Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-26
ON WHAT

Of absurdity.
LITIGATION ON wHAT1
The Fargo Courier News IS opposed to the g.
~actrnent Of the laws which are to be voted on at the
coming election. One ground which it advances fol
its opposition is that these laws will be impossible Of
operation without costly litigation. Who is to init
ate this litigation? On what subjects and on what
grounds? Aside from the recall feature of the cleo
ton, seven propositions are to besvoted on October
20. They are as follows:
A constitution amendment reducing the limit of
bonded indebtedness Of the state, providing for the
orderly issue of bonds when necessary up to that
limit, making provision for the collection of prnci-
pal and interest which is not made now, and provid-
ing a sinking fund for the retirement Of the bonds
at maturity.
"A statute providing for the nonpartisan election
of all state and legislative candidates in addition to
those now elected on q nonpartisan basis. This
measure is one for which members of both political
parties have declared in the past, and to which the
.Nonpartisan League itself was definitely commit
ted until Mr.. Townley saw fit to reverse it.
A statute providing for the election of national
candidates in accordance with >the forms set forth
which do not differ essentially from the practice fol-
lowed at present. The intent of this law is to remove
any possibility Of confusion as between state and
national elections, and the two bills together make
all provisions for both elections so clear and specific
that there is no possibility of conflict.
A public depositary law. When the law Great
ing the Bank of North Dakota was enacted, it car
.ried with the repeal of all provisions formerly in
effect with reference to the deposit of public>f funds.
Formerly those having charge of such funds were
authorized and directed by law to designate public
depositaries in accordance with certain forms and
under certain restrictions. These forms were ab6l-
ished and the restrictions removed. The purpose OF
the proposed law is to restore to counties, cities, and
other subdivisions of the state the right to designate
their own depositaries for their own public funds.
An industrial commission law. The purpose Of
this is to create a permanent industrial commission
composed of members who shall be appointed by the
governor and confirmed by the senate, and who
shall hold office through overlapping terms. The
agement Of the mill and elevator properties at Grand
Forks and Drake. and to the carrying out of con-
tracts entered into by the Home Builders associa-
ton until those contracts are completed.
A rural credit law. This. bill makes elaborate
provision for the creation of a rural credits bank
and provides in all necessary ways for the apprais-
al of property, making of loans, fixing rates of in
~terest, and the financing of the whole project.
A bill providing for the dissolution of the Bank
of North Dakota. This bill is a ~corollary to the
foregoing rural credits bill. The Independent or
ganization of the state is committed to the policy OF
disseminating the Bank Of North Dakota as an or
binary commercial or banking institution, and its
conversion substantially into a rural credits bank.
Provision for the rural credit feature is made in the
bill described in the last paragraph. and this being
uOHG II OIoeI 10 carly OUT the declared purpose,
there remains no further function for the Bank OF
North Dakota as such. This bill therefore provides
for the dissolution Of the bank as soon as the pro.
cess OF liquidation can be completed.
These in brief are the initiated measures pro
posed BY the Independents to be voted on next
month. These are the laws whichthe Fargo Courier
News says cannot be operated without long drawn
out and costly litigation. The conclusion is mani
fest, that the Courier News threatens the voters OF
the state with litigation to impede the operation Of
the laws above described, if the people Of the state
shall dare to enact them. It will be interesting to
observe on what grounds this litigation is to be
brought; by whom; and against what particular
laws; or is it the intent to go down the whole list
and litigate first on one law and then on another
50 as to make the process as long drawn out as the
Courier News is apparently sure it is going to be.
The voters will observe that they are threaten.
ed. If they dare to enact certain laws they will be
dragged into court and through court time without
end in the hope that their patience may be exhaust
ed and their endurance worn out. WI predict that
the menace held forth by the Courier News will not
terrify but, if it has any effect at all, will rather tend
to confirm voters in their determination to enact
laws which will affect the reform Of some Of the
abuses for which the present state administration i.
responsible.
HnY11NNrTTAT STnpnKS