Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-02-10

AAAb0LN0 " 00OO0U11 OICdhlUR 4dW-1lut
of not less than S or more than $40. OF
imprisonment.
House Bill No. III, by Mr.. Laughlin
Provides for a deputy commissioners o.
agriculture to be assistant dairy anc
food commissioner at a salary of $1,2O(
annually and an appropriation of 81,
600 for the expenses incurred in thu
regulation of the dairy and food products
of the state and to prevent the sale OF
adulterated products.
House Bill No. 118, by Mr.. Swenson
fixing elevator charges. Half cent
bushel for receiving, storing, ~elevating
and insuring and twenty days storage
four cents for six months. and one-hali
cent for each thirty days after siz
months. Grain to be insured by ware.
house mar for benefit of the owner.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
On motion of Mr.. Ste VEINS the house
went into the committee of the whole
and Mr.. Laughlin was called to the
chair.
House Bill No. 8, relating to reading
chattel mortgages to mortgagors, was
taken up and recommended to pass when
amended.
A message vas received from the sen
ate notifying the house of the passage
of House Bill No. q.
House Bill No. %, the county treasury
bond bill was next taken up and consid-
cred at length. The bill provides that
all comfy %treasurers shall give bonds in
fidelity companies at the expense of the
county.
MI. Stevens stated that since House
Bill Nc. p wa Mr. Laughlin's bill and
in view of the fact that it was an i'm
portant measure he should be called
from the chair in order to give him an
opportunity to speak.
Mr.. Hare was called to the chair.
Mr.. Thomas moved that the minority
report be substituted for the majority
report.
The minority report recommended
that the bill do NOT pass and the major
ity reported recommended that the bill
pass as amended. Motion to substitute
minority report was lost.
In support of the bill Mr.. Laughlin
said that sixty per cent of the losses in
defalcation of officers were due to bad
bonds. A business man who goes on a
county treasurer's bonds today for any
stated sum, is reported to the CONNER
cial agencies tomorrow and his credit is
impaired to just that extent.
When a man discovers thathe is liable
to be stuck on account of any bond he
may be on, proceeds to cover up his
property in such a way that when he
goes into court as a defendant, it is made
clear that he is not financially RESPONSE
BILE. For this and other reasons he was
in favor of the different counties furn-
ishing the bonds for the county treasur-
ers through the fidelity companies. The
number of the individual bonds that are
worth the paper they are written on are
so few that he had no confidence in
them.
MI. Baker said objections had been
raised to the bill on the ground that the
guarantee companies would charge an
unreasonable rate as sureties. This was
a wrong idea for the reason that there
are many companies doing a guarantee
business and the sharp competition ex-
isting will protect the county as to
premiums. He thought the bill a very
wise measure and could not understand
how any member could think of voting
against it.
Mr.. Dougherty stated that he was
vigorously opposed to the measure. The
statute already provides for a fidelity
bond and he was opposed to putting the
counties to further expense.
Mr.. McHarg said that he had looked
into the question of securing bonds in
the manner proposed in the bill and was
greatly in favor of the measure.
He had white city clerk of James
town, drafted an ordinance requiring
the city treasurer to give a fidelity bond
and after some consideration on the
part of the part of the council the or.
d%inance became a law and the arrange
ment gives general satisfaction. Nine
out of ten of the business men of North
Dakota can not afford to go on a bond
for "A large amount.
Under the fidelity security plan the
county does not have to worry nor the
county treasurer have to ask friends to
60 his security.
Mr.. johnson of Richland said he was
opposed to the bill and would vote
against it. His opposition was due to a
fear OF overburdening the people with
debts. That this measure was but a
feeler for the treasuries-a grab for the
peoples moncy--that the passage Of the
bill meant the heaping of an additional
burden on the people.
Mr.. Sanford thought the bill was not
far reaching enough. It ought to in.
clude school t%reasurers also. He was
treasurer Of a school district and would
handle this year about $1,000 of the PEG
pies money and for this he was paid the
magnificent sum of S25 per year. He
thought it right for the people who beal
the burden of taxation to have ample
protection and this measure will protec|
them. He was in favor of the bill.
MIR. Kennedy said he was opposed tx
the bill on the ground that it create!
more expense.
Mr.. Chacy said he was heartily il
favor Of the bill and would vote for it
1t was all right. =
MI. Thomas said: I am most emphat
ically opposed to the bill. I can't SCI
why a county treasurer should be mad
to give up a part of his salary to SOM
company or why the county should b
forced to pay for his bond. You simpl,
take the money away from our bank
and put in the fidelity companies vaults
It's a dead loss to the people.
Mr.. Stevens said: There are severa
cases pending in the courts now on &C
count of defaulting %treasurers. TIL
money due may be collected from tn
bondsmen and again it may not be. TIL