The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1919-12-19
Sulmmery OF Bills
s. Passed In State
Extra Session.

Bismarck, NJ D. Dec. 19-After four
teen days filled with thrilling and nerve
wracking scenes, when political vim
dic:iveness and radicalism ran ram
pant and uncontrolled, when constitu-
tiOnal precedentS were brushed aside
as chaff, and laws making secure all
autocratic control of the state and it's
people were forced into being by
means Of the whip, the secret caucus
and political chicanery and trickery,
the Frazier "Facilitation" special as
sembly of the North Dakota legislature
/ cme to a close at 9 o'clock Thursday
night.
Among the greatest of the "facilita
tion" measures passed and acts con-
summated were:
The reduction of the office of the at
torney general to a name only and al
most impOtency as regards future ac-
ton; the stripping of powers from the
Auditor and Secretary Of State; the
camouflaged passage of a 25 percent
decrese in taxes which will not make.
50 90 difference per quarter section
anywhere in the state; the giving to
the state board of administration the
power to pick which soldiers shall be
paid Bonuses and which shall not ac-
cording to their political allegiance
the admission by passage of resolu-
tiOns only aimed against LANCER, that
the league leaders dare not bring i'm
peachment charges, but only dare pass
slanderous Notwithstanding full
we'll that the members of a legisla-
tive body are immune from suit or
redress; the giving to the governor of
the power to seize any or all private
industries in the state through con-
stabulary system into which he can
call all males from IS to As years of
age.
All this and more was perpetuated
on the people of North Dakota.
However, it has been remarked that 81
members of the house and so members
of the senate wrote their political
death warrants every time they voted
for the punitive measures or the laws
creating an absolute autocracy.
In all 118 measures were intro
duced in the two houses of which II
were enacted into laws;
Among the more important are:
Passed a bill amending or re enact
ing the absent voters law so that all
voters men and women, residing more
than a half mile from the polling
place can use the absent voters ballot.
Ostensibly providing that the women
with families, the sick or busy, need
shos go to the polls, it allows repre-
Sentatives of the Non-Partisan league.
but not Republicans or Democrats to
call on voters, aid them in marking the
ballot. In short it provides the ma
1,o
an organizer into every precinct OF the
State Is days prior to election, collect
the ballots and know how they are
marked, thus gaining a check on
whether farmers are faithful to their
|. SIG. 90 investment.
Cut the state taxes, except the halt
tax and the soldiers bonus levy 25 per
cent. This does not effect the county
tax, and will not mean 81 co reduc-
ton anywhere in the state.
Amended the soldiers bonus act
raising the levy from one-half to three
quarters of a mill, providing that
money can be nsed for purchase or
tools of credit or trade investment
in a business or other purposes. but
inserting joker that the board or
administration shall say who shall be
Untitled to priority payment.
Created the job OF state sheriff with
two deputies whose duties shall be to
see that all sheriffs and county Off
cials enforce the laws, but more es-
pecially to serve as special adjutant
and political strong=arm bouncer for
the governor and head of state con
stabulary. To this state sheriff is
Transferred to the state license depart
ruent which under the attorney general
has had control and regulation OF pool
halls. This transfer was bitterly Op-
nosed by Mrs. Preston-Anderson ano
Others of the w, C. T u. and the
tNorth Dakota Law Enforcement league
and the churchmen's organization.
Created a state investigation COM
mittee to dig up political thunder for
the Courier-News, Grand Forks Amer
lean and other Townleyized papers in
, asmuch as it gives the commission the
Apower to demand any or all personal
books, papers or other property. and
provided a fine of $500 or year in
the penitentiary for any who refuse
to disclose information. This bill is
aimed particularly at the offices OF
LANCER. Hall and KOsitzky However
G its jokers provide the legal machinery
for raids on the Office Of any private
person, individual or corporation:
Created the liar law, whereby any
person employed by the state who
shall make a false statement is guilty
of a felony. Or as speaker stair ana,
lived the law. Zone VINO exaggerates
is booster, but one who doesn't is
X liar The degree Of the falsity of
the statement is not considered, if the
statement is against the political chi
!, eanery of the League, a felons cell
: awaits him. This law is aimed to Of
fectully gag any Insurgents in the
a1eague. .,. :. ...: -. ...-.
~ Clipped the wings and tied the hands
of the attorney general by giving the
h governor the power to name all special