The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-06
HOUSE FAY0RS
4-YEAR TERMS
FOR COUNTIES
Opposed, However, to Amend-
ing Constitution PrOvid-
ing 4-Year State Terms
OTHER HOUSE ACTION
Freight Rate Bill Is Advanced
Toward Passage in
The House
OTHER HOUSE ACTION

Steps were taken toward submis-
sion of two constitutional amend
ments, in the North Dakota leglsla-
ture, yesterday afternoon, and one
proposal for submission of an amend
ment to the voters was defeated.
The House approved, in committee
of the whole. a resolution for an
amendment providing four-year
terms for county officials instead Of
two year terms, and defeated a re-
solution for four-year terms for
state officials. The Senate, without
objection, passed the Ettcstad reso-
luton providing for submission of a
constitutional amendment providing
six-year terms for members of the
board of railroad commissioners.
Opposition to making state Off
Gals terms four years instead of
two arose largely from the fact that
national and state representatives
still would be elected every two
years, 'and an election would be ne
cessary.
The Senate defeated another con-
stitutional amendment resolution Of
fered by Senator Babcock, removing
four-year limit on the office of state
treasurer, while the House, before
it killed the state officials amend
ment, had removed this restriction
in the resolution.
In approving House Bill No. 1874,
the four-year term for county Off
Gals measure, the legislature re-
moved limitation of one term for
sheriff and treasurer carried in the
resolution. The resolution regarding
state officers also was amended be-
.fore finally being killed on motion
of Representative Hardy of Slope
county, with Rep. Vogel, Nonpart-
san floor leader, supporting it,
Under the resolution approved,
people would vote at the next cleo
tion on providing county officials
shall have four-year terms.
Railroad Bill
The House, in committee of the
whole, approved House Bill No. 81,
making possible change in railroad
freight rate making in the state, and
House Bill No. 43, appropriating $685.
800 to operate the Bottineau Forestry
Normal school, now closed, for two
years. Consideration of Senate Bills
Nos. 81 and 62, the cigarette bills,
went over legislative day, on mo-
tion, because Senate amendments
had not been printed in the Senate
Journal.
House Bill No. "a provides that
the railroad commission may order
railroads to charge various freight
rates between the same distances,
within the state. 1t was amended to
provide that representatives of rail-
roads or any community affected
might have hearing. Rep. Twichell,
Cass county, opposing the measure,
declared that for example the rail-
road commission could order in a
rate of one cent a pound on some
commodity from Fargo to Dickinson.
He declared that if the rate was low
cred in one place, under the system
of making, it would have to be
raised another place. He also de-
clared that the railroad commission
could put out of business any big
industry or community under the
terms Of the bill.
Rep. Vogel, speaking for the bill,
declared he was willing to trust the
railroad commission and public opin-
ion. The measure was approved and
went on the calendar.
Insurance Bill
Among the bills passed in the
House was House Bill No. 81, recon-
mended by the insurance department.,
which would prevent an insurance
company from cDncelling agency con-
tracts because the agent did busi-
ness with company belonging to a
rival organization of insurance COM
panies.
Senate Bill No. 81. providing ap-
pointment of a commission to confer
with commissioners of other states
on Red River flood control, and SEN
ate Bill No. 70, providing n commits
sion to confer with commissioners
of Minnesota and South Dakota, on
the question of interstate bridges,
were passed with no opposition.
Among the measures killsd in the
House was Rep. Burkhart's bill to
$4,000 to aid in drilling
of oil wells, to find out if North
Dakota has oil. Another, which would
the Hebron Ignite experiment
tai station to Grand Forks, also was
defeated.