man
in Sargent county has instituted "a
contest for seat in the house, while
one senatorial contest is pending.
The state budget committee will
conclude its preliminary work this
; week and begin the task of compiling
its report. The appropriations re-
quested by the several institutions this
year are far greater than they were
two years ago, while the general state
appropriations are likely to exceed
those Of 1917 by 20 to 80 per cent
The fact that contest has been
launched against the group of five
constitutional amendments that
failed to receive a majority of all
votes cast in the election, as required
by the constitution, but which were
declared passed by the Nonpartisan
league controlled members of the
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 canvassing
board should not be required to sub
! nit it's reports for the examination of
the supreme court
! This procedure would permit the
secretary Of state to certify to the
legislature the action Of the can
vassing board, and open the way to
Legislative action. Before the amend
! ments can be declared finally passed,
| they must have the approval Of a
majority Of the members Of each.
| 1t has been announced in Nom
partisan circles within the last few
days that it is the intention Of the
league to force early passage of bills
calling for the construction Of state.
owned utilities, and one of the league
owned newspapers insisted that
speedy action" must be taken.
I The state budget commission hat
announced that 1t probably will rec.
ommend that the legislature pass q
law requiring all institutions to name
| the state treasurer, their treasurer
| At present each institution has its own
4 treasurer.
| Another proposal is the abolish
ment of the standing annual appro.
priation 20 the colleges and other in.
! stitutions, 1t being proposed that IN
appropriation for each institution ,te
cover only the actual expenses, should
be made by each successive legis.
l lAtuY9. a ~ : . f.