The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, November 4, 1915, Page 5

ok SBRg 2 " > HE NONPARTISAN LEADER The workings of the invisible gov- ernment, which in a- mysterious way reaches out an dcares for its own was again illustrated in an action of the state board of equalization' which assembled in another star chamber session. on Monday of this week. Twice has the board adjourned sine die, and: twice' ha it been: reconvened to take care of the: privileged; first it. was the railroad companies and now it is Senator E. A. Hughes, pro- prietor of the Hughes Electric Com- pany of Bismarck.: The State Tax commission has endeavored for two years to secure an equitable. asses:- ment of this property, which is one of the best properties in the state, and pays a fair return on approxi- mately a quarter of a million dollors. It has been assessed for $30,000 for a number of years and the Tax Com- mission: has insisted upon a higher valuation and this year succeeded in getting. an assessment of $43,3S0. Political ‘Gossip Around the State Capitol Board in Secret Session Yésterday the board was called to- igetherin a' secret manner and a re- 'duction”of. ten per' cent. made on the Hughes- plant; reducing; it to $89,042 or $4,338. Governor Hanna; Attorrey General Linde, State Auditor Jorgen- son and Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor all voting for the reduc- ‘tion and State Treasurer Steen pro- itesting and voting against it. Cculd a farmer in the State of North Da- kota get the state board of equali- zation to reassemble after it had completed its labors and reduce his assessment ten per cent below the assessment of the other farmers of the state? The small electric light plants throughout the state are as- sessed fully twenty-five per cent of their physical valuation according to the survey of competent engineers, wlkile the Hugheiy Electric Light plant was assessed at rpeossibly sev- enteen per cent of its physical value. The Hughes plant pays approxi- mately one hundred per cent every,North Dakota cannot come into its year in profits on its assessed valu- ation, while: the great bulk of the small- plants throughout the state barely pay expenses. : Seiler May Be Willing "The story comes to Bismarck that there is a movement on the part of the people of Stutsman county and other sections of the state to' bring out a candidate for governor upon the issues of rural credits, either in te form of an immense bond. issue by the state, or a chartered ‘state land bank. patterned after the Ger- man model and co-operation in buy- ing and selling of farm produce and farm necessities. It is said that this movement is quite apart from eitker the Society of Equity or the Non- Partisan Lecague and embrace; a large number of business and profes- sional men. They have come to real- ize that their prosperity depends upon the rprosperity of the farmer and that under existing conditions, ) THERE ave slightly mere: than:6,000,000 farmers in the United States. THE FARMERS" BURDEN The aggregate farm mortgaged indebtedness- of those six: million farmers is $6,000,000,000. The average rate of interest' on this six billion is: 8% per cent, not including commissions and benuzes. The total amount of interest annually, therefore; is: $510:000,000 battleships: at. ten: million: dollars ‘each, every year, or ! That amount would build five hundred and .ten Universities at a million dollars each—every year. It would build six thousard miles of railroad at ten thousand dollars a mile—twice across the continent—every year, or ’ or: enough money to: build 51 It would build five hundred and ten terminal él‘evatots at a million dolars each—every year, or or It woud build five thousand one hundred elevators at ten thousand dollars each—every year, + It would dig and equip and fortify a Panama canal—every year, or ; ; * It would build more than one thousand merchant ships at five million dollars eaeh~gvery . vear.' And yet That staggering:sum is dumped into the tills of the money lenders—every year. = ) W a just and sane credit system. We do not have a just and sane - ‘credit system be‘éfi%i’&e‘;;t_hoge*whb-a& in the lendiing business make the laws. They make the laws to do so. When the farmers get ready to stop it they can do so. - All because we- do-not have: . because the farmers permit them N ¢ -Dakota.. With. the that is coming to you and wateh ho own until business and professional men cease to prey upon: the farmery: In cofinection with this. movenient the name of Oscar J. Seiler has been. suggested a: a candidate for Gover- - nor. Seiler is a business' man " of ability and experience and: besides has been a practical farmer for many years. He owns two large farms in Stutsman county and has been the moving genius‘in the organ- ization of a co-operationrin localities in which Fis farms are located. S Linde Busy With the: Bee The buzzing of the gubernatorial bee in the bonnet of Attorney Gener- al- Linde is evidently becoming more and more audible. Lieutenant-Gov= - ernor Fraine of Grafton, whom the organization-is trying to: sidetrack’ because of his political weakness and general eccentricities, has bzen scouting around the state the past two weeks and is said' to. be’chawi ing distinct signs of rebellion against the: mandate of “Alex and Louis”, that- he must not hecome a candi- date for Governor. McKenzie is still in town and is undoubtedly devoting his time to tinkering up a Tnachine which he fondly hopes wilk carry’ in- to office every candidate whom the railroads may desire to see in offica in North Dakota. i “Not at This Time,” . Says Marshall Ex-Congressman Thomas F. Mar- shall was in Bismarck last week ard ‘some newspaper faker sent -out thz, story that he was looking over the - field and that if he received ‘suffi-+ cient. encouragement, he would be- come.a candidate for United States Senator. Marshall stated to: mys.1¢ and” others while in Bismarck that under no consideration wowld- he ke- .come a candidate for the Unrited States Senate at this time. That he was.cnot out on a political scouting i trip. is -evidenced' by the- faet that...... l most:.of “his trip . bhad: been in the State of Montana. and- not -in- North bitter which - the present ‘Stalwart politica machine - fezls toward: MarsHall con- nected with" the: bitter emmity. of Senator Gronna, and‘ the: fact that Marshall -has-twice been-deéféated: for - - the United. States Senate, makes it"::v ‘apparent to even the <Casual observer . . that -as shrewd a man as Murshall - would not waste - time . running” i for the United States Serate at this time: 5y ‘Som:thing Dead-ir San Franc'sco CIE is said’ that a.seandal is: brawing in'‘connection; with the, Nborth Dakota Building and exhibit: at San: Francis: has’ been maintained: as: a ubliciti- amd’ campaign:-headguarters: fon Govs - ernor ‘Hanne -and the furds:for main- tenance- have ‘been. squandered: in' the- payment’ of the: exppuses: tor . Sam politioal - hiretings. * Fudl' informatior as to the situation’ has been: recured andetit is- said: that somewhat later: this- will be ‘given: to: ‘the people: of North' Dakota, - Wilt: the: Seruli: Wowan: Get” Hers? Tt seems ‘probable that there will be* sufficient funds: to' pay: the: sali aries~ of the BTate Auditing Board) ~ ‘incleding Governor: Fanna, State A ditor Jorgenson,; and' Attorney Ge eral Linde-and the: officers, employes - - generally of the state at the Capis tot. 'Thie takes about $25{000. Other employes, contractors, etc., must cons 2 No :traveling and: ex- = epnse’‘accounts ‘have been paid for * tinue: to wait: many months: and: the bills' generally- 2 of the state ‘have piled up before - the Auditing Board as nevar: b fove in the history of North Dakota. That boy of yours don’t like the. enmity. ... _ co: It is charged: that the: buPding Prancisco’ and. San.Diege of Huanaa's = farm because he don’t like a crookedi . deal. Organize and help secnre all quick he changes his ind. W v