The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-12-18
!. D. EXTRA SESSION
ENDS IN FIST FIGHT
CONTINUED from page ~


Of hampering the states industrial
program. The other bill makes it q
felony for state officials to make false
statements rejecting on state depart
ments. institutions or industries.
Red Flag Bill Killed.
The bill to bar the red flag from
North Dakota was killed again, but
| leapuers were unable to avoid a roll
cali and Walter ]. Maddox, a league
floor leader in the house, protested
against the smothering Of the meas
use by his colleagues. The vote on
bringing the bill out Of committee
was "A to g., the 81 negative votes
being cast by league members.
Restored to its original form and
passed by both ouses on the closing
day. the new absent voters law is
assailed as the most dangerous attack
on free elections ever made in the
state. AS passed it allows any voter
living half mile from the polls to
cast his vote by mail at any tine with
n 80 days before election. He may
ask for assistane in marking his bal
lot, too, and it is predicted that league
organizers will be canvassing rural
voters and voting them by thousands
in advance of next years primaries.
The bill was amended once to apply
(, to women voters only, but was chang
ed back to its original shape.
Other Bills Passed.
Other important measures passed
at the extra. session are as follows:
Resolution ratifying federal
suffrage amendment.
| Do1;of for Ipo,,fh cfvsickar,
farmers by extending time for
payments Of seed grain notes.
Amendment of soldiers bonus
law to increase tax levy after
this year and relax provisions as
be used.
Bill authorizing refund" of
rs per cent of state taxes for
assessments.
Creating a state constabulary
headed by state sheriff appoint
ed by the governor.
Reducing legal reserve require
ments for state banks approx
mately so per cent.
Authorizing $2,O00,000 bond is
sue to provide funds for applying
Cn6 SCaV6 uOII16 DullUluk ACts
Allowing $225,000 to build
Missouri river bridge between
Bismarck and Mandan.
| Authorizing Bank of North Da-
kota to loan funds to state de-
! partments, institutions and in
dustries.
| Empowering the governor to
seize coal mines and public utili-
i ties and operate them when sus-
i pension is threatened by strikes.
| Cutting many budget appro-
i priations of the regular session.
II Amending act taxing petrol
cum products and classifying
4 gasoline for taxation purposes.
The league majority killed the bill
for a constitutional amendment auth.
orizing a $5O,OOO,O 900 bond issue FOL
hard surfaced roads, similar to the
Babcock amendment in Minnesota. II
killed four bills aimed at North Dako
ta's 'tblue laws" as follows: Licens
ing sale of cigarettes, removing thu
ban on boxing contests, on Sunday
baseball and on Sunday theatrical per
formances. All these bills are to b
brought before the people by initia
tive petitions. Other bills killed ar
those, declaring oil companies public
utilities, making the railroad commits
sion q trade commission, providing fo1
nonpartisan election Of all but nationa
officials, and prohibiting teaching O.
criminal syndicalism.
A legislative investigation Of "gaso
line prices in North Dakota is to b
undertaken. Several measures eithe
repeal or greatly amend bills pu
through by the league at the regula
session. One repeats the moneys an
credits tax, and another exempts mon
ey in North Dakota banks owned b.
nonresidents from the income tax. An
iother repeats the bill creating count.
tax supervisors. New appropriation
bills practically repeal and re-enact il
different form the appropriations o
last winter.
The library investigation ended il
dismissal of C. E. Stangeland, stat
librarian, and in a committee bein
named to make a survey of the book
in the state library, with prospect o
= further action directed against Georg
. A. Totten, head of the board of ad
ministration. The house committee
report showed plainly the presence 0
the Objectionable books in the library
and the responsibility for them.
Interim Committee Named.
Appointment of the interim inves
tigating committee of five was an
nounced today by the presiding offic
ers of the two houses. All the mem
bers are strong leaguers, and whe
their bill goes into effect they wi
have power to go anywhere in tn
state and take testimony on anyon
charged with Constructing the state
program" The committeeman ar
Senators 0. H. Olson, New Rockford
and j. l. Cahill, Leith, and Represen
tatives John R. Maddox, Maddox
Oscar r. Nesvig, Buxton, and Fay A
Harding, Braddock.
SEED SHOW AND FAIR.
The North Dakota Improved See
I<N Z s