The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-09-06
Bad Legislation.

Bad Legislation.
The fruits Of The legislation Of last winter
are becoming apparent xnd it is safe 10
say that in every instance. the farmer, in
whose behalf the laws were supposed to be
made, will come nut of the small end Of
the hole. We learn from the Fargo Argus
that, Ian action has teen commenced TO
test the LEGALITY Of the state bank law
passed by the recent legislature. Al. G.
Goodsill. Of Steele, was arrested and held
to await the action Of the grand jury.
| Judge Francis and Attorney Davis, Of
Fargo, applied for 4 writ Of habeas corpus.
which Was granted, returnable before the
supreme court at Grand Forks Sept. I.
The attorney general recommends the states
! attorneys Of the various counties, in view
Of this proceeding pending, that no action
be taken upon other cases until . decision
is reached -.
We also observe that the seed wheat
lien law is likely to receive In over
hauling at the hands Of the court. Under.
the law these liens are prior claims TO all
membranes, as they can be assessed
against the land and collected as taxes if
not pail. According to the Jamestown
Alert, "test case will beXma lie by loan ,onl-
pauies to determine the validity Ut the law.
Much uncertainty in regard to the matter
exists, which will be still further cor pill
Gated by short crops and inability of many
parties procuring seed to return same. The
seed wheat commission will have q good
deal of fine work to TO if they collect the
grain al vanced without other assistance
than the law"
LATER AND MORE OF IT.
The jamestown Alert says, "more con-
usion in the seed wheat matter. The COM
mission, it seems, did not put out wheat
under the lien act of the last Legislature,
but under the lien law Of 1887. Farmers
who got the seed will find il n first lien on
crol 8, but not on land to be assessed rs
taxes. The commission doubted the con-
stitutionality of the law. When the seed
wheat commission publish the full state
ment Of their business trans actions there
may he several other new items disclosed
that are now held in abey ante." (
Ana now comes announcer Wuuute III tHo
matter of the equalization Of taxes by the
state board. There was never perhaps a
moro wilfil perversion if not open violation
Of the law than vas perpetrated by this
board Of whom Governor Miller and Attor-
ney General Goodwin were the most oon-
spicuous members The Grand Forks Plain
dealer chamcteriz.s it rs au outrage greater
and more bancful in its influence and re-
suits than the uct Of Sparks, who Of bis "
sweet will sought to set aside the pre-
cmption and timber culture laws. The
action of the state board, the P~laindealer
says, is revolutionary and absolutely void
aud If it is allo wed to stand, not d single
dollar can he collected for state purposes
and for voting to ignore section IL Of the
revenue law, its members deserve public
castigation. =
The following resolution Of the board is
what causes Ill the trouble. .
Whereas, 1t appears from the abstract
Of the personal property in the state that II
OF the ~ COT have returned deductions
from the personal property assessment
amounting in aggregate to 50, 595. 1851. and
the other 10 counties have returned no de-
ductlons from the personal property assess
ment; and
Whereas, In many OF the counties re-
turning deductions from the personal pro-
| perty assessment only a portion ola county
allowed such deductions.
Therefore, in order to equalize the per.
sonal property assessment Of the state.
Resolved. BY this board, that all &C.
auctions from personal property assess
ment returned Ivy the various counties be
| disallowed and stricken from the abstract.
Section l8 which has thus been set aside
! and nullihed, reads as follows. "
Any person, company or corporation in
making up the amount of personal property
required to be listed for himself, company
or corporation. shall be allowed to deduct
from the gross amount thereof any indebt-
edness Of himself. company or corporation,
if the same be held y thin the state;
provided, further. that grain held by this
produ GER Of the same, actually sold or
contrac. ed to be sold, but not delivered,
shall te cIassed as credits. =
The best aud only remedy for these evils
which unskilled and unscrupulous legis-
lators have inflicted upon IN impoverished
people by their expensive system of govern
meut in the complicated lnws now on the
statute books, which are likely to entail so
much litigation, is to TURN THE RAscALs OUT
On the fourth day of November next and
elect to Office men whose ability to contend
with schemers, honesty Of purpose and
sincere desire TO advance, the Welfare and
prosperity of the people cannot be question
ell or denied.