Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1921-02-03
CAUSTIC LETTER
BY LEMKE ORDERED
IN HOUSE JOURNAL

Bismarck, N. d., Jan. 27.--(Spec-
ial) A caustic letter by William Lem
ke Attorney-Gencral, will appear III
the house of representatives jOurn
al today.
1t was ordered in the journal af
ter short word battle on tho floor
of the house, yesterday afternoon.
the vote being sc for to 46 against,
with several not voting.
Mr.. Lemke's communication was
read at the request Of Representative
Walter Maddox. Mr.. Lemke, in
the communication, asked the house
for action looking to the appropria
ton Of $4,000 for his office to be
available until July l, when the
new biennial appropriation becomes
effective.
The attorney-General said that it
was necessary to have aid in repre-
senting the state in the bond and
stock case in the United States dis
trict court, the Minnesota-Nor Da-
kOta flood case in the United States
supreme court. the railroad rate
case, the grain grading case in the
United States circuit court OF ap-
peals.
The communication said that
when LANCER turned over tho office
there appeared a balance Of $780,
60 to run the office until July1 Since
that time bills amounting to $4.-
O25.52 have been presented, that
the printing Of Langer's report will
bring down the total left and that
some bills probably are unpaid MAX
ing the amount available for the Of
flee for six months only about So
71S.1S.
The language used aroused the ire
of some Independent representa-
tives, who objected to such language
going in the journal.
Mr.. Lemke, at one place said
Gentlemen, either purposely and
with the intension to cause the state
OF North Dakota to suffer the losses
which will result from defeat in the
litigation I have mentioned or thru
Ignorance, you have failed to pro-
vide the funds with which defense
may be made in such suits" and
again he said "If you persist in your
intention to deny that you knowingly
and deliberately served, the causes
of the great railroad interests and
CT those who would practice unfair
methods in grain handling and OF tho
financial enemies of your state. by
hobbling and hampering your At
torney-General. * x
Take whaJ action you will. |
nave done my part" he said in his
letter rs parting thrust at the
house.
Representative Olson objected TO
what he called political propaganda
in the letter. Representative Mad
dock, CT Benson, SPOKE hardly to-
ward the railroads and talked a lit
tie bit about a rotund gentlman he
said was lobbying for the railroads
at this session. He got a little an
plause from the gallery and Sneak
er IWltchell threatened to clear the
place.
In voting "no" Speaker Twitchell
declared that he did not object to
an appropriation for Mr.. Lemke's
otflce, but did object to the tenor of
ms remarks. He read the words
ignorance, Indifference or political
vindictiveness" and said that the
house could ill afford to permit it's
motives to be so questioned.
III his communication Mr.. Lemke
claimed that he did not have any
money with which to pay for filing
brief, for travelling expenses or
Tor summoning witnesses. He said
the railroad rate expert estimated
the amount necessary for expert Wit
nesses at $4,000.
A communication from tho secre-
Iary OF the Equity Cooperative Ex
change of st. Paul endorsing Lem
ke's request for money was read.