The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, January 6, 1921, Page 1

- PROPOSED NEW. ~ LAWS BRGIN 10 OME TO FRONT Members fo the Legisla- : ‘ture ’ . ‘BUDGET OVER $8,000,000 Increased Approprfations Asited —Governor Provides Little _ to Fight Over. Many important proposals for leg: islation are beginning to take shape as the legislators confer with each other in, hotel lobbies and legislative halls and“ hear {rom constituents at home. \ Most of the proposals are made as purely business propositions, with the slogan of efficiency and economy vo- permost inthe minds of the solons This is the’ program asked by the people at Bome, they say. Becausi the fact that fost of the: propositions still are in the pro. cess of form@jon it is believed that the legislature will be slow in get- ting ‘down to the real important prob- lemg which will be developed through debate and conference. - Seme Proposals. \ Among the propositions being. dis- yeussed today are: ~ A conftitutional amendment” per- mitting a bond issue of $50,000,005 for state highway building which good roads enthusiasts will push. A nonpartisan primary law to ap- ply to state officials. ~~ Reduction of expenses of state stitutions and'consolidation of sever:l quasi-state organizations which — re- ogre financial support from the state. \Strengtheninig of the Blue Sky law ‘to provide for closer scrutiny of cor-; porations desiring to.sell stock. Revision of the co-operative laws of the state to permit greater devel- ganizations. Finance legislation to be asked by bankers and state « officials make North Dakota securities more attrac‘ tive and ajd. state industries. Revision .of workmen’s compensa- tion ‘law’ to" prevent: the accumulation of a fund many times greater than disbursements in one year, Industry Proposals. _) . This does not include any of the proposals made as to the manage- ment of state industries, which have been ‘demanded by Arthur Le Sueur, Nonpartisan Judge Robinson and _ which would, no doubt, receive the | support of a* majority of independ- e1 ts. - Talk of a 30-day sesaton is heard eccasionally, particularly among_some Nonpartisans, but it is hardly expect- ed that when the ‘usual grist of bills flows into the legislative hopper that anyone will expect the body to finish its deliberations in less than 60 days. Many legislators hold that one of the great faults of present methods of legislation is that they are forced to make laws _ in too, short time. The state budget is expected to re- ‘quire considerable of the time of both the house and the senate. The rec- ommendations of the budget board will be closely scrutinized. Budget Over $5,000,090, The latest compilation made as to the budget board's recommendations is $8,251856.05 for the biennial period baling next July. The appropria- tion§ for the preceding biennial pe- riod, as revised by the special session ..of the legislature of 1919, was $7,024,- 837-10, and the total appropriations of the legislature in 1917 for a two- year period were $4,123,856.99. The figure given for budget, is ‘not exact, but probably will not be changed materially by the budget board, which is finishing its work. Although members of the’ board have said that they have- used the utmost care in paring down ap- propriations asked and ‘have taken! the position that no building work should be undertaken at state insti- tutions in the next year unless neces- sary, the budget likely will be far greater than that of two years ago. Many legislators declare that in the face of falling prices any <in- crease in appropriations should be avoided, A Health Officer. One proposal that has been made before, and defeated, may be made again to this legislature. It is that of a health officer, who would be secretary of the state board of health, he regularly employed by the state and stationed at the statehouse. Un- der present. conditions the state now appropriates money for several or- ganjzations which do work - along} health lines. \ 5, Good roads legislation has a chance at this session, many believe. Sena- tor Liederbach, Nonpartisan, who was named chairman of the highway com- mittee in the senate, is strong for good roads. It is said that he ta- yored introducing a pill to create a hond issue of $50,000,000 for good ‘roads ata previous session but found ~ he could not get support at the time Committees Not Named. Both the senate and the house still are in the process of organization Lieutenant Governor Howard Wood has not named all of the senate committees. Speaker Twitchell prob- -ably will not have his full list of, committee assignments made up be- fore Monday\ The List-Wog -contest. it ig expected, will be tried. immed}. ately before the senate elections com- mittee, which ‘ws named yesterday afternoon. 5 “Governor's Message. Governor Frazier’s message nrovid- / opment. of farmers’ co-operative or-|~ ‘bankers and state -Cathro, George H. Hollister, of Kar- this year’s pb: (Contiffued on page 2) E CA RESOLUTION DIRECTS FIRM - OF ACCOUNTANTS TO TURN ~ ~ OVER FINDINGS 10 HOUS After considerable the Watt resolution by a .vote of 57:tp 56. Representative Watt ‘of Ca in the ‘seventeenth legislative session shortly after the house had-conyened Thursday afternoon by introducing a resolution calling upon Bishop-Bressman Co,, the St. Paul firm, making an audit of the state industries, to thejspeaker of the house. Rep. Maddock opposed the resolut the house on sa ground that the audit in. the usual course of b stood by the resolution and urge industries be made publi as soo! ture might be informed upon the legislation regarding the state i completion and that there shoul of it into the hands of the variou Late this afternoon debate House was expécted to reach av The report in controversy isthe ene of audig composed of Langer, Hall and Ke VOTE IS CLOSE | s debate the House voted to support “he resolution sets forth that the repott should be hurried to \ 2 A clincher motidn pagsed by the same vote. ss county started the fireworks deliver a copy of the report: to ion for the league side of report should go to the board of ’USINESS. Tndefeniden members od that the tue condition of the n as-possible so that the legisla- negds and the necessity for new ndustrial program, id be no delay in getting copied is members of thé legislature. was still in’ progress, but the ote before adjournment. © _. le by the old board sitzky in conformance with tlle law initiated at the general election calling for an im- inediate ex: the Bank of N Mill and Elevator Association. LIST-WOG ination of the various state industries, including rth Dakota, Home Building association and the CONTEST ThMeague majority of one th the senate defeated asmove this “afternoon to have the List-Wog of the whole rather than before a was permitted to vote. The inde vote on the ground that he was 1 pending. = Lieut.-Governor Wood rplec © pecial committee of nine. Wog vendents challenged his right to not qualified when a contest was ents case heard in committee I that he was and when an ap- peal was taken from the chair the decision was susfained by:a vote of 25 to 24 with Wog again voting. Discussion then followed whether the contest was to be heard behind closed doors or bec ~~. pen'to the public. TATE BANKERS COMMITTEE TO MEET IN Bi SMARCK SOON CONFER WITH OFFI / f Importdnt questiofis of! policy and| to dispose of endugh of the crop to legislation will be discussed in Bis- marck tomorrow by committees of fficials. etl Legislation, if any, necessary to make North. Dakota bonds and war- rants attractive to eastern investors probably will be eGrmulated The meeting was decided upon at a con- ference held at Fargo yesterday, in which private bankers and F. W. Cathro, director-general of ‘the Bank of North Dakota, participated. Bankers’ Committee. The committee named by the bank- ers—state, officials conference here several weeks ago was to meet today, but no action was to be taken pend- ing the meeting to be held tomorrow. Members of this committee are Ed Pierce, of Sheldon; C. D. Lord, of Cando; Capt. I. P. Baker, of Bis- marek; E. G. Larson, of Annetta; Wil- liam Lemke, ‘attorney, general; F. W. go, were invted to meet with the sommittee- Tomorrow a meeting will be held y this committee with a committee of the North Dakota Bankers’ asso- ciation and the legislative committee of the assdciation. “Members of the committee are E. G. Weiser, G. H. Hollister, Ed Pierce, W. C. McDowell, C. B. Little, J. J.Nierling and John Tracy. The legislative committee is composed of A. P. Hanson, M. P. Porter, P. W.!Clemons, H. P. a¢ob- son and Paul Krethschmar. ms Thinks Laws Suffictest:. ! Mr. Cathro; who returned from Far-. go at midnight, said that there are some who believe that legislation is necessary to give assurance to east- ern investors that real estate bonds which .the Bank of North Dakota seeks to issue, about $3,000,000 in all to take np mortgages now held by the bank, are sufficiently safeguarded in the eyes of eastern investors. Mr. Cathro said that:he considered present legislation sufficient, but said { that it was a purely legal question and would be a proposition for law-| yers to consider. The financial situation in general is no different than it has been and conditions with reference to warrants are no different than if there were no Bank of North Dakota, he said } If the banks cannot pay the state’ bank they could not pay off warrants of local political subdivfsions. Holding to Wheat. Farmers, he said, had not. disposed of any considerable amount of their crop since the Bank of North Dakotu and the state examiner urged them Eleven Aviators Land at Guerrero Mexico City, Jan. 6—Eleven United States aviators making a flight from the United States to\ Panama landed at Hapculcu, state of Guerrero, yes- terday afternoon at:5 o’clock. The Asiatic town of Malwatchi, on :| be sold, and sold soon,” said Mr. Hol- ease banking conditions by endeavor- ing to pay the interest on their loans and some on the principal. Governor Frazier also issyed an open letter on conditions pointtyg’ out that. investi- gation should bemade to find out what surplus could be disposed of to help conditions. The banking act provides, that sink- ing funds to repay the bonds shall be kept by the state treasurer apart from other fands and. the provisions regarding them are not repealable during the. life of the bonds. “> At the meeting in Fargo bankers who undertook to aid conditions by trying to sell warrants and bonds in the east, it was stated that easter: investors. demand further safeguard:s. Are Not Negotiable. Dealing with the situation in the Fargo meeting George H. Hollistez, Fargo banker and member of the com- mittee on the sale of North Dakota bonds declared that the need of co- operation is now important if the state’s finances are to be put ona normal basis again: He explained ‘that the committee on the sale of bonds has communicated personally and by mail during the last. 30 days; with eastern investors with the re- sult that it has been found, that North Dakota bonds and warrants und present existing laws and circu: stances are ‘not negotiable. “We realize that these bonds musty lister. _ “We are not placing the blame on anyone because they are not- saleable, but thut is the condi- tion. We are up against a stone wall and what we want now is some sug- gestion of a plan that will remedy the present situation. “Very few of us in North Dakota, until 30 days ago, knew anything about bond selling. We have investi- gated, however, and we find that eastern investors want security and want to know where the money (is coming from ‘to pay interest, where the sinking funds are deposited, an: when the money is to be, paid. Staking Funds Dissipated: “The sinking funds, raised by taxa- tion, are plated in the Bank of North Dakota, have been invested in long term loans, in farm mortgages, in stills and in the~building of homes. We all know these securities are good but that doesn’t help the present sit- uation. Investors must know where the money is coming from that is to pay their interest and principal. Our, sinking funds have been dissipated and we need relief.” \ PROPOSE BILL TO MAKE WOMEN BECOME CITIZENS Washington, Jan. 6.—-House imi- gration committee reported favorabiy a bill providing drastic changes in the \naturalization law. Women would no ! i the borders of Russia, is peopled by men only. > longer derive citizenship ~ffom the uaturalization of husbands. | L | yeara/if the legislature accepts the re- \ a IBUNE C=] | _——=——— JANUARY 6, 1921 PRICE FIVE v is LIST APPEARS - CONTEST SEAT Filing’ of Papers in Senate’ ¢ I . ——-— COMMITTEE NAMED Five: Nonpartisans 4 Four In- dependents to Try. - Case ~ z ExSenator'R. J. List arrived in Bis- marck today ‘to pérsonally press his charges of fraud as set forth in tht election contest instituted yesterday for the seat of Gitst Wog, Nonpartisan senator-elett from the thirty-ninth tis- tFlet, comprising Bilings, Bowman, Gelden\Valley and S‘ope counties. Gn the- pleadings filed With:the sec- retary of state, and la:cr sépt to the senate for consideration, \List, who was defeated by 42 votes, alleges that voters brought to the po!ls with them balicts which’ wero marked at. their homes pt sly; charags that: elec- tion officials marked~ballots for. in- competent voters; that théy’ pointed out @n ‘the batlots the candidates of the league ticket and that they worked for officials within the. polls and booths. | ' The transcript of the evidence as aken before Judge Kinmark at ‘Me- dora comprises over 1,200 pages of typewritien copy and includes the ex- amination of over forty witnesses. Judge W. C. Crawford, Attorney J. P. Cain of Dickinson and Attorney, Enijl Scow of ‘Bownfan. are appearing for R. J. List. ‘ The answer of Gust Wog, the sena- tor-elect, was filed lute yesterday aft- ernoon with ‘Howard Wood,.president of the Senate, by Attqrneys Simpson and (Mackoff of Dickinson. This makes | a general. ‘denial of all. charge of fraud on theipart of election officials of the league stronghold precincts and cites frauds in, other precincts chargeable; to the independent ticket. ‘The attorneys for Wog further aver that acts cited in the inal’ plead! ings as violations jot.,in_viola- tion of the election laws.” Members of the election comme? were named by Mr. Wood.. ‘There are five Nonpartisans and ir independ- ents on ‘the committee. lembers of the committee are:’ Senators Hagan, | Church, Mikelthun, Levang, Bowman, Nonpartisans, end Van Camp, Carey, Baird and Kendall,’ independents. Other committees ‘named ‘by Wood follow: , “4 Revision and correction\of journal— Patton, McLaughlin, McNair. Mileage an Per Diem—Eastgate, Wog and Flecton. | Kules —- Garberg, , Levang, ‘Steel Mees, Fraser, Gyoss. COLONY HOUSE. ‘ASKED FOR THE PRISON DENIED Budget Board Won't ‘ Recom; mend that $50,000 Be Spent on Building Thera will be ho building at the state penitentiary during the next two commendation of the state ’ budget board. Penitentiary officials asked for an appropriation of $60,100 to build a colony -house on the penitentiary farm, ifn the budget board has de- niet the request. The colony house was asked by Warden Stair so thet prisoners work- ing on We farm cou'd be kept separate from \other prisoners, obviating the necéssity of bringing them through the gates and ipto the cells each night The budget bdard felt that the pen- itentiary could get along without the house. i ‘The amount requested for the peni- tentiary for the biennium also will be reduced, if the budget board recom- mendation is fallowéd.) Warden Stair | asked $247,750.09 por annum or $513. 160 per biennium, and the budget hoard rec nds $568,500 “per num and ‘ per biennium the mainteuance of the institution. “JOBLESS” AMONG LEGION PLAN A LARGE PARADE New York, Jan. 6.—The “American Legion of Jobless"= organized and planited to maggh-on Washington to protest lavishness,of the presidential inauguration. fox Judge Fisk in Town. Judge Chats Fisk, formerly of the supreme bench, and now in “Minot, was a prominent visitor in town the firgt days of the session. The Imperial 2 Save Re at the Crystal Palace in London, con- 'be paid. There are so many factors Mr. | gross, as follow: 4 PAYMENTS OF SOLDIER BONUS TO SPAN YEARS Adjutant-General Fraser. Gives Ficures Upon What Tax / . Will Do fees Rare ~~ WHAT MILL TAX BRINGS Estimated That Tax in 1920 Takes Care of 3,000 Claims It will be several years before the soldiers’ bonus grante_ in North Da- kota is paid, even if tha legislature adopts “the recommendaiion - of: Gov- emor Frazier to increse the soldiers’ |- bonus tax to one mill, according to escimz‘es made by G. A, Fraser, adjut- ant-general. ee “in round numbers the tax of tus wilt pay 2,0v.;. the tax of. 192) will pay 2,000 claims and under the law how in force, that number can ‘be €apected to ibe paid’ each year there- after,” says the adjutant-general. Tuc tax in id was one-half mill and iv 1020 was three-quarters of a’ mill. « Thus far 7,569 ex-service men have filed claims for the conditional Joans., The official record of service men furnished by North Dakota was 30,033 men. Adjutant-géneral Traser’s bulletii addressed to ex- on the bonus matter, service men, follows: 1, A large number of inquiries are being received by this office, asking when the claim of some particular in- dividual will be reached for payment. It is physically impossible to write an individual letter in reply and as such reply and. as giving all the informa- tion we have,’ this circular is for- warded. 4 2, We cannot State with any cer- tainty when any particular claim wil! that en®er into the/matter, that ail we can do is to give the results of the law ‘to date ‘and the payments made, call your attention to changes taking effect. {n ‘1921 as to time.of payment of taxes, and let. you estimate, the matter the best you can. , This office is unable. to state: definitely when pay- ments wit] be made in the future, of a; Particular claim. - ; ‘ First Law _ , 3. The law first enacted levied | one-half-a mill on gli taxabe property! in the gtate. The substquent ‘special session raised this levy to. three-quar- ters of a mill. This shotld produce, From 1919 tax From 1920 tax.. +. 1,113,000 000 Total tax levied eas 6% never paid Maximum ‘that can be ex- Pendtd, when paid ...... $1,781,250 4. On Dec. 23, 1920, the state treas- urer had received for this fund from 1919 taxes, tlle aggregate sum of $685,- 000, leaving ‘a maximum possible stil! to be collected of $39,000. The aver, age claim is $375. Dec. 29, 1920, thi office had vouchered all of the avail- able funds and paid up to No. 1959. New Problem The 1920 leyy is one-half greater b. than the 1919, but there enters now new problem; 1920 real estate taxes. are not paid as paid before. A new law provides that all real estate taxes are payable in two installments. The practical effect of this new law will be that mot as much money will be available in 1921 a5 was. expended in 1920, until very late in the year 1921. dn 1920, the bulk of the money was available May 1st and June Ist. Not as much will be here on these dates in 1921, Ultimately it will, be coljec but collections will be six months later than this year. [t is our view thdt until late in 1921, despite the increased levy, not as many claims will be paid as were paid in 1420. 6. In gound numbers the tax’ of 1919 will pay 2,090; the tax of 1920 will pay 3,000 claims and tinder the law now in force, that number can ‘be expected to be paid each year thereafter. ‘Take your order number, divide it by 3,000 and the result is tho number of vears it will take to reach a particular. claim, Thig is an est! mate, but the best this ‘offfe: can make. This is all the~information we have; all we can give yu) We regret this, but these are the fact as they exist. wb F. A. FRASER, Adjutant General. SHOOTS DOG AND HIMSELF RATHER THAN LOSE PET / Ashland, Wis, Jan. 6.—Becanse he could not take his dog with him to the Ashland county poor farm John Smith, 69 years old, hermit, of Morse, shot his pet and took fis own lite with the same weapon. Krank Driscoll, an oifieial of the town of Morse, found the body In a shack In the woods. The hermit Is thought to have committed sul on Christmas eve, having been missed in the nelghborhood sinee that time, - Smith has for years mak. ine his living be working at odd Jobs about the lamber camp an- tH mis advanced aze would no longer permit him to carry out his duties and he was dismissed hy his employer. His dog was his tains more than 100,000 exhibits... constant and only compant t- UDIT REPO ~~~: Q°CALLAGHAN -STOWAWAY IS REFUSED ENTRY OCALLAGHAN DONALD Mayor of Cork Is Stopped at Norfolk By United States Authorities Waslfington, Jan. 6 cbvetany, Wil- son, of the labor department, an. nounced today that he had granted pa role ‘of “ord Meyor O°Callaghan re- tained at Newgort News by immigra- | tion authorities on his own recogni- zance pending a hearing. Washington, Jan. xclusion of ‘Daniel J. O'Callaghan, Lord Mayor of | Cork, was. ordered yesterday at > \folk by-a board of special ’ inguiry. O'Cal:aghan appealed trom the rulipg and ithe case will eventually be referr- ed to the state department for decis-- ion as ‘to whether it will waive the special passport regulaiion. ‘Meantime O'Callaghan himself has made an appeal direct to tne state de- partment in the Rope that the absence $ 762,000 bof a passport might not debar him. ‘Secretary Wilson’s decision in O’Cai- laguan’s case, it was indicated today cby the department of labor officials will rest upon that of the department of state on account of the diplomatic character of the questions involved He O’Callagahan’s entry into the coun- ry. frederick C. Howe, chairman of the committee of the committee of 100 investigating conditions in {reland sent to the Lord Mayor at New- ath ‘News a telegram in which he said: “Owing to the fact that the British govermment agreed to place no ob- stacles in the way of witnesses invited connett the report of your landing a stoway with the invitation ex- tended to you to tesiify.” DENIES PEACE RUMORS _ Dublin, Jan. 6.—Eammon de Valera, “president.of the Irish republic,” de nies that the Irish Sinn Fein is mak- ing overtures to 'ngland, 8: the Freeman’s Journal, in an jusive forecast of de Valera’s forthcoming manifesto. ‘Speaking in behalf of the movemént do Valera is quoted as say- ing he would mot turn a deaf ear to proposals of the English government if they are based on recognition of Ireland ag an indépencent ation. When repysentatives of the Eng: Ush nation are prengred to meet rep- resentetives of the Irish nation on an equal footing pea aik will be pos- sible, the forecast of the ,manifeste continues: De Valera, explains. the newspaper, continues that his return from Amer- ica was 1 ary so that he might ussume responsibility for the Sinn Fein in view of the arrest of Arthur Griffith, the founder hte organiza- tion, and Professor Ma@Neill. WHEAT PRICES SLUMP WHEN BANK CLOSES Chicago, Jan, 6.—Bearish sentiment prevailed as to wheat nove received oy account of the ‘suspension of the iBritish-American Continental bank in London. Opening prices which range from one-half to two cents lower by a moderate setback and then some- thing of a rally. or the comission on Ireland I did not From Wilton. Here from Wilton to see the open- ing of the session were: Simon Jahr, a form, representative in the house. C. Thorson, C. Frey, D. Bascom and E. Carlson. Mannhaven Family Here. H? W. Bohrer of Mannhaven accom- panied by his family stopped over ix Bismarck yesterday. ¢ h “| $160 aw acre. HIN FIRST ACT | ment today. tT ee aera NORTH DAKOTA WON'T GAIN ANY CONGRESSMEN: Proposed Apportionment Would Add New Member from ‘Minnesota ~ ha . FIX’ MEMBERSHIP AT 483°, me for Every 218,979 Inhabit- ants Is the Basis Agreed Upon x M Washington, gan. 6.—The house census committee agréed today to re- port to Congress the Siegel Dill fixing the membership cf the houggat 483,an increase of 48 over the present mem: bership. It also recommended a con- stitutional amendment limiting the membership of future houses to 500. The basis for reapportionment was fixed at one member for every 218,970 inhabitants. Under this bill -many states would gain and no states, would lose any repregentation. ‘ ‘North Dakota is not included among the states to have added representa- tion, but Minnesota would gain. one representqtive. [eeN 108,000 PAID - FOR COAL LAND NORTH OF ITY Washburn Lignfte Coal Com pany Buys 720 Acres of Land in Burleigh County peice 8 DEVELOPMENT FUTURE Seven hundred and twenty acres of land, estimated ‘to be underlatd with | 20,000,000 to-50,000,000 tons of. coal; j has been purchased \by the Washburn Lignite Ghar company. ‘ The price paid..for. the land. was It is situated in Bur- leigh county, to the south and close to the present property of thecom- panty at Wilton. he land was purchased for the fu- ture development of the lignite min- ing business of the. company. One tract of the 640 acres of land was purchased from C. J, Peterson and a tract of 80-acres was purchased from Emil Backman, tke total pur- chase price being $108,000. A déed transferring the land has been filed in tho office wf the“ reg- ister of deeds in Burleiga county. LEMKEREVERSES LANGER OPINION School ‘Districts Under Ruling Have New Basis for Bond Issues © ‘ ——- In the first important opinion hand- ed down since assuming: the position of attorn eneral, William Lemke yesterdey diternoon reversed tho deci- sion of William Langer, who has just iréd as attorney-general, in’ hold- ing that school districts may raise money by bond issues for the purpose of “building, repairing or furnishing.” The opinion was rendered in-the case of the board of Rock Lake spec- ial school district. The question in- volves the construction of Section 4, Chapter 51 of the laws of 1919. Lan- ger held that the only purpose for which ® school district might use the 1919 assessed valuation as the ba- sis on which to build a ‘school house. While the ‘amount involved in this e is only $12,000, it is important it\makes it impossible . for g ricts to go ahead, ws there is a constitution provision limiting the debt to 5 per cent of assessed val- uation unless by @ vote of two-thirds of the electors in thy district shall increase the indebtedness another 5 ber cent. “It seems clear thatthe intention of this law is to give school districts she benefits of the increased assessed valuation as a basis of raising money to provide the necessary school build- ings and furnishings,” Mr. Lemke hol When money is raised to re- pair, furnish or build, it necessarily goes to pay for such improvement, and whether the improvement is made before or’after the money is raised is immaterial. “My opinion; therefore, is that the debt limit of the above district for the purpose of this proposed bond issue if 5 per cent of,its 1919 assess- ment.” a BIG LONDON BANK CLOSES ITS DOORS _ Condon, Jan. 6—The British-Amer- ican Continental bank suspended pay- In financial circles the suspensigp is attributed to the gener- al finanffal situation. It is believed the bank advanced money on produce and was unable to realize during the Present trade stagration.