The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-01-23
WITH THELAWMAKERS

tAAC puSC WEEK, tIlc SeCOuu week OF tne
session, have had chiefly to do with
the ratification of proposed constitu-
tional amendments and the introduce
ton of bills. In the house a week
ago the work of ratifying amendments
was put under way with an agreement
made upon the motion of Representa-
tive ]. f. T. O'Connor, that the ques-
ton should,be considered by the house
as a committee of the whole. The
vote on O'Connor's motion stood 70
aye, "a nay, absent and not voting 10.
Pursuant to agreement the consider
alton of the amendments was begun
by the house Monday; and notwith-
standing the time consumed in de-
bate, at the close of the days session
four Of the amendments had been
passed. They are those permitting
the legislature to exempt personal
property and improvements Oh land
from taxation; raising the states
limit for bonded Indebtedness; relat-
ing to the means required for intiat-
ing further constitutional amend
ments; and authorizing a tax on land
for the purpose of indemnifying own
ers Of growing crops against damage
by hail.
The three remaining amendments
initiated by the Nonpartisan league
and voted upon at the polls in No
vember We're ratified by the house at
it's Tuesday session without special
incident and by Friday afternoon the
entire seven had been ratified by the
senate, thus paving the way for Il free
hand by the league majority to pro-
coed with its program of legislation
for the development of s%tate-owned
industries. The amendments ratified,
in addition to those above named, re-
late to initiative on legislation; no
emergency clause to be attached to
legislation granting franchises for
special privileges; and providing for
public ownership and operation Of in
duStrial plants.
Some Important Bills Presented.
The first bills presented relating to
the leagues program We're House Bills
Nos. Ii and is, introduced by the state
affairs committee, providing respec-
lively for the creation of an industrial
commission and the creation of Il state
bank. These bills follow the lines of
caucus recommendations already re-
ported. Following the Introduction of
these bills the senate'S state affairs
committee on Tuesday presented two
other important caucu measures:
those providing for the leagues pro-
posed state BODYBUILDING association
and for the erection and operation Of
state mills and elevators. These are
recorded as Senate Bills Nos. 20 and
10, and like the others. have been
previously described in caucus reports.
Introduced in the House.
II. b. I5.-Burtness. Provides nom
partisan primary and election ballots
for all state officers except members
of congress. United States senators
and national committeeman.
II. B. 19.-W. Maddox. Extending
time for redemption of county seed
and feed bonds, and amending law to
omit first lien provisions. This meas
ure has passed the house.
H. b. ,23.-Hoare. Extending re-
demption period in real estate fore
closures to two years.
u, II. B. 25.-S. w. Johnson. Fixing
personal exemptions at $1,000.
H. B. 29.-Paul Johnson. Making
it unlawful to sell sleighs with run
ners less than 4 feet 6 inches apart.
II. Il. 33.-O'Brien. Election polls
to close at 9 p. m.
III. =. 4O.-Hanson. Redraft of
Burtness bill closing pool rooms at II
p. H.. which had been killed.
II. B. 43.-Hemmi. To revise pro-
bate code along lines recommended
by state association of county judges.
Senate Bills Introduced.
S. B. 14.-DrOwn. Providing uni
form state grade for grain. for ap-
pointment of a state inspector, and
the licensing of public warehouses and
grain buyers.
S. b. 1G.-Haggart. Appropriating
$1S,50O to make up deficiency incurred
by the Agricultural college in erecting
barracks, etc, for S. A. r. C.
>. Il. I.-NelS0u. lnklnS 1t un-
lawful to chafrge interest in excess of
s per cent. and making the legal rate
6 per cent where not otherwise speci-
fled.
Representative Weber Unseated.
The unseating of Representative
Weber of Sargent county and the
declaration that Frank Riba is the
lawfully elected representative to fill
the vacancy for that district was the
result of an election contest decided
by the house after extensive and bit
ter debate Saturday. The action is
based Upon the fact that the election
Judges at Forman closed and locked
the polling place during the evening
of election day while counting the
votes, thus excluding all witnesses
and destroying, it is alleged, all
means of knowing that the vote was
correctly returned. In behalf of the
o1oction iu1roS If WAS rpnrnSantpl