The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-01-14
LEAGUE STEAM \ )
81. ROLLER TROTS
INTO THE FRAY

y -
had received majority Of all the 'e
gal votes cast at, the rscenS election
!, He read from Nonpartisan league lit
,erature, including a circular letter
from President A. c. Townley. who
was then on the floor Of the house
statements directly upholding the pres
; ent contention of the minority thai
the amendments must have a majority
OF all the votes ut, the general election
Rep ORB. Burtness of Grand Forks
argued along similar. lines. -
Rep. Gidell Patterson, advocating
immediate ratification, declared t!lerf
were only two producing classes il
North Dakota--the farmers and the
miners. 1.-The lawyers and dOcturs,
said the league floor leader, produce
nothing OF. value. They render a ser
vice, and they are entitled Vo pay 70,
their time, but only the farmers and
the miners actually pay taxes in this
state" L r.. ~,
:" The initial debate was on House Bill
No. 8, providing for the exemption OF
all personal, property, including I'M
provements on land, from NtaXation
Reps. Bnrtness- and OConnor joined il
declaring this pure single tax doc
itrine, which would place the entire
burden on the land, or, in other words
upon the farmer.
Rep. John u. Hemmi Of Stntsman
county, MI old time farmers leader
warned the leagne against the use OF
the gag rule and the steam roller
1.-THE league can kill itself in that way
about as fast ms any other way
know Of You don't want. this amend
ment to come mp in committee OF the
whole where.there would be free and
open discussion because You know that
, at least 80 per cent of the people OF
the state who voted for this amend
lment didn't know what they were VOt-
ing about. 1 doubt If 80 per cent OF
'fhc league legislators here know
what they are voting for. House
Bill Number s is one of the
most important bills in the entire pro,
gram. as it involves the single tax
theory. 1t is not question Of the
exemption of farm, improvements-it
III s=f a question pnrelystof land taxation
to the exclusion Of all moneys. all
mortgages, all farm implements. leav.
ing d tax on thei]and onlya The peo-
pie didn't get half the truth on this
matter, before the election, and a half
truth is often worse than a bald lie
( "A number of the minority members
explained their votes. 49,
"a majority, Of my constituents did
not vote for this amendment. and for
that reason, and in the exercise Of my
own Judgment, TO which some of the
members of this house think we have
no right, vote no" said Kelley OF
Ramsey. ..r- ~ ~
This amendment did not receive a
vote Of the majority Of the people and
lis therefore not properly before this
assembly. L vote no, said Lowe. =
81 have taken my oath to support the
constitution and~not to support ar
opinion of Attorney General LANCER
Therefore vote, no." said Rep. Pet
tcfs6n ,0fl Gwinner. s,y ....ts ~,
:. ..sTKe change Of heart apparent III
the president and the body Of this
league HAS not reachettsme as yet
Theref6rey1 vate no, 4 said Reishuss Of
Ward KS.
I The final vote was 81 AYE; 80 nay
aud Q absent: &. ~. /. ,ss,-.r....,,.,-,e. b.
q The vote on House Bill No.-3:.J,,s. re-
moving the limit on the states bonded
Indebtedness, which now stands at
$2OOOOO, was passed by a vote OF II
to "a, eight being absent and not; vot-
inc. "a number: of the minority en-
planned their votes, one OF the most
effective statements being made by
Jenson of Grand Forks, who told OF
demonstrating inn Grand Forks county
III 1873 and Of the early struggles OF
himself, and fellows pioneers to make
both ends meet. IF there ever was
time when the state was justified in
isuing bonds, it was then, when onr