The Fort Peck press., 1937-02-11
BY HARRY O'BRIEN

l ~ loi 0o tiiC WI lttCli iCSOl
| concerned the performance of tn,
current legislature during the frs
two weeks of the Sc ssion is not re
markable in amount of work ac
complished In the house, Speaker
Math Dahl called attention to the
fact that with one quarter of the
allotted time already passed, the
house had passed but one bill, an
appropriation measure providing
half million dollars for direct re-
lief purposes for the first two
months of the year This bill, deem
ed an emergency measure, was like
wise passed by the st nate, signed by
! the governor, and is now law.
| Money will be taken from the sales
| tax fund
During the same period the SEN
| ate passed several MINOR bills, none
| of which occasioned public debate
and all of which make very dull
reading If a citizen Graves excite
ment I do not advise him to spend
his time reading the average bill as
introduced in the legislature. If he
insists on seeking excitement
would suggest he try tWeaking the
nose of big policeman or pulling.
the tail of tiger with sour dispo
sition.
As an example of routine bills |
call your respectful attention to
Senate Bill No. l, passed by that
legislative branch: "A Bill for an
Act Providing for the Organization
of Farmers State Mutual Fire and
Lightning Reinsurance Companies"
Section | reads as follows: Amy
number, not less than five, of coun-
ty mutual fire and lightning insur-
ance companies in the State of
North Dakota, organized under and
by virtue of Sections 1892 to 1850,
both inclusive, of the Compiled
Laws of North Dakota for the year
1913, and laws amendatory thereof,
may form corporation for the pur-
pose of reinsuring the fire and light
ming risk or risks of members, on
the mutual plan.
There are three other sections to
the bill but this is sufficient to dem
onstrate the unspectacular quality
of much proposed legislation. And
yet it is likely that this bill lis of
considerable significance to people
who protect their property by in
surance in mutual companies. Much
of this sort of legislation is drawn
by people interested in one way or
another with wide variety Of en-
terprises: insurance companies, hg-
mite mines, railroads, bus lines, pro
posed oil wells, and dozens Of other
kinds of human endcavor. 1t is the
legislatures job to determine wheth-
er or not need for such legislation
exists. Almost always this type OF
legislation is introduced by one or
more senator's or representatives by
request of someone. Because leg
islators name appears on bill by
no means indicates he wrote the
bill Sometimes there is reason to
doubt he even read it.
Other bills passed by the senate
is it reached the quarter way mark
consisted solely of appropriation
$500 to indemnify own
ers of animals afflicted with a dis
ease known as CHAMBERS. Fortunate
" this disease is not common, other
wise $500 would not go far in pay
ing for horses condemned and slain
because they had glanders. The
appropriated $780, ,406 to pay
for upkeep of the capitol building
for two years; S35,8l0 for expenses
of the state livestock sanitary board;
$4,000 to indemnify owners of ami
rals infected with bovine tubercG-
losis (the word "bovine" is properly
applied only to cattle, and never to
hogs, horses or henS). If the house
and the governor consents, S16,500 |
will go to pay expenses of the State
Historical Society; $3.50 to hire an
Inspector of Ignite mines and pay |
his expenses for two years; Sl0,000 |
for the Florence Crittenton Home; |
an unspecifed appropriation provid-
ing that the state pay $1,000 q
month for poor and INDECENT moth
err and $1,000 month for infants |
that are inmates Of the House of ,
Mercy, maternity home in Fargo.
For each child in ST Johns Orphan
age, also of Fargo, it is proposed the
state pay $1,000 a month, payments
not to exceed $4,000 per year.
Practically identical appropria-
tons were made two years ago, and
most of them have been making ap
oearances at regular two-year inter
walls for many years. To most peo-
pie the figures as above set forth
may seem like important money but
as compared with other appropria-
ion bills now under consideration
oy committees they are mere chick
IN feed Chicken feed, as is we'll
known by one and all, is considered
=. o1;~.l,+ proho hlxy |