Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-01-14

with the state auditor for the sum of
$500, that being the amount of his
salary as provided by law and actual
expenses incurred while acting as tenn
perance commissioner. Mr.. Murray
came to Bismarck and gave his entire
time and attention to the duties of his
etiice while he remained in offic and
did valuable services and should re-
celye just remuneration therefor. I
recommend that sufficient money be
appropriated to pay Mr.. Murray's bill.
Live Stock Sanitary Board.
The last legislative assembly passed
a law indemnifying owners for the
killing OF animals affected with CLAN
ders, the same being chapter 100 of
the laws of 1907. No appropriation
was made for the paying OF any
claims under the act, and, on account
thereof, there are now filed with the
state auditor claims amounting in the
aggregate to 100000, filed by the own
ers of animals killed under the law.
AS a matter of police regulation the
state has a right to kill animals af.
ASSSS0 WASh 6Aol1oSlo WITHOUT InQGlnnl-
Tying the owners, but such regulation
would In many cases work a great
hardship and be, at least, a tempta-
ton for h owner to conceal the con-
dltlon Of his animals, while if there
was an indemnity it would be an in
ducement for the owner to disclose
the condition of his animals, have the
| same Hnctr0Nn1 onI roooi,o A.
sistance the state offers, and thus re-
suit in the final eradication of the
disease. This was the intent of the
law n the appropriation for carry
Ing out the same was inadvertently
left out. l submit the whole matter
to you for your careful, conscientious
consideration.
Paint Law.
In enforcing the paint law Pure Food
Commissioner I4add of the Agricultural
college employed John S. Watson of
the firm of Ball, Watson, Young &
Lawrence of Fargo to represent the
state in an action brought in the fed
eral court to test the paint law. EN-
inent counsel from Chicago was en-
Eloyed by the wholesalers of paints.
but Mr.. Watson was successful in sus-
tanning the law in the federal district
court OF this state and likewise in the
supreme court of the United States.
Mr.. Watson did a great deal Of hard
and efficient work in preparing and
trying the case, both in this state and
in the city of Washington, where he
was obliged to go to argue the case
before the supreme court. He rem
dered valuable service to the state,
for which he should receive Just and
fair remuneration. He filed a bill for
the same with the auditing board and
there being no law under which the
auditing board could legally pay for
such services the claim has not been
allowed. l therefore recommend an
appropriation of such sum as will, in
your judgment, fairly and justly COM
pensate Mr.. Watson for his services.
School and Institution Lands.
The report of the commissioner of
public lands, which you have, or will
have before o shows how enor-
mously the institution funds have in
creased and the great necessity for
wise legislation to keep such funds
safely invested.
In this report l call your attention
especially to the recommendations
made by the commissioner. In sub
stance: That all lands subject to sale
be personally Investigated by a rep
resentative of the state, field notes
thereof taken and classified, with the
rental value for hay and grazing;
that the law under which the lands
are leased for IS per quarter section
regardless of the value for hay and
grazing and all leases for five years,
subject to sale Except where lessee
has the land fenced), be repealed;
that all lands leased for farming pur-
poses be sold and that the law gov
erning the leasing of lands should be
revised, in the revision of which the
commissioner generously offers his
services. The reasons for these rec
concentrations are given in the report
and are entitled to your earnest and
careful attention.
"lJIllds
The report of the adjutant general
calls attention to the necessity of an
appropriation for the improvement Of
the military reservation near Devils
Lake. In this connection the writer
knows of his own personal knowledge
that improvements are necessary. The
parade ground is rough, uneven and
billy, the roads are bad and a liberal
appropriation is necessary for the
improving of these military grounds.
Grain Commission.
Chapter 1923 of the laws of 1907 au-
thorizes the governor to appoint a
grain commission to investigate and
report on the feasibility Of ..ae state
! buying, leasing or building an ele-
vator to be used as a terminal ele-
/ vator for the use and benefit of the
: people of the Hate and to investigate
also and report on the methods of in
spection Of grain and dockase of
grain, the expense of cleaning grain,
the disposition Of screenings and ap-