The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1921-01-13
LEGISLATURE IN
18TH SESSION
State Lawmakers Spend Few
Days Striking Their Work.
ing Stride.

. Briefly reviewing the work Of the
legislature during the last two ses-
siOns, Governor Frazier, In his mes
cage before the two houses, said
"There is but little new legislation
necessary at this time. Not laws, but
cooperation is what-is needed"
His advice to the legislators sum.
med up. was, "Economize and con-
serve; speedily provide for the neces.
sary appropriations, then adjourn"
He added that it would be well for
all to Gay aside personal interest and
do what they believe best for the
whole state
The health of the people must be
conserved, declared the governor, and
he took occasion to highly commend
out the state. He suggested that phys
icsl training should be compulsory in
the schools of North Dakota. In this
connection, he also deplored the fact
that teachers are too often poorly
paid and urged the provision Of better
salaries for teachers.
That $4,000 tons Of Ignite coal are
used yearly by state institutions was
the basis of conclusion offered by
Governor Frazier that the state should
own its own coal mine.
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
waterways project was endorsed.
Two memorials addressed to con.
gress were suggested: One asking the
right Of the state railroad commission
to definitely and finally pass upon in
trastate rates, even as applying to in
terstate carriers. The other petition
ing for provision for an "honest mar
ket for farm products" and the sup
preston of gambling in foodstuffs.
An increase in the bonus tax from
three-fourths to one mill was recon-
mended, with the idea Of more rapidly
paying the state bonus to the remain
ing 1880 claimants.
LET economy and dispatch be your
motto, and political prejudice be laiG
aside" was the governors conclusion
r
Little actual constructive work ha.
thus far been accomplished by tho
North Dakota legislature, which con
vened in seventeenth biennial session
at Bismarck last week. Both house.
are almost evenly split as to pOlitica
strength.
The house started with an Independ
ent majority of five in the election o.
L. L. Twichell speaker over Walter
Maddox, Nonpartisan. by vote o.
% to 533, the two candidates not voting
I. This Independent majority, however
has been cut to one on two or three
issues of minor Importance.
The senate goes Nonpartisan by ont
vote on most roll calls. One of thu
first deciding questions was on thu
reference of the Billings county cleo
ton contest between W0g, successful
NOnpartisan candidate. and List, de
feated Independent candidate, to (
committee instead of hearing the evi
committee of the whole The matte
was referred to IL committee by ma
jOrity of one vote and WOg holds hi
seat during the consideration of tn
contest.
The Inauguration Of Governor Lynn
J. Frazier for his third two-year tern
was simple ceremony and was no
marked by an inaugural ball. Hi
message to the legislature, delivere.
in the house chamber before boil
bodies, was brief and was marked b.
nothing Of preponderant Importance
except that he urged haste, c0-opera
ton. and economy.
OF the other state officials who as
sumed Office, five were new at thi
time, although some Of them hav,
held public office in the past. Johl
Steen, Independent, became stat,
treasurer; William Lemke, Nonparti
san, attorney general; D. c. Poindex
ter, Nonpartisan, state auditor; w. b
Stutsrnan, Independent, railroad com
missioner; and G. w. Mcdonnell, Non
partisan, railroad commissioner
OF the reelected officials who agail
took the oath of Office, Tom Hall, sec
rotary of state, is the dean Of all. HI,
was sworn into this Office for the fiftl
consecutive term. Howard Woot
again became lieutenant governor ant
president Of the senate, s. A. Olsness
insurance commissioner; John Hagan
commissioner of agriculture; Mimi,
J. Nelson, superintendent Of publ,
instruction; Frank Alilhollan, railroad
commissioner, and A. NJ. Christianson
Judge Of the supreme court (for si1
years..
STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS