The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-03-04
Strong Campaign For and
Against Raising the Lid in
North Observation-Disclosures
Amendments Provide for Re-
call of Officers, Leasing Pub
lie Lands, Tighten Residence
Requirements

women will have an opportunity to
vote and will have a place on the
ballot for four candidates--tWO for
presidential electors and two for ma
tional delegates-voters appear to at
tach first Importance to the four bills
initiated by 10000 electors in an at
tempt to repeal blue laws which pro-
hibit professional boxing matches, the
sale Of cigarettes, charging admission
for Sunday baseball and the operation
Of theatres on Sunday.
OF the four constitutional amend
ments upon which the electors will
vote March Is, the most important
is one providing for the recall Of con-
gressional state county. judicial ami.
legislative officials. which completes
North Dakota's 'I-R-R' triumviSate
The provision that recall petitions be
signed by at least 30 percent of the
electors voting at the last election is
expected to prevent a too free use OF
this privilege. In North Dakota's pre-
sent unsettled political condition, how
ever. a general recall amendment to
the constitution may have very
prominent part to play in the affairs
of the state.
The eight propositions. as submitted
by the secretary Of state. follow:
RECALL OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Concurrent resolution for an amend
ment to the constitution providing for
the recall Of congressional, state
county. judicial and legislative officers
by the people.
Article.-The &ualitied electors Of
the state or of any county. or Of anv
congressional, judicial or legislative
district may petition for the recall any
elective congressional, state. county,
judicial or legislative officer by filing
a petition with the officer with whom
the petition for domination to such Of
fee in the primary election Is filed
demanding the recall Of such officer.
Such petition shall he signed by at
least thirty per cent Of the qualified
electors who voted at the preceding
election for the office Of governor in
the state. county or district from
which such officer is to be recalled.
The officer with whom such petition
is filed shall call Il special election
to be held not less than forty or more
than forty-tive days from the filing Of
such petition.
The officer against whom such peti-
tion has been filed shall continue to
perform the duties of his office until
the result Of such special election
shall have been officially declared.
Other candidates for such Office lnaS'
he nominated in the manner as is
provided by law in primary elections
The candidate who shall receive the
highest number Of votes shall be
deemed elected for the remainder OF
the term The name Of the candidate
against whom the recall petition 'S
filed shall 90 on the ticket unless he
resigns within ten days after the fill
ing of the petition. After one such
petition and special election, no fur
thcr recall petition shall be filed
against the same officer during the
term for which he was elected. This
article shall be self executing and all
of it's provisions shall be treated as
mandatory. Laws may be enacted to
facilitate it's operation but no law
shall be enacted to hamper. restrict
or impair the right OF recall.
LEASING OF STATE LANDS
TO amend Section 1G1 in Article
of the Constitution Of the State OF
North Dakota, by adding the following
words:
provided. further that coal lands
may also be leased for agric,h.
tural cultivation upon such terms an''
conditions and for such a period. not
exceeding five years, as the legislature
may PROVIDE; 50 as to read as fol-
lows:
See. 1G1. Article 9. The legislative
assembly shall have authority to pro-
vide by law for the leasing Of lands
granted to the state for educational
and charitable purposes but no sue
law shall authorize the leasing of sail
lands for IL longer period than five
years. Said lands shall only be leased
for lmsturage and meadow purposes
and at public auction. after notice
as heretofore provided in case Of sale
provided that all Of said school lands
now under cultivation may be leased.
at the discretion and onder the con
troll of the Board Of University and
School Lands. for other than pasturage
and meadow purposes until sold. All
rents shall be paid in advance.
Provided. further. that coal lands
may also be leased for arigcultural
cultivation upon such terms and con-
ditions and for such period, not ex-
ceeding five years as the legislature
may provide.
To amend section 1S' of Article l:
by adding the following words, "and
school district by majority vote
may increase such indebtedness fiv"
per cent Oh such assessment value be-
yond said five per centum limit; pro
vided also that any county or city by
u majority vote mag issue bonds upon
any revenue producing utility owned
by such county or city. or for the pur-
chasing or acquiring the same or build
ing or establishment thereof i'll
amounts not exceeding the physical
value of such utility. industry or ell
terprise.''
Also provides that in estimating in
debtedness the amount Of bonds upon
revenue producing utilities shall not
lie included: amending said section so
as to read as follows
Section 1873. The debt Of any county