USA > North Dakota > Early history of North Dakota: essential outlines of American history > Part 54
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EARLY HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
the state, photographs of farm buildings, churches, educational buildings erected by Scandinavian people, all tending to show the progress and advancement of Norway's sons in this state, and the opportunities which the state afforded for future emigrants. A fund was raised by the citizens of all nationalities and a statue of Abraham Lincoln was bought. The governor, the members of his staff, and a large committee of prominent Scandinavians accompanied the "com- mission" to Norway, and Governor Hanna personally, in behalf of the citizens of North Dakota, presented the statue of Abraham Lincoln to the King of Nor- way. The King of Norway in September, 1915, conferred upon Governor Hanna "the order of St. Olaf" of the first class. It is the highest civic decoration given by the Norwegian government.
During Governor Hanna's absence in Norway a primary election campaign for the nomination of governor and state officers was on. The governor was a candidate for re-nomination. No opposition was anticipated. His management of the fiscal affairs of the state justified the belief that he would be endorsed by all factions of his party. In the distribution of the patronage at his disposal he had recognized all factions, all his appointments were based on the ability and character of the appointee to render efficient, honest and economic service to the state, rather than as rewards for political service. There was not enough patronage to reward all the applicants, the disappointed ones and a few irrecon- cilable progressives initiated a campaign of opposition, notwithstanding which Hanna was re-nominated and re-elected in November, 1914. He was inaugurated for his second term in January, 1915.
FINANCES
Governor Hanna's message to the Fourteenth Legislative Assembly was de- voted mainly to the finances of the state. An examination of the financial condi- tion of the state disclosed the fact that in January, 1913, when he entered upon the office of governor, the state had an outstanding indebtedness of $500,479.99. There was cash in the state treasury to the credit of the general fund to the amount of $71,496.94. It was estimated that there would be received from un- collected taxes of the past biennial period enough to reduce this indebtedness to approximately $300,000.
The income of the state from all sources was inadequate to pay for the main- tenance of the state government and meet the appropriation for state institutions and miscellaneous subjects authorized by the Legislature. The state was de- riving revenue from oil inspection, to the amount of about one hundred thousand dollars a year, but the oil companies of the state instituted an action contesting the constitutionality of this law, as a revenue producer, and the state was enjoined from the collection of the fees for inspection pending the final determination of the action. If the Supreme Court should hold that the fees for oil inspection could legally be exacted to cover the cost of inspection only, and that the present law went beyond this, and was a law to raise revenue, the court would declare the law invalid, and about $100,000 due for inspection of oils would be uncollectable. There was therefore an imperative need of increased revenue to meet the cur- rent expenses. To meet this prospective deficiency the Legislature enacted an inheritance tax, and the state board of equalization in August, 1915, raised the
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assessment of real and personal property as returned by the county auditors to the state auditor, nearly forty million dollars.
The constitution of the state limits the levy for all state purposes to 4 mills, but authorizes an additional levy sufficient to pay the interest on the public debt. The levy for state purposes is made by the state board of equalization, but the Legislature had made levies for specific purposes to the amount of 1.47 mills, this deducted from 4 mills left but 2.53 mills that could be levied for the general fund to conduct the business of the state. This would yield an amount entirely inadequate to pay the current expenses of the state for any one fiscal year, and it was necessary, therefore, for the Legislature to cease making special levies.
BUDGET PRESENTED
Governor Hanna had learned in Congress that it was a wise plan to have an estimate or budget of the probable expenditures of the state of the coming biennial period, as well as an estimate of the revenue. Mr. Hanna prepared such a budget and submitted it to the Legislature. It was the first time in the history of the state that an effort had been made to put the state expenses together and have a bill that in one measure covered the major expenses of the state.
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
The bonded indebtedness of the state on January 1, 1913, was $937,300; all but $200,000 of this amount was for territorial bonds which the state assumed and agreed to pay when the Territory of Dakota was divided. In the intervening period between January 1, 1913, and January 1, 1915, bonds to the amount of $320,000 were paid from the fund and actually retired, and on July 1, 1915, an additional issue of $55,300 of bonds was paid and retired, leaving a bonded indebtedness at that date of $562,000 and reducing the actual interest account of the state by some $18,000.
BOARD OF REGENTS
The governor recommended that all of the state educational institutions be placed under the control and management of a single board to be known as the board of regents. He deemed this advisable not only from the standpoint of economy, but also as he cogently expressed it, it would "delocalize and make them state institutions." The necessary legislation creating a board of regents and repealing laws which provided separate boards or trustees of each institution was enacted. The governor was authorized and it was his duty to nominate before March 2, 1915, and by and with the consent of the Senate to appoint a board of five persons who were to meet at the seat of government on the first Tuesday in April, 1915, and organize. The governor nominated as members of the first board, Lewis F. Crawford, of Sentinel Butte, former Governor Frank White, of Valley City, Dr. J. D. Taylor, of Grand Forks, Emil Scow, of Bow- man, and James A. Power, of Leonard, and they were confirmed by the Senate, but they were prevented from organizing in April, as F. B. Hellstrom invoked the provisions of the referendum law and circulated petitions to have it sub- mitted to a vote of the people. He failed, however, to obtain the required
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number of signatures, and the board organized on the 8th day of July, 1915, by the election of Lewis F. Crawford, as president, Frank White, as vice president, and Charles Brewer, as secretary. The board is a very able one, all its members are college bred men, and are well equipped to manage the fiscal affairs of the institutions.
IMMIGRATION
Another measure that Mr. Hanna advocated and the Legislature approved was the creation of a State Board of Immigration. It is highly probable that the disastrous war in Europe will lead to an exodus of farmers from the coun- tries involved, after its close. The state needs the farmers and artisans and an effort should be made to secure a part of this emigration. An appropriation for this purpose of $25,000, available for maintenance of the board of immigration in 1915, and $35,000 available for maintenance in 1916, was enacted and it re- dounds to the credit of Mr. Hanna that he persuaded the Legislature to take up this work for the first time. The organization of this board has, however, been prevented by the circulation of petitions under the referendum law. One form of the petitions is directed against the law in its entirety, another against the appro- priation section. Neither petition secured the requisite number of signatures to suspend the law, but both combined did, and an action followed to compel the organization of the board on the ground that the petitions can not be combined, and therefore the law is in full force and effect.
DOURINE
By reason of the spread of a disease known as dourine among horses, many of the farmers and stockmen of the state suffered great losses. It was necessary in order to stamp out the disease to kill horses afflicted with it. The Federal Government agreed to pay one-half the appraised value of all horses killed by order of the Federal or state veterinaries, if the government of the state promised to recommend to the State Legislature to appropriate a sufficient sum to pay the other half. Governor Hanna agreed to this arrangement with the Federal Gov- ernment, and upon his recommendation the Legislature appropriated enough to pay half of the amount of the claims presented for horses killed. All claims have heen fully satisfied. The epidemic was checked and apparently stamped out.
LAWS
An inheritance tax was enacted during his administration, which, it was expected, would yield an amount annually equal to one-half of the loss of fees from oil inspection.
The law providing for uniform text books in public schools of the state will save a large sum annually to the patrons of the schools, as will the law reducing the legal rate of interest to 6 per cent and the contract rate to 10 per cent.
The law authorizing state banks to become members of the Federal Reserve system will also benefit- the people. The state banks can always obtain a supply of money to move the crops in the fall and at better rates than formerly.
In remembrance of the fact that the "poor are always with us" the Legis-
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lature enacted "a mother's pension law," whereby mothers with dependent chil- dren and without means to support them can receive a monthly pension from the county of their residence.
The establishment of a state sanitarium for the treatment and care of tuber- culosis was a feature of the Hanna administration. It is located at the foot of the Turtle Mountains and is open to all residents who are victims of that dread disease, without charge.
The law empowering the Board of Railroad Commissioners to regulate the rates for water, gas and electric light companies and placing telephone companies under their control will relieve portions of the state from further excessive charges and will equalize and make uniform the charges for service throughout the state.
TEMPERANCE
The prohibition law of 1889 during this administration was further strengthened by a provision defining "boot legging" and making it a crime pun- ishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary, legalizing inspection by state's attor- neys and others of the records and way bills of freight and express companies, relating to intoxicating liquors, prescribing penalties for receiving or receipting for intoxicating liquors in fictitious names and declaring places where parapher- nalia was used for purposes of gambling, public nuisances, which could be closed by injunction, the paraphernalia confiscated and destroyed upon the conviction of the keeper of the place.
The first attempt of any state to test the efficacy of the provisions of the Federal Webb-Kenyon Law to prevent the importation into the state of intoxi- cating liquors by common carriers was made in the Hanna regime. Henry J. Linde, attorney-general of the state, instituted actions in the state courts to enjoin the Northern Pacific, Great Northern and the Soo railroads from receiv- ing for transportation or delivery, intoxicating liquors consigned to any resident of the state. The state courts issued temporary restraining orders against each of these companies. The companies affected transferred the suits to the Federal Court, but stipulated that the temporary injunction should remain in full force pending the final determination of the actions. 'One case has been tried before Judge Amidon, the Federal district judge and submitted. When he renders a final judgment it is probable an appeal will be taken therefrom to the Supreme Court of the United States. If the law is upheld by that court, the shipment of intoxicating liquors in unusual quantities will stop. The source of supply being cut off, blind pigs or unlawful places for the sale of liquor can not operate and the sale of intoxicating liquors to be drunk as a beverage will cease.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
The question of extending suffrage to the women of the state was submitted to the people at the general election in November, 1914, and was defeated. Since statehood, women have had the privilege of voting for all school offices and were eligible to hold school offices. Two have been elected to the office of state super- intendent of public instruction, viz. : Mrs. Laura J. Eisenhuth and Miss Emma
LYMAN R. CASEY United States Senator, North Dakota, 1889 to 1893
GOVERNOR AND U. S. SENATOR GILBERT A. PIERCE
Eighth governor of Dakota Territory, 1884-1887
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EARLY HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Bates. Both discharged the duties ably and creditably. One-third of the coun- ties, including the most populous ones, have elected women as county superin- tendents of schools and almost every district has one or more women as school officers. It is worthy of note that in territorial days before the division of the Dakota, the Legislature of 1885 passed a bill conferring full suffrage upon women. But Gilbert A. Pierce, then governor of the territory, vetoed it. To Dr. Cora Smith King, now living at Washington, D. C., and who was then Miss Cora Smith, of Grand Forks, belongs the credit of persuading the Legis- lature to pass this law. The curtain has not yet been "rung down" on this sub- ject. The advocates of suffrage are still campaigning and expect to carry the state when it is again submitted to a vote of the people.
THE SOLDIERS' HOME AT LISBON
The home is maintained without cost to the state from the revenue derived from the land grant of 40,000 acres by the government. Out of the funds they spent $13,000 to take 165 of the veterans to the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the superintendent having charge of the trip, all veterans residing in the state being entitled to railroad fare and expenses of the trip.
The institution also takes care of the expenses of the Grand Army of the Republic, the state spending $1,500 a year for this purpose.
The bill creating the home was signed February 27th, 1891, 12 o'clock noon, in the presence of Hon. M. L. Engle, deceased; Hon. H. S. Oliver, deceased ; Hon. L. C. Hill, deceased; A. H. Laughlin, the legislative committee. The bill was signed by Governor Andrew H. Burke and was known as Senate Bill No. 60.
The home opened on August Ist, 1893, with Col. W. W. McIlvain, com- mandant who served ten years and resigned on April Ist, 1903. He was suc- ceeded by Col. John W. Carroll, a veteran of the regular army, seeing service in the Civil war.
The home was originally built to accommodate thirty men, but has been en- larged and extended to double its capacity. The grounds cover eighty-five acres and is one of the beauty spots of the state. It is located on the Sheyenne River, one mile from the center of Lisbon, in a grove of native trees. The spot is a delight to the eye.
The original land was homesteaded by Henry Cramer and was bought from his widow, Caroline Cramer. Eighty acres bought and five acres later added.
NORTH DAKOTA IN CONGRESS
Lyman R. Casey, a senator from North Dakota; born in York, Living- ston County, N. Y., May 6, 1837; when very young moved with his parents to Ypsilanti, Mich .; in the hardware business for many years; settled in Dakota in 1882, at Carrington, Foster County ; chairman of the North Dakota Committee on Irrigation ; commissioner of Foster County ; elected as a republican to the United States Senate and served from November 25, 1889, to March 3, 1893; located in New York City.
Gilbert A. Pierce, a senator from North Dakota ; born in East Otto, Cattaragus County, N. Y .; moved to Indiana in 1854; attended the University of Chicago
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EARLY HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Law School two years; enlisted in Company H, Ninth Indiana Volunteers, in 1861, and elected second lieutenant of the company ; appointed captain and assist- ant quartermaster by President Lincoln ; promoted to lieutenant colonel in Novem- ber, 1863 ; appointed a colonel and inspector, and special commissioner of the war department, and served until October, 1865; member of the Indiana Legislature in 1868; assistant financial clerk of the United States Senate, 1869-1871 ; resigned to accept an editorial position on the Chicago Inter-Ocean; served as associate editor and managing editor for twelve years; became connected with the Chicago News in 1883; appointed governor of Dakota in July, 1884; resigned in Novem- ber, 1886; elected as a republican to the United States Senate, and served from November 21, 1889, to March 3, 1891 ; died in Chicago, Ill., February 15, 1901.
Henry C. Hansbrough, a representative and a senator from North Dakota; born in Randolph County, Ill., January 30, 1848; attended the common schools ; learned the art of printing and engaged in newspaper publishing in California, Wisconsin, and Dakota Territory ; became a resident of the last named in 1881 ; twice elected mayor of Devils Lake; delegate to the Republican National Conven- tion in 1888; national committeeman for eight years ; elected as a republican, upon the admission of the State of North Dakota into the Union, to the Fifty-first Con- gress and served from December 2, 1889, until March 3, 1891; elected to the United States Senate, January 23, 1891 ; re-elected in 1897 and 1903, and served from March 4, 1891, until March 3, 1909; resident of Devils Lake, N. D.
Martin N. Johnson, a representative and a senator from North Dakota; born in Racine County, Wis., March 3, 1850; moved with parents to Iowa the same year; was graduated from the law department of the Iowa State University in 1873; taught two years in the California Military Academy in Oakland, Cal. ; was admitted to the bar in 1876; returned to Iowa, and was a member of the State House of Representatives in 1877; state senator, 1878-1882; Hayes elector for the Dubuque District in 1876; moved to Dakota Territory in 1882; district attorney of Nelson County in 1886 and 1888; member of the Constitutional Con- vention of North Dakota in 1889, and chairman of the First Republican State Con- vention same year; elected as a republican to the Fifty-second, and to the three succeeding congresses (March 4, 1891-March 3, 1899) ; elected to the United States Senate, and served from March 4, 1909, until his death in Fargo, N. D., October 21, 1909.
William N. Roach, a senator from North Dakota; born in Loudoun County, Va., September 25, 1840; attended the city schools and Georgetown College ; clerk in the quartermaster's department during the Civil war; moved to Dakota Terri- tory in 1879; interested in mail contracts for several years; took up land in Dakota and engaged in agriculture ; mayor of Larimore, 1883-1887; member of the Territorial Legislature, session of 1885; democratic candidate for governor at the first state election and defeated; renominated at the next election and again defeated; elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1899; moved to New York City, where he died September 7, 1902.
Porter J. McCumber, a senator from North Dakota ; born in Illinois, February 3, 1858 ; moved to Rochester, Minn., the same year ; attended the common schools ; taught school for a few years ; was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1880; moved to Wahpeton, N. D., in 1881, and practiced his profession; mem- ber of the Territorial Legislature in 1885 and 1887; attorney-general 1887-1888;
Copyright by Haills & Ewill, Sen. Asle J. Grona
Copyright by Harris & Ewing Patrick D. Norton. M. C. Third District
Copyright by Harris & Ewing Sen. Porter J. MeCumber
Copyright by Clinedinst John M. Baer, M. C. First District
Copyright by Harris & Ewing George M. Young, M. C. Second District SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF NORTH DAKOTA
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elected as a republican to the United States Senate January 20, 1899, for the term commencing March 4, 1899; re-elected in 1905, and served from March 4, 1899, to March 3, 1911. Re-elected for the term commencing March 4, 191I.
Burleigh F. Spalding, a representative from North Dakota; born in Crafts- bury, Orleans County, Vt., December 3, 1853; attended the Lyndon Literary Institute, Lyndon, Vt., and was graduated from Norwich University in 1877; studied law in Montpelier, Vt., and was admitted to the bar in March, 1880, and commenced practice in Fargo, N. D .; superintendent of public instruction of Cass County, Dakota Territory, from 1882 to 1884; member of commission to relocate capital of the Territory of Dakota and build capitol; member of the North Dakota Constitutional Convention in 1889; member of the joint commis- sion provided by the Enabling Act to divide the property and archives of the Territory of Dakota between the states of North and South Dakota ; twice elected chairman of the Republican State Central Committee; chairman of the Cass County Republican Committee; elected as a republican to the Fifty-sixth Con- gress (March 4, 1899-March 3, 1901) ; re-elected to the Fifty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1903-March 3, 1905) ; associate justice of the Supreme Court of North Dakota in 1907; re-elected in 1908; chief justice of the State Supreme Court in I9II.
Thomas Frank Marshall, a representative from North Dakota; born in Hannibal, Mo., March 7, 1854; attended the State Normal School, Platteville, Grant County, Wis .; became a surveyor ; moved to Dakota in 1873 and engaged in banking; mayor of Oakes, N. D., for two terms; state senator four years; delegate in the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in 1892; elected as a republican to the Fifty-seventh, Fifty-eighth, Fifty-ninth, and Sixtieth congresses (March 4, 1901-March 3, 1909).
Asle J. Gronna, a representative and a senator from North Dakota; born in Elkader, Clayton County, Iowa, December 10, 1858; moved with his parents to Houston County, Minn., where he attended the public schools and the Caledonia Academy ; taught school for two years in Wilmington, Minn .; moved to Dakota Territory in 1879, and engaged in farming and teaching ; in 1880 moved to Bux- ton, Traill County, and engaged in business; moved to Lakota, Nelson County, in 1887; member of the Territorial Legislature of 1889; served as president of the village board of trustees and president of the board of education several terms; in 1902 became chairman of the County Central Committee of Nelson County, and was re-elected to the position in 1904; appointed a member of the Board of Regents of the University of North Dakota by Governor Frank White in 1902; elected as a republican to the Fifty-ninth, Sixtieth, and Sixty-first congresses and served from March 4, 1905, until February 2, 1911, when he resigned; elected to the United States Senate, to fill vacancy caused by death of Martin N. Johnson, succeeding the appointments of Senators Thompson and Purcell. for the term ending March 3. 1915. and took his seat February 2, 1911. Re-elected.
Fountain L. Thompson, a senator from North Dakota; born near Scottsville, Ill., November 18, 1854; moved to Girard, Ill., in 1865, where he resided until 1888; attended grammar and high schools in Girard, Ill .; studied law, was admit- ted to the bar, but did not practice; member of the Board of Supervisors of Macoupin County ; entered mercantile business in 1872; moved to a farm near
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Cando, Towner County, N. D., in 1888; delegate in the first democratic county convention that assembled after statehood, and was chosen chairman; county judge for eight years; in 1891 he engaged in the real estate and loan business in Cando, and later established the Thompson Realty Company, of which com- pany he was president ; vice president of the First National Bank of Cando, and president of the First National Bank of Rocklake; interested in farming; school director six years, alderman of Cando four years, and mayor two years ; appointed as a democrat United States senator to fill vacancy caused by the death of Martin N. Johnson and served from November 10, 1909, to January 31, 1910, when he resigned, and William E. Purcell was appointed in his place to fill the unexpired term, serving until the election of Asle J. Gronna, February 1, 1911.
William E. Purcell, a senator from North Dakota ; born in Flemington, N. J., August 3, 1856; attended common schools; studied law, was admitted to the bar of New Jersey in 1880; went to Dakota Territory in July, 1881; located in Wahpeton, was appointed by President Cleveland United States attorney for the Territory of Dakota, April 5, 1888; resigned in May, 1889, having been elected a member of the constitutional convention for the new State of North Dakota ; was a member of the joint committee appointed by the Constitutional Convention of North Dakota to divide the property and adjust the indebtedness between the states of North and South Dakota; district attorney of Richland County, N. D., from October, 1889, to January. I, 1891 ; elected state senator in November, 1906; appointed United States senator January 29, 1910, to fill the vacancy in term commencing March 4, 1909, caused by the death of Martin N. Johnson and the resignation of Fountain L. Thompson, and served from February 1, 1910 to February I 1911; resumed the practice of law in Wahpeton, N. D.
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