The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-07
North Dakota.
NUT III Dakota.
TAXES % Be UGAL|ZFD
IMPORTANT MEASURE UP BEFORE
THE NORTH DAKOTA LEG
STATURE
FINANCES OF THE STATE
Credit Is Good, but Funds Are
Short = To Provide Seed
Wheat for Destitute
Farmers.
FINANCES OF THE STATE

wheat for Destitute
Farmers.
BISMARCK, n. D., Feb. 6-The impor-
tance of the Chaffee bill legalzing tax
levies from 1890 TO 1900 is already appar-
ent, as a report from Wells county states
that a question has arisen between the
county and the 500 railroad as to the
legality of the taxes levied on the prop
erty of the company in the county and
in several school districts The law re-
quires that all taxes shall be levied by
specific amounts, and the tax levying
authorities state, county and those of
| other subdivisions, are required to levy
in this way. 1t develops, however, that
in many instances in the last ten years
taxes have been levied by percentages
and the courts have held that the taxes
| so levied will not hold. In cases that
have been brought before the supreme
court regarding the legality of railroad
taxes, this decision has been levied by
| percentages End the courts forced to
compromise their claims on this basis.
The present cases in Wells county are in
| allegiance, the county having accepted a
part payment, and it is stated suit will
be brought for the remainder. The
Chaffee bill aims to legaIize all ta1
claims that have attached under past
levies, however the taxes may have been
levied. A suit to collect taxes wrongly
levied will probably bring into ques-
ton the constituiionality of the measure
that aims to legaliZe the taxes. The cen
Stitution of the state forbids eX post
facto legislation, but it is claimed that
the legislature has the right to leg1lize
! taxes, and the bill to this effect has the
| approval of this attorney general of the
state.
The senate appropriation committee
held its first meeting Monday morning
| and went over the finances in a prelim-
mary way. Figures of the states re,
ceipts and expenditures were submit ID
! and the meeting was devoted to a dis
cussion of ways and means. Members
of the committee realize that they have
g difficult task before them, but it will
be their aim to bring in a report on the
various bills that shall be fair all al found
and at the same time cosider the con-
dition of the states finances.
Representative Palmer's irrigation bill
is copy of the Montana law and is de-
signed to enable the residents of tht
semi-arid districts to file on water rights
build reservoirs and improve their lands
by taking advantage of natural sup
plies.
Payment of taxes through the state
are steady, as the penalty went into ef-
feet Feb. /. Many heavy taxpayers held
off their payments to the last moment
to see if the bill for the extension of time
would pass. When the bill was knocked
out they made haste to get into the clear
Had the bill passed large institutions
would have been delayed several months
and the bill, instead of heneftlng the
small taxpayers, would have made il
necessary for the state to borrow more
funds.
The credit CT the state is good at home
and it is an evidence that residents are
not cramped for funds when the $50, 00j
of state funding warrants were all taker
within the state in two or three days
from the time of their issuance Treas
urer Mcmillan had no difficulty in nego-
tiating them at the prescribed maximum
rate of interest, per cent. The Fargo
banks and investors took the greatest
single lot and the remainder were SOLD
to investors. Inquiries were received by
officials for several times the total
amount of the issue.
Two bills have been introduced to make
1t easy for farmers in need to get see6
grain. One of them provides for a Ter
on crop for seed grain furnished, and the
other provides that counties may issue
seed grain bonds and furnish seed to
those who need it. After the partial cror
failure of last year, there may be sec
lions of the state where it will be neces
sary to give aid to some farmers.
Senator Hales bill providing for the re.
drement of staff officers of the state
guard, upon their own request or upor
the volitior Of the governor after they
have served two years, has been recon-
mendei to pass by the committee on mill
tary affairs.
The primary election bill has not vet
been reported from the committee on
elections, and in order to stir up the re-
quisite interest in the bill the Grand
FORKS Herald, which is one of its chief
supporters, urges people in all parts OF
the state to prepare petitions and for
ward them to their representatives
The members of the committee, an
pointed to investigate the Irvine plant
at the penitentiary and report ways and
means for its maintenance for the ensu-
ing year, have made their official visit.
While there are many demands on the
state for funds, the committee realizes
| that the plant is a desirable institution
and should have fairer chance than was
accorded 1T last year when the crop sea-
son was sadly against it and the demand
for twine small.
A bill for a change in the manner of
taxation of grain in elevators has been
introduced in the house. The present
law provides for the listing and taxation
of grain in elevators to the company or
| firm owning the elevator, the company
having lien on the grain for taxes if
it is not owned by them. Under the pro-
posed bill the grain would be assessed to
the owners, if on storage, and the coun-
ties must look to the owners of the grain
for their taxes and not to the elevators.
1t was argued when the present law was
enacted that the assessment to owners
of grain on storage did no good, for the
reason that it might be taken out and
| sold between the time of the assessment
and the time when taxes were collectable.
If directly assessed to the elevator COM
pany it would be their business to see
that they got the taxes before the grain
was taken out and that was the object