Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-05
e OF A WEEK.

EVENTS OF A WEEK.
A decision OF great interest to the
people OF North Dakota was rendered
by the United States supreme court
last Monday when the state Of North
Dakota was sustained in what 10
know as the forty-two taxpayers
salt. This case, brought in the fede-
raj district court for this state. to re-
strain the state from putting into
operation several of the public owner
ship and similar laws passed at the
recent sessions of the legislature. was
decided in the lower court on the
ground that the federal court had
no Jurisdiction, the matter in contro-
versy being solely within the juris.
diction Of the state. The supreme
court has sustained this ruling, and
the effect is to validate all of these
contested laws, so far as the federal
courts are concerned. The state
supreme court has already declared
them valid. In the future. therefore,
when questions arise pertaining to
laws involving similar principles, the
issue will be, not the legality Of the
proposed action which is now estab-
lished, but the wisdom Of the course
suggested. =
Another supreme court decision
rendered at the same time was that
ruling u the popular referendum as
an element in the ratification by the
states Of amendments to the federal
constitution. This decision was call
ed forth by an effort to have the
eighteenth, or prohibition amendment
declared not properly ratified at the
time when the proclamation to that
thifty-sixth state whose legislature
voted to ratify. but on the subject
being taken to the people of the state
under the referendum provisions of
the laws of that state, the vote was
against ratification. The contention
Of the complainants was that where
the laws Of a state provide for a ref
erendum on legislation, ratification
of an amendment is subject to the
same review and possible reversal.
The court denies this contention, and
declares that the state legislature has
exclusive power to vote to ratify or
not to ratify federal amendments.
This knocks one of the main props
from under the anti-prohibition cam.
paign n satisfies the advocates Of
woman suffrage, as the ruling applies
equally to the ratification Of the suff-
rage amendment. :
Congress has adjourned, and will
meet no more until December unless
called into extraordinary session by
the president. All factions were
agreed on a suspension of action at
Washington at this time, but the
Democrats as a rule urged a recess
instead of an adjournment. in order
that the session might be continued
later on. Adjournment or a recess
at this time was desired because of
the approaching national party con-
ventions and a great many Of the
members will have pressing business
among their constituents from now
until the fall elections.
Congress made short work of the
Armenian mandate question, adopt-
ing by an Overwhelming vote the re-
solution respectfully declining to
follow the presidents recommendation
and authorize the acceptance Of.
guardianship over Armenia. The curt
refusal to entertain this proposition
may be attributed in part to a real
conviction on the part of many of
the members that the interests of
Armenia could better be safe
guarded by some other method than
that proposed, nj in part to a con-
nrmed habit Of opposition engen-
dered by the presidents dictatorial
method of handling the peace treaty.
! In the closing days of the sessions
favorable action was taken on the bill
for increased compensation for postal
employees, involving increased expen-
dtture OF some $%3a,oo0,ooo annually.
This bill is generally regarded as
~meritorious, as the compensation of
employees has been VIGOROUSLY in
adequate.
ItHEE aEEaaa "F4agf 4-- ~ --ttg- ~|gE-rs ~
the week, has been q busy one for
those who have work in connection
with the Republican national COM
vention at Chicago, which begins on
Tuesday. Only the finishing touches
remain toSbe put on the preliminary
arrangements, and everyone is looking
9 = big week in Chicago. There
are shout q dozen active candidates
in the held and the woods are. full Of
others who i ready to enter when
ever the chances appear al all favor!
able. Wood continues to lead n III.
n5iaaber Of instructed delegates and
hesseems likely to have d decided
80 on the first ballot. Hiram
Johnson Of California comes second;
Nth III the others 4 considerable dis
1850 behind. A nomination on ne
3ltek ballot ~ not claimed ~ theI