The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-03-05
REFERENDUM ON.
CERTAIN LEAGUE
MEASURES SU RE
Questionable Provisions of "Pro-
gram Acts" to BE Referred
to Vote of People
INITIATIVE is PROBABLE
Amendments to BE Submitted
But Ten Thousand Sigma.
lures Are Required
INITIATIVE is PROBABLE

measures" as whole, is regarded as
i practical certainty. ...--.. .
1t is believed that many conserva-
tive leaguers will favor referendum
on certain provisions contained in
their own program bills.
1t Is thought that the support OF
leaguers may be made more sure
by initiating, at the same time,
amendments to these acts which will
throw around them the safeguards
which the conservative element be-
lieves desirable. .E =.
There are certain bills, such as the
board of administration measure and
the BrintOn newspaper monopoly act,
which will be referred as whoe,
These measures are not universally
popular even in league ranks.
But seven thousand signatures are
required to refer these two acts. Ref
erendum petitions If filed within 80
days following the close OF the recent
session. The governor may then call
a special election at which these acts
will be submitted for approval, or they
may 60 over until the neN general
election.
In the present instance, the gov
ernor is believed to favor placing
these acts in operation as early as
possible. ard il they are referred it is
probable he will call special cleo
tiOn. =, ~. -,.... y
League Program Measures.
No exceptions are taken to league
program measures as a whole. There
are. however, decided objections 10
certain provisions. of each OF these
lis, How MANY OF these will find
their way into referendum petitions
cannot be predicted. The following.
however, are some amendments which
may be initiated: 49, 4. '',... -.s.... .
An amendment increasing the mem,
bership of the state industrial com.
mission from three to seven, adding
thereto four members to be elected
by the people or to be appointed ny
the governor, by and with the consent
Of the senate. ..
An amendment providing for The
election Of directors for the Bank OF
North Dakota and separate amend
ment prOhiiting the Use Of public or
private funds deposited .:with this in.
stitution as available assets" for the
purchase of state bonds, including its
own. .
An amendment giving the people a
voice in the selection OF the board
which will manage the state mill and
ly restricting the powers OF this as
Sociation to the operation of terminal
elevators and. flour mills, the latter
to be within the state.
An amendment eliminating from
the state home building association
bill the power to exercise the right
of eminent domain on behalf of in.
dividuals. and restricting Its exercise
only to uses from which the public
shall benefit. sf5.e. .'r, ~
An amendment requiring that all
state bond issues shall be sold at par
this provision now being included
only in the act providing for the issu.
ance of $1O,O00,000 worth Of bonds
for the Bank OF North Dakota:
Requires 5000 s;orers. .- .
Under the leagues emergency
amendment to the constitution, 30,Ovv
signatures would be required to com
pei the governor to call a special cleo
ton for the referendum OF any OF
these measures. The governor, how.
ever, gave the senate, before it pass
ed the league program bills, his pledge
that he would call special election
upon the filing Of petitions contain
ing 1900 representative signatures.
TO initiate an act or an amendment to
any act 10000 signatures are requir-
ed, and the league amendment to the
constitution makes it optional with
the governor as to whether such acts
or amendments shall submitted at
a special election or at the next gen.
eral election. .ss. ....t
lnasmuch as the governor and
everyone else concerned is anxious
to see the league program placed in
operation at the earliest possible mo.
nlent, 1t is regarded probable that any
amendments which may be initiated
will be submitted at the same election
at which the obnoxious clauses are re-
ferred.
In the meantime, none OF the league
program measures, all of which ex.
cept the home building association
act carried. an emergency clause CIV
ing them immediate effect, can bs sus-
pended. The governor may proceed
tomorrow to direct the state treasurer
to prepare for immediate issue $l0,-
100000 worth OF bonds for rural cred
its; $5,OOO,OO0 for the mill and ele
vator association, and $2,0o0,9oo for
the Bank of North Dakota. As soon
as the Bank of North Dakota bonds
are sold and the proceeds turned over
to the bank as capital, 1t becomes re-
pOsitory for some $25,000.O09 inpublic
funds of the various counties and mi
nor civil f1ivi ciOnQ. anmo millions mnrp
in state funds, not including the uni
versity and school lands moneys.
which are invested as rapidly as
they accrue. although the bonds and
mortgages in which these funds are
invested can be added to the states
resources; and, It is safe to presume
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