The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-05-18
Commissioner Of Agriculture Replies
to an Interview Published In the In
pendent-Farmers Are Not Con-
vinced That He 10 Right.

vinced That He 10 Right.
w, C. Gilbreath, commissioner OF
Agriculture and Labor, sent cut from
Bismarck last week reply to an
article which appeared in the 1nde-
pendent recently, an interview with
NJ. H. Putney, Ward county assess
or. Mr.. Gilbreath, by virtue of his
office, is in charge of the state insur.
ance department.
We are glad at all times to open
our columns to the discussion of any
question.
In the first place, the Independent
wants to make it clear to the readers
that We are not interested in any way
in any OF the old line hail insurance
companies, and II we thought for
moment that the state insurance com:
pany was giving the farmers fair deal.
We would not hesitate in boosting 1t.
The interview that Mr.. Gilbreath re-
fers to was bona fde, in fact we have
interviewed a number of township as
SCISSORS and they all treat the state
hail insurance ~ huge Joke. The
farmers, Mr.. Gilbreath, should remem'
ber, are doing considerable thinking
for themselves now days. They take
statements from our publis officials
with a grain of salt, oftimes. They
don't think much of the new state hail
insurance law for reasons that the In
dependent, as we'll as a number of
the assessors have given. Had Mr.. Gil
breath been present at the meeting of
the assessors of Ward county few
weeks ago, and heard their opinions
on this law, he probably would not
nave referred to our article as ''pur-
ported interview" As we said before,
this law, with some fixing, would be a
good one. When the farmers insure
their crops against hail they want to
know, however, that in case Of loss,
they will receive proper cOmpensa-
ton. What assurance can Mr.. Gil
breath give us that there will be am
pie funds to pay those losses? The
state is on the safe side always.
There WI probably be plenty of
money in the fund to pay Mr.. Gil
breath and his extra clerks for the
services, but the farmers want to be
assured that they will receive ample
compensation.
True, the adjusters are our county
commissioners, but VI, here in Ward
county, that is no assurance that the
farmers are going 20 get square
deal
Mr.. Gilbreaths communication fol-
lows:
State of North Dakota, Department
of Agriculture and Labor. w. G. Gil
lreath, commissioner, Bismarck, n. D.
May 9, 1911.
There appeared an article in last
' eek@ issue Of the Ward County In.
dependent, under he caption Of "A S.
SCISSORS and State Hail Insurance"
which purports to be an interview
with an assessor by the name Of M. Fl.
Putney. The interview and the com
ments by the Independent are so
manifestly unfair and untruthful that
they are liable to prejudice the far
mers against the State Hail Insurance
company, who have not taken either
the time to read tie law or secured
copy Of the same.
IN the first place assessors for the
year are not required to give bond
for 1911. This provision was waived
by the advice and consent of the At.
torney General, SC that obviates the
cost Of procuring or filing bond.
The assessor, whose purported in
terview is published in the Independ-
ent, fails to observe that section 2 of
the law provides that 1T shall be and
is hereby made the duty of each as
SCISSOR in the state, at the time OF
listing the property for assessm ent,
to require of the party assessed how
many acres Of crop. II any, such party
desires to have insured in said hail
insurance department for the year"
It does not materially matter IL the
assessor can only make $4,000 in his
district or township, because the fee
is only twenty-five cents. It is true
1t does not make the assessor a very
large fee, but it only requires about
minute to fill out the application
and saves the farmer . larger fee
which he pays other companies for