The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, February 15, 1917, Page 12

Two-Cent Rate Bill Found to be Joker i r i drickson’s bill came to a vote in (By Staff Correspondent) tives must be constantly on guard House Bill 72, introduced by Staale Hen _ : ISMARCK, Feb. 9.—That vigilance against joker bills, was proven last Hendrickson of Burke cqunty. an anti- the house February 7 on ;econsu:{frau B is the price of good legislation, week in both branches of the legisla- League member, proxirldmg I:O;) lt{wto- tlfor;.s after 1;:5h::£yspa::;d30 yl'] oa'.: g::ti?g 2 i - . test came on cent passenger fares in Nort akota. O ayes, 3 and that the people’s representa ture. In the house the te: D g el il st A o 2 committee for several days and was section 4796 of the compiled laws of 1913 so that instead of deriving two and one-half cents per mile, all roads earning $1200 a mile on passenger trafficc, would be limited to a charge of only two cents per mile. This bill on its face appeared to be all right, and, although some members were not con- vinced of its merits, it was passed by a mgjority of one, with 30 absent and nog voting. -HENDRICKSON BOASTS ABOUT IT TOO SOON The instant the rolicall was. finished, Mr. Hendrickson was seen to spring from his seat and hurriedly go out into the cerridor. He hastened across the cor- rider to the senate, and appear- ed to be trying to reach Senator Mc- Gray, anti-League and guardian® of railroad interests in the upper house, Hendrickson, after nervously waiting a few minutes went back to the house. But in a few minutes he returned, and rushing up to Senator McGray, who was then at leisure, Mr. Hendrickson grasped his hand, shook it vigorously and said under his breath: “I put it over on the house.” “Did you put the clincher on it?” A%, = L ot anxiously inquired the railroad senator. 1917 OVERLAND 1917 answered Hendrickson, “you fellows will have to put that on when it gets Model 90 Touring over here.” Both legislators laughed with satis- faction, and Mr. Hendrickson returned to the house. LAID ON THE TABLE ON THE ROLLCALL When this episode became known to members of the house, who had not been very firmly convinced of the merits of the bill, it was decided to ask for a reconsideration of the vote and this was had on the next legislative day. C. P. Peterson of Towner moved that the vote be reconsidered. This Jprevailed by a voice vote, and he imme- diately moved that House Bill 72 be laid on the table. Mr. Hendrickson asked for a rollcall, and the motion to lay on the table was carried by 64 ayes, against 26 nays, 23 absent and not vat- ing. In explaining his vote, Mr. Peterson alluded to the statement of Mr. Hend- rickson that he “had put it'over on the house,” and the latter did not deny it, or demand an explanation. His silence was taken to be an admission that he had tried to “put it over the house” and had indiscreetly divulged the secret in a moment of enthusiasm. The Leader representative obtained full details of the episode from the person who heard the conversation between Mr. Hend- rickson and Senator McGray. Some of the jokers in the bill appear- ed to be as follows: By lowering the passenger rates, the hands of the rail- roads would be strengthened to fight against lowering of the freight rates, which is the real crying need of the state; also that lowering the passenger rates would be at once used by the railroads, as it has been in other places, as a positive argument for the imme- diate raising of freight rates; and also if there should be an attempt to en=- force the two-cent rate, it would be found that there is no railroad earn- ing that much money, the whole ques- tion of passenger rates would be re- opened, the section perhaps be found unconstitutional, and the passenger rates again raised to more than the present rate. These points were brought out in the debate that attended the reconsideration of the bill. DIVET GETS LAUGH FOR FOOLISH CHARGE 3112 H.P. Price $66 Fue?mfi iggest 1917 Car Value in America See Your Nearest Overland Dealer North Dakota Distributers Minot Auto Company ; ~ Minot, N. D. Grand Forks Overland Company Grand Forks, N. D. Lahr Motor Sales Company Bismarck, N. D. Lidgerwood Auto & Machine Co. | Lidgerwood, N. D. QOverland-Doyle Compan Fargo,y N. D. g Mr. Mackoff, an anti-League mem- ber and attorney gave notice that he would move to reconsider the vote by which House Bill 72 was tabled, and upon this fight on February 8, A. G. Divet made it the occasion of a vicious attack upon the Nonpartisan ILeague, charging the League was working in the interest of the railroads and directly under the domination of the Northern Pacific. He declared, amid much laughter of League members, who are rooming at the Northwest hotel and paying regular rates, that the Northern Pacific railway procured the North- west hotel free for the League in con- sideration of favorable railroad legis- la.tlon. This charge was akin to charges by~ Representative Tenneson when House Bill 44 was being discussed, that the Nonpartisan League is really an organization working in the interestl of the railroads. Mention Leader .when writing advértisers TWELVE reported out for passage. It amended . but the senator.was engaged, and Mr. - R A g V