The Dickinson press., 1906-10-20

of the Endorsement of what has proven
clean and deserving business administra-
ton. The republican candidates are
pledged to business administration of
affairs in the interests of the whole peo-
pie of the state. In every department of
the state this rule has been insisted upon
in the past two years and will be in effect
during the coming term.
In the financial departments of the
state there has been careful and busi-
ness-like scrutiny of all bills presented
for payment. A system of sub-vouchers
has been put into effect by Governor
Sarles by which every bill for expense of
a state or county official or representa-
tive is accompanied with receipts from
the persons to whom any money has
been paid on state account. The same
system affects county officials or persons
travelling on state business for railroad
mileage. This is the same system in
effect in government departments and it
will result in the saving of thousands of
dollars to the state and prevents any
possibility of mistake or overcharge
New systems of accounting have been
provided for state institutions so that
there can be no mistake or errors in ac-
counting.
The management of state institutions
has been at all times under the direct
supervision Of the governor and the state
auditors department. The additional
expense made necessary by the growth
of the state institutions and the erection
of necessary additions has been paid, the
present administration providing some
5000 900 necessary additional appropria-
tions and paying them during the term,
keeping at the same time the current ex-
penses of the state paid and a comfort
able balance in the state treasury.
New buildings have been provided for
the state agricultural college at Fargo,
the state university at Grand Forks, the
normal schools at Valley City and May
vile, the state penitentiary at Bismarck,
the hospital for the insane at Jamestown,
the deaf school at Devils Lake, the
school of forestry at Bottineau and at
other institutions. y
In addition to this the administration
has paid off the money expended for
buildings two and three years ago, when
the institution bonds of the state were
declared illegal and funds could not be
raised except by direct appropriations.
This has been done without raising the
tax levy of the state. The state board of
equalization has raised the valuation of
: the railroads in the state, so that they
will pay an increased tax to the state,
counties and other corporations of about
quarter of million dollars. The rail-
roads total valuation is now about twen-
ty-eight millions, an increase of over five
millions since last year. Increases in
land values have been made, but these
have been in the western part of the
state, where there has been a large
increase in settlement and where land
values have naturally increased by the
increased demand and the proven
productiveness of the soil.
In the state land department, lands
have been sold at figure that is making
the endowment of the schools and insti-
tutions of the state vast indeed. There
have been securities purchased until the
revenue of the schools and institutions
alone is vast and it is necessary to pro-
vide for a wider field of investment, in
order that all the funds on hand may be
The state is buying back all the bonds
issued in territorial days that were
made part of the obligations of the
state at statehood wherever it can obtain
them, in order that it may hold its own
securities and pay interest to its own
schools. The same conservative and
careful management has characterized
this department that prevails in every
department.
In previous years it has been claimed
that some of the. funds of the state treas.
urer were not deposited to produce rev.
enue to the state, and this is complained
of in many other states, but no such con.
dition now prevails in North Dakota. All
state funds are deposited to the credit Of
the state and the interest is paid into
the state treasury for the benefit of the
state. The interest payments have in
creased from some $4,000 three years
ago to about $4,000 up to September Isl
of the present year, and the total pay
ments at the same rate will reach about
$4,000 this year-an increase of nearl,
hundred per cent.
In the examiners and banking depart
ment, a new law covering the examina
ton of banks was passed two years age
at the recommendation of the governor
This provides for a stricter examination
of banks and their supervision by state
banking board. Nothing is more i'm
portant to the farmers and citizens of the
state than the absolute safety of thei
banks, and nothing is more necessary ii
state growing SO rapidly as North Da
kota, than strict supervision of all insti
tutions handling the funds of the people
1t is in these and all practical ways tina
Governor Sarles realizes the matters tina
will be of advantage and benefit to tn,
people and sets about to see that they
are done. His business experience il
invaluable. And the cooperation o
able officers enables the republicans o
the state to 60 before the people with
Y splendid record for clean management
and good sense in dealing with stat,
questions.
The present administration of th'
state has been quick to see the advan
tage arising to the state from the turning
i of peoples attention to the rich lands o
North Dakota and has worked in ever,
way to present to the people of the ives
and middle west the advantages of in
I vestment and homemaking in Nortl
Dakota. Never has there beena steadie
or more valuable immigration to til,