The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, December 2, 1915, Page 8

PAGE EIGHT AN LEADER asked its readers to tell us what laws they wanted. Each reader was requested to set down ten laws which he would like to see en- acted in this State. We herewith publish the first batch received . These letters make in- teresting reading and we want more of them. We again, request you to be brief. More detailed discussion of the various laws suggested will be taken up, later._ Nonpartisan Leader:— " I like the spirit of the Nonpartis- an Leader and feel it my duty to comply with its request, made to its readers, to “Put on thinking caps,” and will to the best of my ability set down ten laws that would, bene- fit the farmers of the State. 1.—We need a law containing an appropriation for building, in con- junction with the federal govern- ment, of improved public roads. 2-—We need a law that will give such encouragement and assistance to the consolidation of rural schools as to bring about speedily a better- ment of our educational system. 3.—We need a unijversal hail in, surance law covering automatically damage done to the crops of the state by hail. 4.—We need a law unifying state commission under the direction and supervision of an expert public ser- vice commission, whose duty it shall be to insprct every State and County contract, and to see that it is hon- . estly made and fulfilled. * 5—We need a law which shall be capable of operation, providing for the erection of termiral elevators within the state. 6.—We need laws relating to Co- operative enterprises, defining the same, prescribing fundamental prin- ciples uppn which they are organiz- ed and giving encouragement in var- ious ways to cooperative enterprises. 7.—~We need a law providing for the establishment of rural credit as- sociation. ~ 8.—We need laws pertaining to the development of power plants in con- nection with our coal and potential water power. It should be made an impossibility to form private mon- opoly, within the state for any pub- lic utility. 9—We need a law extending the agricultural and occupational studies in our high schools. 10.—We need improvised taxation laws that will take the excessive burden of the agricultured land, and distribute the assessment equally ap- THE NONPARTISAN LEADER on all préperty and wealth. , ' SYVERT WILLIAMSON, . .. Grafton; North- Dakota. - The Nonpartisan Leader:— " - = - In response to your request in the last ‘issue of the Leader of ten laws we would like to have enacted, 1 have thought of the following: 1.—A law making a terminal ‘eleq vator, a possibility and a reality in- stead, of a theory., Also just grading of grain. i 2.—A State Hail Tax Law. 3.—The Ballot for Women. 4.—A rural credit law covering the farmer’s needs extensively., 5.—-Inspection of public and relig- ious institutions by law officers. 6.—A ' iaw compelling railroad companies and other corporationg to pay their just part of the taxes. '7—~A law prohibiting any intoxi- cating liquors to be shipped into ths ~ State, whether for personal use or- otherwise, except for medicinal pur- roses. . . 8—A law prohibiting land agents and real estate brokers to charge un- reasonable and, exhorbitant commis-" sion rates for their service as agent. 9.—A constitutional amendment making it possible for the State to engage in any legitimate business. I have not numbered these as to my idea of their importance, but sim- ply take them down as they came to my mind. Yours truly, HANS AARESTAD, Juanita, North Dakota, The Nonpartisan Leader:i— - I send you herewith a list of ten laws which I think would benefit the people in general, of North Dakota. They are: 1.—An amendment to the consti- tution of North Dakota which wilk give the State of North Dakota the right to operate its own railroads, telegraph lines, buy grain, live stock, etc. and to engage in any busi- ness that individuals or corpora- tions engage in. 3.—To make a law exempting from taxation all improvements made on a farm. A farmer should receive a preminm for improvements made, say one to three mills for every dollar, assessed the value of the improve- ments. The sum should be deducted from the tax on the land. 4.—A law which will levy a tax on a person’s property only on that rart of the property if which he is the sole owner, whether the proper- ty be porsonal or real estate. _ estate, 5.—Make a law that will-tax rail- road property .dollar. for _dolla}‘_ in as- sessed, valuation, the same as real 6.—Make the highest rate of legai interest in the State of North Dako- ta, 6 per cent. 7.—Make a law which will prevent lobbying in the legislature. 8—To give women the same voting privilege as men, also giving to wom- en equal rights in all public affairs, the same as men. 9.—To make laws whereby a farmer may borrow money from the County or State on his land at a low rate of interest, say 3 per cent.. B 10.—A law which will levy a tax on corporations:-doing business in this State, though not residents. .1 take great interest in. studying - the problems which come before the people of the State. ; Very truly yours, GILBERT ENGEN, Jr. (Age 19 years) Finley, North Dak. The Nonpartisan, Leader:— - In regards to laws I must say, 1 certainly ‘would like some changes. 1.—I would like the tax law chang- ed. Put more tax on real estate and. take it from the personal property. 2.—Would like to see the railroads _handled by the government. 3.—A law in which every farm should be fenced with stock-fence. 4.—A law for state, hail, fire, cy- clone and wind insurance to the farm ers. 5.—A law that requires every town- ship to have road work done by con- tract; contracts to be let to farmers only. Yours, WM. SIMON, Westhope, North Dakota. The Nonpartisan Leader:— In answer to your suggestion in the Leader of Nov. 18th, regarding some laws, I should like to see enacae ed in this State, I shall give you my idea as briefly as possible, believing them to be for the best intrest for, the farmers. I-shall begin what I believe to be the most needful, how- ever it is not likely that all farmers will agree with me. 1.—A system of terminal grain ele- vators located centrally, and con- trolled by the state.. 2.—Rural credits, where money from the .Federal Government may be obtained at rates onlyl high enough to cover expense of placing in the farmers hands, secured by real es- tate of producing farmers or by ter- minal elevator receipts. e SRR —————— “THE HOUSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.” . There are the hermit souls that live withdrawn In the peace of their self-content; There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart, In a fellowless firmament; There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths Where the highways never ran; But let me live by the side of the road And be a friend to man. Let me live in a house by the side of the road ‘Where the race of men go by— The men who are good and the men who are bad, "As good and as bad as L I would not sit in the scorner’s seat, Or hurl the cynic’s ban. _Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man. I see from my house: by the side of the road, By the side of the highway of life, The men who press with the ardor of hope, The men who are faint with the strife. But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears— Both parts of an infinite plan— Let me live in my house by the side of the road And be a friend to man. I know there are brook-gladdended meadows ahead And mountains of wearisome height; That the road passes on through the long afternoon And stretches away to the night. But still I rejoice when the travel- erd rejoice, : And weep with the strangers that moan, Nor live in my house by the side of the road Like a man who dwells alone. Let me live in a house by the side of the road Where the. race of men go by— They are good, they are bad, they are strong, ; Wise, foolish—so am I. Then why should I sit on the scorn- er’s seat, Or hurl the cynic’s ban?— Let me live in my house by the side of the road Angd, be a friend to man. —Sam Walter Foss. BEANS GETTING SCARCE. There is a shortage in beans—that is, in, soup and marrowfat beans, the kind we put into bean soup and bak- ed beans. Soup beans, which are also called pea beans are selling today for $3.85 a bushel. Last fall they were seling for less than $3, and just before the war they were selling for $2.23. Marrowfat beans, which could be bought for $2.50 before the hostili- ties in Europe, are now fetching $4.v 90 to $5 a bushel. There is not much " difference in the price of lima beans, although they are advanced slightly. This is because of an increased de- mand for the variety. The cause of the boost in bean pric es was explained yesterday by J. J. Hallowell, of T. A, James & Co., brok- ers. He said: “ Most of the pea and marrowfat beans in this country are ra‘sed, in the northern part of the United States: in New York, Michigan, Wis- consin and Minnesota. During the last summer there was an excessive fall of rain in this belt, which injur- 3.—A single tax on farm land, in- ¢luding.a graduated bounty of forest tree culture. Also the abolishing of personal property tax. 4—A mother’s pension law, pro- viding for the care of children under sixteen’ years of age. 5—A law. to abolish township school-boards, placing the work us- ually done and (mostly neglected), by these boards, in the School Super- intendent’s office . 6.—A law to provide for Central-" ized Township Schools, where there is an average of four children of school age, to the square mile. These schools to have at least ten acres of .~ tillable land for demonstrative work, in forestry and agriculture; also that - these schools be compelled to teach practical manual training and domestic science in the seventh and ~ eighth grades and first and second years of high school. -7.—A law to divide each county in- to three districts for school purposes. The election of two school supervis- ors. These supervisors . to hold at least a diploma from a Normal School. Their duty to be a. general supervision of the schools in their district, by visitation, and general help to the teachers and pupils. They to report and be responsible to the County Surerintendent who is also a supervisor of the district. 8.—I would provide for equal suf- frage, giving women the use of the ballot as quickly as possible. T9.—I would favor a uniform law for the establishing of hard surfaced roads through all farming districts under the management of a State Engineer who would be responsible to the people,—not an appointed of- ficer. He to have certain qualifica- tions and the salary to be enough so that he could devote his entire time to the highway work...I would also provide for the use of convict labor on roads in connection with free la- bor, becouse there is room for both. The above are the ten laws out- lined briefly which I honestly be- lieve would be practical and would be helpful; most of them I think are necessary for the proper growth and development of the commonwealth. I enjoy reading the Leader. It is improving and I feel sure it will have a steady growth.. You maj count on me first, last and always in my small way if I can be of any help to you or the cause you advo- cate. Vrey truly yours, MONROE WILDER, Esmond, North Dakota, ed the quality of the beans. A few weeks ago, when the crop was har- . vested and the picking was started, it was discovered ‘that there was am exceptional amount of waste; beans were moldy or off in size and color. Bi@ CROP—LITTLT PRICE. Last year there was a magnificent wheat crop. Kansas raised 176,000, 000 bushels of it. The Kansas de- partment or agriculture made a sur- vey of price to determine what farm- ers got for the wheat and announced 90 cents as the Average price. This means that most of the wheat went to market at the early price of 60 to 70 cents, while later, those who held, sold as high as $1.55. Every condition that made the high price for 1914 crops is present RIGHT NOW. Therefore, why let the farm- ers sacrifice their wheat at the pres- ent low price for new wheat, or the lower price that is threatened? If each of us will do a little the declin- ing price will be stopped and it will g0 up where it should be. Twenty- fiive cents a bushel on 800,000,000 bushels is $200,000,000, buy 200,00 automobiles at -$1,000 each. S e Al enough to - The Kinds of Laws the Farmers Want Two weeks ago the NONPARTIS- i P 1 - >t