Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1919-12-04

ponement 6S to AZ, with three alb
seat:,
Two lenarts were presented by the
elections commrtae on the nonparti-
san BALLOT bill INTRODUCED by Burt
ness and O'Connor of-eaand Forks.
The league majority recommended
indefinite postponement, the minor
ity urged the passage of the bill.
Leaders of the Independents, headed
by O'Connor, called attention to the
fact that a nonpartisan ballot was
included in the leagues original plat
form; that the league members of
the first house voted unanimously for
such bill, and that change in sen
timent had become apparent only
during the last regular session.
Walter J. Maddox, league floor
leader, seemed to voice the senti-
ment of many of his Nonpartisan as
sociates, when he said: II don't
know why the majority is against
this bill; I am neither for it or
against it, but the majority is oppos-
ed to it, and see no reason for not
voting with the majority
The vote by which the nonpar:i-
san ballot was. Killed was 63 to IS, q
gain of ten for advocates of this
measure over the vote on the same
bill in the regular session last win
ter.
Representative Burtness expressed
Inability to grasp the theory under
which the league majority on the
elections committee reported for
slaughter Representative Reishus'
bill eliminating from the presidential
primaries the necessity of voting di-
I-rectly for a presidential candidate.
Mr.. Burtness called attention to the
fact that in the last presidential pri-
mary republican electors were called
upon to choose between Esterbrook
and LaFollette and that neither was
the candidate finally placed before
the national convention.
Chairman Whipple of the elections
committee gave as the reason FOR his
recommendation that the bill was un-
important and would take up too
much of the time of the house.
'Cause for Suspicion
Cause for suspicion was found by
minority members in the report of
the majority on banks and banking
recommending the killing of bill
requiring the state banking board to
examine at least once each year the
Bank Of North Dakota, repository for
$17,5O0,o00 in public funds. II was
surprise to hear the report Of this
committee read" said said Burtness
Of Grand Forks. IF, the majority
takes the position of refusing to let
the banking board, composed Of ex-
ecutives elected by the people. exam
inc this bank, 1t will simply lend COLI
or to the stories current that there is
something within this bank which
will not bear Investigation"
Il voted for some Of the public
utilities sponsored by the league at
the last session." said O'Connor Of
Grand Forks. "This bank is consid-
cred part of the league program.
The only way to establish faith Of the
people in these institutions is to
make them amenable to constituted
authority. The public business is the
public's business. Refusal to permit
an examination U creates suspicion.
The banking board has the authority
to 90 into every private bank IN the
state and examine its books. This
public bank should be as open to In
spection, to show the public Tthat
there are no securities there Of other
things that wan otastapd examina-
tion. = n :s Y: \,
Every county. every school district
and, township and munich ipality in! the
state is required To- keep its funds
In this bank. & said Peterson e
Gwinner. Every taxpayer IN the
state has an interest in this bank.
The public should have the same
safeguards that are thrown around
private depositors There must be
something about this bank that the
majority n this house want to shield.
That Is the impression that the plullb'--s
lie Is bound 70 Set from this 4actionli
here today IN
M Reishus rs Ward sently AZ He'd the y e