Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-12-22
DECIDEDLY IN A HOLE.
That 10 Whore the States Excheouer
Will BE, According to Auditor
Porter's Figures.
Annual Expenses of Over 100000
With an Income of Less than
100000.
Closing of All Educational Institu-
tons Recommended as Means
ofAffording Relief.
Attorney General Would Cancel All
Claims in Excess of Debt Limit
Existing July l.

Existing July l.
The following is the text Of the answer
OF state Auditor Porter to the alternative
writ Of mandamus instituted to compel
the auditor to draw state warrants in
payment of certain vouchers issued by
the board Of directors Of the Agricul-
tural college:
State of North Dakota, County of Cass,
in District Court, Third Judicial Dis
trict. The State of North Dakota,
ex rel, Fl. F. Miller and other d.
rectors of the North Dakota Agricul-
tural College, Plaintiffs, vs.. A. w.
Porter, Auditor of State of North Da-
kota, Defendant.
Said defendant, Arthur w. Porter, as
auditor of the State of North Dakota,
for answer herein, states:
First-1hat there is no money at this
time in the general fund of the state of
North Dakota.
Second-That the cash evenue re-
ceived by the state of North Dakota from
tax collections made in the various
counties in said state during the year
ending October 81, 1893, was 1884, IS
less than was received from a like ource
in the corresponding year Immediately
preceding this last.
Third-That the total assessed value
of the property in said state as shown
by the assessment made in said state IN
1893 for state and county purposes and
equalized by the equalization board of
said state is the sum of $50, 105,280, and
the personal property exemption per-
mltted Of 5000 to each person therein,
who is assessed for personal property
to be deducted by the auditors of the
various counties of said state, is liable to
reduce this valuation to the sum of about
SS2,OO0,OOO.
Fourth-That a state levy has been
made of 4 mills on said valuation to de-
fray all expenses Of said state for n
year as provided by Section LA of the
constitution of said state, this being the
highest;levy permitted for such purpose
and if all paid and returned to the treas
ury of said state the same will yield the
sum of S328,OO0 and no more, but the
same is never all collected and cannot be
and the state cannot reasonably expect
from said source more than the sum Of
100000, and from all other sources to
meet it's state expenses not to exceed the
sur, OF $4,000, making it's total venue
to be received under the most favorable
anticipations of but $38O,OOO to defrny
all expenses of said state for the period
Of one year. .
Fifth-By Section 1872 of our state con
s~titution the debt limit of the state of
North Dakota is restricted to the sum of
100000, IN addition to the debts it as
sumed in taking on statehood, and
that it has exhausted all this
power as follows: That it issued and
disposed of the sum Of $4,000 of rev.
enue bonds to meet obligations and
debts incurred by the state since state.
hood, and.that it has in addition to that
made and executed, $4,000 of capitol
building bonds, under Chap.29 of the laws
of 1893, land that there has been made,
sold and delivered $40 900 of normal
school bonds, under SectionlO Of Chap
ter 80 of the laws of 1889, and the pro-
ceeds thereof, have been received and
applied to the purposes named iu said
law, to.wit: to the building of the Nor
NAL school buildings at Valley City and
at Mayville, in this state; but the said
last named $4,000 of Normal school
bonds have never been certified to by
the auditor of this state, as provided by
Section 1877 of the state constitution,
either by defendant or by any predecessor
of him in office, but the s2,40O of annual
interest thereon has been met and is be-
ing paid by said state as it natures. In
addition to this there has been paid and
delivered, $4,000 Of certificates provided
for by Section ~ of Chapter 165 Of the
laws of 1890, to construct a Soldiers
nome, anu Cu0 ShuQ0 uhVo Oocu uAopOocSs
Of, and the proceeds used and applied for
the purpose named IN sand act, and as
there is no existing money fund belong
ing to said institution that has arisen
from the sale of any of its lands, the
holders of said certificates are requesting
the interest maturing on said certificates
to be paid by this state.
That in addition to said bonded and
certificate indebtedness there have ac-
crued the following claims against the
state of North Dakota, that we're filed
with this defendant rs auditor Of said
state, for warrants and duly verified ut
tie date following, to-wit:
September expense list, Agricul-
tural college Observation-Disclosures 3,S72 III
Oct. ]. Expense list, Agricultural
college l7,746 SC
Oct. Z. Expense list, Agricultural
college ~ oO
Nov. 10. Expense list, Agricultur-
al college II ,5l3 GO