Page:EB1922 - Volume 31.djvu/1204

1150 tion, its legislature and its people, we are not prepared to say that it is within the authority of this court, in enforcing the Fourteenth Amendment, to set aside such action by judicial decision."

The Industrial Commission is responsible also for the Home Building Association. The funds for the project came from the sale of state bonds and the deposits made by those desiring to invest in homes. Any individual or organization may deposit with the state 20 % of the cost of constructing a home and the state under- takes to build it and turn it over to the investor in full owner- ship, securing the balance by a mortgage calling for annual pay- ments through a period not exceeding 20 years. The cost of a town home may not exceed $5,000 and the limit of S 10,000 is placed on the cost of a farm home, including the usual accompanying buildings. The Hail Insurance Department created by law in 1919 insured in 1920 over 12,000,000 ac. of farm-land at an average rate of $.28, effecting a very large saving for the farmers. At the special session of 1919 a Dairy Association law was passed, authorizing counties to issue bonds for the purchase of dairy cows to be sold to farmers, in order to utilize the extensive areas in the state not fitted for crops.

One of the most interesting features of the farmers' programme is the alliance established with organized labour. The state enacted in 1919 a law establishing a Workmen's Compensation Bureau, consisting of the commissioner of agriculture and labour and the commissioner of insurance ex officio and three members ap- pointed by the governor representing respectively labour, the em- ployer and the public. It is based upon the Iowa law, and of all such laws now in force in 42 states of the Union is the most liberal in its provisions for compensation and the number of classes of employees included. The funds are derived from annual payments by the employer, the rates being graded according to the hazards of the employment. The Act provides completely for all injuries received in the course of employment. In the intent of the Act is included the restoration to industry of those injured and this purpose is to be secured by cooperation with the Federal Board of Vocational Education. Under the minimum-wage law the bureau has held hearings in various parts of the state and has fixed the minimum wage of women and minors as well as proper conditions of employment. Other labour legislation passed includes: (l) a com- plete coal-mining code; (2) a full-crew law; (3) an eight-hour day for women; (4) limitation of the use of injunctions in labour dis- putes; (5) authority to the Board of Railway Commissioners to compel all public utilities to furnish, provide and maintain all service, instrumentalities, equipment and facilities so as to pro- mote the safety, health and comfort and convenience of its patrons, employees and the public.

During 1920 and the early months of 1921 45 state banks in North Dakota failed, of which one had reopened before May I and 10 more were then expected to reopen. The capital of these banks aggregated $960,000, an average of a little over $21,000 each; their loans and discounts totalled $9,425,543, their bills payable $2, 150,464. It is apparent that these bank failures were due chiefly to successive crop losses and the heavy slump in 1920 farm prices, with consequent inability of the banks to collect their loans. This conclusion is borne out by the fact that banks in the Southern states showed the same relative number of closings, due to the drop in prices of staple farm products there. Another factor con- tributing to the financial stringency in North Dakota was the smaller volume of rediscounts from the Federal Reserve Bank, as compared with accommodations to other sections of the same dis- trict. Statements issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minne- apolis show that rediscounts for member banks in North Dakota were relatively less than rediscounts in any other state of the Ninth District, whether on the basis of population or of production. The per capita figures were: Minnesota, $27; South Dakota, $18; Mon- tana,?^; North Dakota, $8. Opinions differ as to whether this small ratio of rediscounts in North Dakota is to be ascribed to the failure of member banks in North Dakota adequately to take care of their patrons by presenting paper for rediscount ; or to the relative absence of discountable loans, owing to the great shrinkage of values in North Dakota, on account of crop losses and reduced prices.

The recall election of Oct. 28 1921 resulted in the recall of the three Non-Partisan League officials who composed the In- dustrial Commission, the governor, the attorney-general and the commissioner of agriculture and labor.

At this election, also, the constitutional amendments and initiated laws which were proposed for the purpose of changing or overturning the programme of the Non-Partisan League were all defeated by substantial majorities.

The World War. The total registration of the state was 160,392 men; of these 27,253 were called to service in the army or navy. The state sent two regiments overseas, the First and Second North Dakota Infantry, and these regiments were attached to the 4ist Division. The Liberty Loan subscriptions totalled $65,476,000, or over $100 per capita. The increased crop acreage of 1918 was confined to the chief agricultural needs of

the war period, wheat and rye. Wheat showed an unusually heavy increase of 11%, rye acreage showed an increase of 100% over the harvested acreage in 1917, notwithstanding the fact that slightly more than 10% of the acreage planted in the fall had been ploughed down in the spring of 1918. North Dakota led the United States in the season of 1918 in the harvested acreage of wheat, barley, rye and flax.

The state governors were: John Burke (Dem.), 1907-13; L. B. Hanna (Rep.), 1913-7; Lynn J. Frazier (Rep.), 1917-21; R. A. Nestos (Rep.), 1921-. (O. G. L.) NORTHUMBERLAND, HENRY GEORGE PERCY, 7TH DUKE OF (1846-1918), British politician, was born May 29 1846, and succeeded his father in 1899. He sat in the House of Commons as Conservative member for northern Northumberland from 1868 to 1885. He was treasurer of the Royal Household from 1874 to 1875, and as lord high steward bore the crown of St. Edward at the coronation of King George V. in 1911. The duke was known throughout life as an ardent Conservative and opponent of modern democratic ideas. He died at Alnwick May 14 1918.

His eldest son, HENRY ALGERNON GEORGE, EARL PERCY, of whose political career much was expected (see 19.788), died pre- maturely in Paris Dec. 30 1909; and on the 7th duke's death he was succeeded as 8th duke by his fourth but eldest surviving son, ALAN IAN, EARL PERCY, born April 17 1880. As one of the largest coal-owners in the north of England, he was summoned to appear as a witness before the Sankey Coal Commission (1919), and came much into public notice owing to his prolonged controversy with Mr. Robert Smillie, the leader of the miners, and subsequently to his ant i- Communist campaign. He married in 1911 Lady Helen Magdalen Gordon-Lennox, youngest daughter of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon. NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES, Canada (see 19.796). In 1912 that part of the Canadian North- West Territories known as Un- gava was incorporated in the province of Quebec and its name was changed to New Quebec. At the same time that part of Keewatin S. of 60 N. Lat. was divided between the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. The North- West Territories now consist of the provisional districts of Keewatin (N. of 60 N. Lat.), Franklin and Mackenzie, and include that part of Canada which is N. of the 6oth parallel, N. Lat., and between the Hudson Bay on the E. and Yukon on the W., including the islands in James Bay, Hudson Bay, Hudson Straits and other northern waters.

The territories are administered by a chief executive officer called the Commissioner of the North- West Territories, assisted by a council of four, all appointed by the Governor in Council of Canada, and for purposes of administration a separate branch of the Department of the Interior, whose minister advises the Crown, has been formed. Law and order throughout this im- mense extent of country are enforced by members of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police.

Special interest now attaches to the whole of these territories owing to the discovery of oil at Fort William and the existence of minerals throughout most of their area ; also because of the experi- ments in breeding reindeer and the musk ox for economic purposes. They cover an area of approximately 1,250,000 sq.m. of which about 35,000 sq.m. are of water. The Mackenzie district has a total area of about 525,000 sq.m., the most noteworthy physical features being the Mackenzie river, 2,525 m. in length, including its tribu- taries, and the Great Bear and Great Slave lakes. The total area of the Mackenzie basin is 682,000 sq.m., the largest on the American continent next to that of the Mississippi. The Indian population in the southern portion is classified by Father Morice as Dene, sometimes called Chippewyans, and in the northern portion Eski- mos. The climate is Arctic in its characteristics, severe in winter, and during the short summer the temperature occasionally reaches 90 F. and sometimes exceeds it. The western portion is much milder than the eastern. Continuous daylight is experienced for three months in most parts of the three districts, and N. of the Arctic circle the " midnight sun " is a feature of note. Agricultural possibilities arc limited to the Mackenzie district. The large amount of sunshine gives a rapid growing season, enabling vegetables, grains and grasses to reach maturity in a remarkably short time. At Fort Smith, Resolution, Hay River, Providence and Simpson wheat, oats and barley, wild and domestic grasses and vegetables of nearly every variety common to western Canada have been successfully grown for over 50 years. Native flora is characteristic- ally Arctic. Trees grow small and ill-formed, although there is a