The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-24
Agitation Without End
(Grand Forks Herald)

The Jamestown capital removal committee requests
that the governor do not call q special election to decide
the question of removal of the capital, but that he permit
this question to be voted on at the statewide primary
election next spring. The reason stated for this request
is that a special election will be costly, and the expense
can be saved by deferring the vote until a regular cleo
ton. The committee also asks that the commission TO
be appointed take no steps looking toward the expendl-
ture of money on the construction of a capitol at Bis
marck until such election has been held, as If the people
vote to change the location OF the seat OF government
any expenditure on the present site would be wasted.
Some interesting questions arise In connectlon WIN
this capNal removal petition. The proposed amendment
presented in the petition establishes the state capltal az
Jamestown. That is all. Assuming what seems next 70
an impossibiity, that the people should vote In favor OF
that amendment, somebody would have to select q site
for a new building. In directing the creation OF q con-
struction commission the legislature did not have IN
mind the construction of a building anywhere except at
Bismarck. The commission is expected to erect q building
on the ground now owned by the state. It is not autnof-
a site. and the title to that site would have to be acquired
on some terms by the state. Who is to judge as TO the
suitability of the site and the propriety OF the terms on
which it is acquired. Certainly the COMMISSION mas peen
given no such authority. ,
Again, if the proposed amendment should be approves
whether at a special or a regular election, ana the com
mission. having obtained q site by some hocuS-pocuS,
proceeds with preliminary plans for a building az James
town, how is anyone to know that such election Is
permanent? There would be nothing to hinder the 1inne
Of another petition for the removal Of the capital 70
Dickinson or Grand Forks or Minot, Fargo or OeVls
Lake, or to each Of them in turn. Enough signatures 10
any one OF such petitions could be obtained. According
to the jamestown idea it would be the duty OF the COM
mission to suspend operations every time a petition were
filed because Of the possibility that the people might
decide on another move.
The filing Of a sufficiently signed petition for the sub
mission Of a proposed constitutional amendment creates
no presumption that the amendment will be adopted ana
creates no obligation on the part Of the people or any
Of their constituted bodies to govern themselves on the
basis Of any such presumption. II it did, the whole
machinery Of government could be brought to . stand
stnl by anyone sufficiently interested to carry on . per-
sistent filbuster.
The commission to be created will have before it the
duty Of providing the state with . suitable capitol build
ing ct the present seat Of government without needless
delay. The legislature which directed the creation OF
the commission expressed itself on the subject with un-
Imistakeable clearnesS. and it will be the business OF the
commission to carry out the intent Of the legislature to
the best Of its ability. # individuals choose to hamper
the commission by placing legal obstacles before II, they
must shoulder full responsibility for their course.