Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-12
COURIER-NEWS
CORRESPONDENT
GETS THE GATE
Barred From House; Re
fuses to Answer Ques-
tons on His Article
(By STAFF o~orespondent)

DlSIl6rCk, n. d., FeO. H.. K.
Gummerson, correspondent for the
Fargo riga of the Nonpartfsan league
was yesterday barred from the house
Of representatives for the balance Of
the session after he had refused to an
swer questions put to him by the house
relative to an article appearing in
his paper over his signature last Tues
day, charging that ''emmissaries of
big bankers within, and without the
state had attempted. to buy OF farmer
legislators"
Shtpley of Stark county and carried.
SIS to SO. The league house members
exhausted every means to prevent tho
questioning Of Gummer8on, and also
to prevent his expulsion.
Refused to Answer Questions
Gummersen was brought before the
bar Of the house at 3 O'Clock under
the terms of the motion for adjourn
ment taken Thursday, and after q
long vrangle, Speaker l. L. Twicheal
propounded the questions to him
which were provided for in the resso-
luton. passed Thursday. Gummerson
refused to state who had made the
alleged attempt to buy of farmer leg
istators o. state officials in connection
with the Bank Of North Dakota. He
also refused to tell by w1at legtsla-
tors an effort was made to buy on
made to purchase. He admitted that
he had not been present At the time
of the alleged transAction, but refused
to tell from whom he had obtained
his information. The only point in
fact. on which Mr.. Gumnserson wae
willing to answer the questions, was
as to the time and place Of the session
in question. 1t took psaee, he declax-
ed. at or near the corner Of Fifth and
afternoon.
Willing To Explain -
All other questions he declined to
answer, although offering to make
an explanation as to why he was un-
willing to nswer
Shipley then moved that as Cum
merson had refused to answer the
question put to him, he should be ex-
PEELED from the house, and barred
therefrom during the balance Of the
session. and after further debate the
motion was passed.
"ViOlAtiOn Of Confidence
Mr.. Gummerson issued a statement
last night in regard to his reason for
refusing to answer the questions put
" La ny AC IIouSCs lie lHlOIIId
ton asked by the house was given to
me in confidence. and to have answer.
ed the question would thus have beer
a violation of professional confidence
which I could not commit" he said.
House Bill S, the prohibition meas.
ure al amended by the senate, which
given final passage by the house late
yesterday afternoon the amendments
put on by the upper body prohibit the
shipping of malt into the state excep,
in bottles and caused some opposition
in the house, the final vote being 9;
to II in favor of its passage.
House Bill 152 R~e-referred
On motion of NJ. o. Grangaard thu
vote which House Bill 1872, the meas.
ure imposing a prison sentence on any
banker paying a higher rate of inter.
est on deposits than that allowed BY
law was passed was reconsidered ant
the bill was re-referred to the com
mittee.
The committee on delayed bills pre-
sented three new measures yesterday
House Bill 2O2 would abolish the Of
fee in the hands OF the county treas
urer. House Bill 206 provides TO,
the printing Of the popular edition o
the session laws in the same form a.
the authorised edition, while Hous,
Bill 2o6 permits county commissioner
to issue refunding bonds for seet
wheat, etc. The house adjourned unit
next Monday afternoon, Saturday be
ing a legal holiday.