The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-02-11

the seed laboratory by preparing the
transportation charges and such sam
pies shall be examined and reported
upon free of charge.
Bismarck, Feb. 2.-Following out
in detail somewhat the Minnesota law
on the same subject, Senator Simpson
of Stark has q bill before this legisla-
ture creating the Office of tax com
missioner of North Dakota. The
question Of taxation has become a
most difficult problem in this state
and many remedies have been sug.
gested from time to time. Minnesota
has a tax commissioner in the per-
son of Franklin McVey, who address
ed the joint assembly a couple of
weeks ago on the question Of taxation.
He outlined the workings of the Min.
nesota statute and showed the many
benefits that may be accrued to all
concerned by the employment by the
state of a tax specialist who can re-
wise the tax law so as to make them
equitable and just.
The Simpson bill provides that
within ten days after the passage of
his measure, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, the governor shall ap!
point to the Office of tax commissioner
a competent lawyer who is a tax spe-
cialist and who has had experience in
tax litigation, and the person so ap-
pointed shall hold his Office for two
years and until his successor is ap-
pointed. He shall receive for his sal
airy 81 a year and the expenses he
may incur in the performance Of his
duties, such as the cost of printing,
typewriting, paper, postage, travelling,
hotel bills and other incidental ex-
penses not exceeding in all $4,000 a
year. After the appointment of the
first tax commissioner, his successor
shall be appointed for two years and
Issaid appointment confirmed by the
senate.
It shall be the duty of the tax COM
Emissioner, according to the Simpson
bill, to exercise general supervision
over the administration of the assess
ment and taxation laws of the state
and to advise and give necessary in
struction and direction to assessors
and boards Of equalization through
out the state as to their duties unaer
the laws of the state to the end that
all assessments Of property and all
tax levies shall be, made relatively
just and equal and in compliance with
the laws of the state. He is required
to officially visit every county in the
state at least once in two years and
inquire into the methods Of assess
ment and taxation and ascertain
whether the assessors and other OF.
ficers faithfully discharge their duties.
The state tax commissioner is fur
Their required to Investigate the tax
laws of other states and countries and
to formulate and submit to the legis-
lature of the state such legislation as
such commissioner may deem expe.
dent to u just and equal taxa
tion in this state.
An act to require relatives to sup
port the poor is now before the house
committee on state affairs and viii!
doubtless receive favorable attention
at the hands of the committee. The
bill was introduced by Representative
Wexford of Pembina.
Section 1 of the bill provides that
it shall be the duty Of the father,
mother, husband, wife, children, sis
ter and brother, being of sufficient
ability, of any poor person who Is
blind, old, lame, impotent or decrepit
SO as to be unable to maintain him
self, to relieve and maintain such poor
person in such manner as shall be
approved by the resident commission
er of the: district wherein the said poor
person may be.
Notice of such application shall be
given at least two weeks prior to the
hearing thereon by serving the same
upon the person to whom it is direct
ed in the same manner as is provided
for the service of summons in courts
in this state, and such notice may be
so served anywhere within this state
No person shall obtain permanent
relief in this state unless their petit
ton shall have first been presented tc
the board of county commissioners
The said petition shall set forth the
name and age Of the applicant for re
lief, the cause or causes, which pre-;
vent his being self supporting, wheth
Ell or not said APPLICANT has any living
relatives with their names, if any
and places of residence together with
degrees of relationship, and the petit
ton shall be forwarded to the com
missioner of the first district, who
shall investigate the case and present
the petition at the next meeting of the
board of county commissioners foz
such action as the board may see fiji
to take.
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