The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-04-15
Nonpartisan Legislation

Nonpartisan Legislation
The elections in November, 1918,
have biven the Nonpartisan League a
complete victory; they brought into
the legislative assembly two-thirds
majority; they filed every seat in the
Supreme Court, and every Office of
the executive administration. They
had a now perfect freedom to give to
the state truly Nonpartisan laws. Let
me give you a short sketch of their
laws.
The Industrial Commission was
created, consisting of the Governor,
the Acknowledgement, and the Com
missioner of Labor and Agriculture,
and received the right to enter, in the
name of the State, into any business
whatever, empowered them to ap-
point the officials, managers, etc., of
such enterprises, and to fix their sal
aries and secure the necessary funds
by negotiating the bonds Of the State
of North Dakota in such manner as
may be provided by law.
The three officials forming THE In
dustrial Commission are also the prin-
cipa1 officials of the Bank of North
Dakota, which the State of North
Dakota creates by law. They have
the same right regarding appoint
ments, fixing salaries, etc. Another
law provides 100000 state bonds
in order to provide this bank with
funds; another law empowers the
state to issue 100000 bonds Sc
cured by mortgage on state property
for the purpose of financing the en-
terprises of the Bank of the State.
Besides this all moneys of the state
and its Institutions, of counties, cities,
towns, public schools, etc., must be
deposited in this Bank of the State
Thus the Industrial Commission, OF
its majority, that means two men,
have a power compared with which
the power of a German emperor OF
a Russian car with regard to states
hardly stand the test of comparison
Other laws, as regarding hail in
surance and insurance of public build
ings and Home Building Associations
would be excellent if they had no
created a very expensive number Of
Offices, not strictly necessary. Tn,
same is true of the Disability Com
pensation law, which compels some
employers to contribute a yearly
assessment toward funds which vii
compensate injured employees. Ac
cording to the definition of this law
Hazardous Employment means an!
employment in which one or NOR,
employees are regularly employed sex
cept agriculture and domestic service
and any common carrier by steam
railroad" That means the tailor
must pay insurance for his hired MAJ
as protection for the risks of the tail
or shop, but the Trainer and the rail
road company are free from such {
burden. That is SPECIAL Legislation
with a vengeance!
One of the worst laws is the Stat,
Publication and Printing Commission
This commission, appointed by the
governor, elects in each county one
newspaper, which alone has the RICH
to publish all official advertisement
and publications. This means Great
ing party press, paid by all citizen
no matter whether it is according to
or against, their will
The Board of Administration Law
creates board of five, three of whom
are appointed by the governor, witt
an almost absolute control over tn
whole educational system, the ap
pointment of teachers, the selection
OF school books, etc. This law is ais
so indefinite that said board can easil
claim the right to have the same au
thority over private schools as owe
public schools
One who studies closely the wor
of the last legislature comes to tn
conclusion that it has laid upon tn
people much heavier burdens tina
we ever had before; created man
new Offices and gave more arbitrar
power to officials, especially to tn
governor. The whole legislation o
the Nonpartisan League bears tn
stamp of Capitalization as we find !
in France, where a comparativel
small number of officials has almos
absolute control over the whole cour
try.
CONTINUED next week.
GO NO FARTHER