Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-01-27

Any day the committee of the
whole house fails to find something
over which it cannot make an argu-
ment. it is safe guess that the day
has been a quiet one. Yesterday,
just to keep up the record, the COM
mfttee found something to talk about
when it reached the point of consid'
ering H. B. No. 80, a measure intro
duced by Mr.. Christianson of Walsh
county and providing for the pay
ment semi-annualy OF real estate
taxes.
Mr.. Sorlie of Trail county was
the innocent cause of the afternoons
talkfest. He moved that the bill
be re.committed to the taxes and tax
law committee for consideration with
H. B. No. IS, measure seeking to
reduce the penalty on delinquent
taxes.
This brought forth statement
from Mr.. Doyle Of Foster to the effect
that the bill as reported was meri-
torious and one that the people Of
the state were favorable to. He
believed that the tax payers should
have the privilege of keeping their
cash rather than paying it in taxes,
and then having it deposited by the
county in the banks at a rate of 9
per cent interest.
Mr.. Stern Of lass county also fav.
ored the bill, believing 1t to be one
OF the best that had been introduced
during the present session. He made
the point that under the present law
banks received the benefit. Mime
sofa had been working under this
plan and found 1t successful and he
saw no reason why North Dakota
could not adopt 1t also.
Mr.. SOrlie, speaking in favor of
his motion, declared that conditions
were different in North Dakota than
they were in other states, and that
the present measure was the most
satisfactory one. He also took occa-
sion to announce his belief that Mr..
Stern's interest In the measure was
quite na<ural, lnasmuch as he was q
heavy taxpayer in the city of Fargo.
DR.. Johns Of Hettinger believed the
measure should be given trial, while
Mr.. Defiance Of Mountraill, felt that
the measure was one that should be
considered favorably by the house,
Mr.. Stern, speaking again, said
that following out the old plan of
annual payments, the people. of tho
city of Fargo pay out 100000 which
lies In the banks at very low interest
for several months. He felt that
this was unjust and. that the taxpayer
was entitled to the use of his money
during that period. Mr.. Stern also
contended that money had been paid
IN some of the Cass county towns
through the banks, and that the mon.
ey had never been sent to the county
treasurer but had remained in the
bank on deposit. and later been Dor.
rowed out to the farmer who had
made such payment at rate of II
per cent interest.
Mr.. Hedalen was another member
who found the bill meritorious, while
Mr.. Doyle, speaking second time.
commended that arguments advanced
by the gentleman from Trail were
not sound.
Mr.. Default of stutsman. Mr.. Kuhl
OF McHenry, Mr.. Davidson of Burke,
Mr.. Hyland of Ramsey, Mr.. Christian.
son OF Walsh. all spoke on the meas.
ure' and toward the close of the dis.
cussion Mr.. Sorlie arose and an.
nounced that he had been pleasantly
entertained by the many remarks
made. and that he had been con-
WINGED that the bill was a meritorious
one and should pass. and withdrew
mis- motion to refer back to the com.
mittee.
That ended the discussion and it
was recommended to pass.
. During the course of the remarks
several members declared that the
railroad companies paying large taxes
would be especially benefited by the
measure. but it appeared that they
were assessed largely under the head
OF real property. and therefore could
not take advantage of the BILL Mr..
HEland. in his remarks, felt that the
rlsht attitude had not been taken
toward the railroads, feeling that
they were entitled to the same con.
sideratlon from the legislative Assem-.
biy as were the individual taxpayers.
wide Open Feature Recommended.
Another tax bill coming before the
committee of the whole was H. B.
No. % by Mr.. Nestos amending the
constitution and providing for the
wide OPEN plan of taxation. It
allows the taxing of property of a
class at a certain rate, but does not
prescribe the assessment of all prop.
erty at Its full money value, as is now
provided.
Sudden death was meted out to a
resolution introduced by Mr.. Ander-
son OF Ramsey county providing for
recess from February l to Z. The
resolution was tabled on the motion
OF Representative Streeter of EN-
mons county.
There will be another round of
discussion IN this house this after
noon over H. B. No. 1O7, the measure
proposed by Mr.. Price of Cass county
providing that the sheriffs shall be