The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-08

"Kristianiafjord" and I expect to be
gone about six weeks.
THE business Of the state has been
brought down to date: every board
meeting held and all bills against the
state have been audited.
"A year ago last January when I
came into office, there were practically
100000 in unpaid bills and unpaid
appropriations outstanding. During
the last year and a half these claims
have been paid. Also at that time,
there were outstanding $937,300 in
bonds against the state, making a total
Indebtedness Of $1,237,3OO. The cur
rent debt owed at that time, as stated.
has been paid and in addition $780,
600 Of the bonded debt has been paid
from the sinking fund, leaving a debt
today Of 100000 less than q year and
half ago, and leaving the bonded
debt Of the state at $637300 and all
current Indebtedness against the state
taken care Of
During the session Of the Iegis-
laturG a year ago l vetoed practically
100000 Of bills, but no institution in
the state has been closed and the
efficiency Of no institution in the state
has been lesSened by reason Of those
VetOes. II has required a little mora
economy on the part of the various
departments Of the state and in the
Dr1cuC2ng OF this economy / have had
the hearty cooperation of the various
boards and the men at the head of
the various state institutions. BY rea-
son Of VctOeng those appropriations,
1t has been possible to place the state
in the financial condition it now is
and should l be nominated and re-
elected s governor, | believe it will
be possible by the close Of my next
term as governor to have the state
entirely out Of debt. both floating and
bonded.
THE state levy for the general fund
as made last summer by the state
board Of equalization was the lowest
for the general fund ever made in the
history Of the state. Had the 100000
vetoed among the appropriations been
approved. in order to raise that
amount Of money by the state levy, it
would have been necessary to have in
creased the assessed valuation of the
property Of the state by one hundred
and ten millions, thereby raising the
assessed valuation Of the state from
about three hundred and four millions
to about four hundred and fifteen mill
hons. This would have increased the
county officers salaries in almost
every county in the state and the peo-
pie Of the state would not only have
had to pay the appropriation of $780,
600, but would have had to pay many
thousands in excess of that in the way
Of Increased salaries.
"On my present trip to Europe, my
party and myself go first to Norway
and will there attend the exercises on
the AMERICAN Norwegian Day, july
4th, when the Lincoln Memorial will
be presented to the people of that
country. From there we go into Swe-
den, down into Denmark, to Germany
and expect to see a little of the Brit
ish isles. and will sail for home prob
ably from Queenstown. believe
thoroughly that one Of North Dakotas
greatest needs is more people, and
while this trip across the water is
primarily made for the purpose Of
honoring a large number of the peo-
pie Of our state, yet 1t cannot helm
but have a beneficial effect in calling
the attention Of the people of north
ern Europe to North Dakota and I
hope and believe that 1t will count in
some measure, at least. to turn the
tide of immigration from northern Eu-
rope to our state.
Il have not made a campaign speech
since 1 have been governor of North
Dakota, but I have upon invitation
visited many towns in the state and
have spoken upon many subjects
which I believe the people Of our state
are interested In.
"a good deal has been said with
reference to the reduction of interest.
have always believed that the reduc-
ton Of interest naturally follows the
increase in capital and the stability of
the country and the borrowers. In
the eastern part of North Dakota now
the average rate Of interest for short
| time loans is 8 per cent or less and
while the rate is somewhat higher in
| the middle and western sections, the
bankers in those sections have to pay
higher rates themselves for the money
| which they have gotten to loan to the
people. I believe that the bankers and
the borrowers alike will welcome a re-
duction in the rate of interest and I
shall be glad to use my influence to
bring this about.
'The proposition submitted by me
as to the loaning of the school funds
| of the state is the only feasible prop-
| osition I know of. It never was my
| thought that We should sell all of the
school lands Of the state at one time,
but that with good crops we would
have a sale of some Of the school
| lands in every county this fall This
| would make very large amount os
money available for loaning on farm
lands at a low rate of interest ana
it is on that. class Of loans that the
| farmers need help most, and I know
of no other place where at the pres
ent time a large sum of money can
be made available to help the farmers
except from that source. want to
see the farmers of the state helped
in every way and want to see en-
lcouragement given them with their
farm elevators and creameries and In
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