Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-18

stated that inasmuch as the attitude
OF the administration toward the
workers clause on important league
measures had been misrepresented or
mtsconstruede he moved that a COM
;mittee Of three be appointed to await
plain to the senate the attitude he
would take toward the referendum OF
the emergency measures.
Seven thousand Signatures" said
Governor Frazier, will refer bills
without the emergency clause, or will
bring bills with an emergency clause
up for a vote at<the next general cleo
ton. Thirty thousand signatures are
required by the constitution on q
referendum petition to be submitted
at a special election. Some Of the
members of this house think that 30.-
600 is too high, that 1t is almost pro-
hibitive. It may be rather large, al
though it Gems to me there is no
question as to what a majority Of the
people would say if they had a chance
to express themselves on this cues.
ton.
IA special election will cost the
state a lot Of money. Roughly speak
ing, I would say it will run from $685.
900 to 100000. I wouldn't favor
calling a special election unless I felt
there was a sufficient demand for it.
I would want to see a sufficient num-
Der of signatures from enough of the
counties to convince me that the
representative people of the state
wanted a special election. If 80, 900
seems too high I am willing to pledge
myself to call a special. election Of
10000 or even a smaller number Of
electors. Scattered over the state
and representative Of the people and
all of the varied industries of the
state petition for it. OF course, the
people in signing these petitions must
realize that a special election will cost
a considerable sum, it will run into
thousands.
Il will go further and say, II is, 900
electors, scattered around over the
state, farmers as we'll as town people,
ask for a special election on any Of
these bills, I will call it. There is no
desire on the part Of this administra-
ton to be unfair. We want to be fair
and square with everyone, and If 49,
900 people of the state. including
farmers and business men, petition
for a special election I will call it."
Validity Unaffected.
Senator Church inquired whether
the governors action in calling a spe-
cial election on a smaller number of
signatures than called for in the
emergency clause would affect in any
way the validity of any Of these acts.
h governor replied that it would
not. He said that 1000 signatures
the governor was authorized to call q
special election only on any measure,
emergency or otherwise.
Hyland requested hat the governor
commit himself to a definite mini
mum number. The governor posi-.
lively stated to the senate then that
on petitions containing at least is, 0
signatures he would call a special
election for the referendum Of any
emergency measure.
Senator Gibbons insisted that in.
stead of the emergency clause all o.
vision that they be submitted to the
people for their approval. He be
! lieved that the people should have
right to vote on %conferrinf
such unlimited powers and providing
for such elaborate expenditures O
money.
I'm view of the last tour elections.
said Frazier, II wouldn't feel justife,
in calling a special election without
good sized referendum petition. Their,
is no question in my mind and I be
there is none in the mind Of any gen
tleman here as to what the final re
suit will be-"
Cahill thought the governor Shout,
,I~specfygsthes percentage of farmers
Cuisines men and other who shoul
be represented On the petitions
iChurchE 'suggested hat the governo
require that. SO per cent of the sigma
lures be of farmers inasmuch as tn
measures principally affected tn
farmers.
THAT would be no more than fair,
said the governor, "but I wouldn't b
particular about a little thing lik
that"
1.-The attitude the governor has dis
played here pleased me very niue.
gentlemen" said Senator Hylant
land I move that this body give TIL
governor q rising vote of thanks a
evidence s50f. u appreciation. Thi
was done'nand the governor wa ap
a plauded.
The league majority promptly dc
feated Senator Porteer's attempt t
amend the industrial commission bill
House No. II to provide for a CON
mission of eve instead of three, fou
members to be appointed by the go,
ernor by and with the consent of til
senate, and to serve for four year
Senator Gibbons amendment provi6
ing that the emergency clause b
eliminated and that there be sui
stituted for it a section providing ths
the act become effective after the al
prevail of a majority Of the people 1
a special election to be called With
80 days.