Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-29
University Starts Fdr:ReQching
Question in Insurance Ldu

scott Hex, one OF Grand Forks most able attOr-
neys, appeared yesterday before the Supreme Court
representing the Northern Fire Marine Insurance
Company. as relator, and asked for perenptory
writ of mandamus requiring the state auditing board
to show cause why bill OF the said insurance com.
pany for $2o4 covering the premium on insurance
policy writttn on the State University OF Grand
Forks the order of the board Of trustees Of hat
institution, should not be allowed and paid.
The writ Of mandamus has been granted and the
auditing board, consisting of Governor Hanna, Attor
ney General Miller, Secretary Of State Thomas Hall,
State Treasurer Gunder Olson and State Auditor Carl
G. Jorgenson have been ordered to appear on April
H. and show why said bill shall not be paid.
To one not acquainted with the circumstances, it
would appear that the auditing board was committing
queer bit Of business in refusing to pay this premi
UNI OH the state university Up to the 1st Of July,
1873 the insurance for all the state buildings had
been paid out OF the general fund Of the state There
was no limit to what might be paid for insurance
public buildings and state institutions and the cost
OF this insurance amounted to approximately $4,000
per year
During the 1918 session of the legislature Chapter
Al of the Session Laws enacted, and. this chapter
repealed, i'm part the old law, which provided the
general fund should pay the insurance, as it was
contended this expense was properly q part Of the
maintenance Of the institution, and the fact that the
institutions obliged to pay for their own insur
ance would prevent over insurance to the end that
their own funds might suffer no unnecessary expend
ture.
From time to time since July I, 1913 at which
time the repeal became effective bills have been pre-
scented to the auditing board and dsalowed because
the law providing for the payment Of insurance prem
iums for insurance on public buildings and insttu-
tons had been repealed Under date Of January 20,
%loro forwo cd C<ofn A,,I
q number of insurance policies on the state univer-
sty, together with bills for the premium which
amounted to the total sum Of $12,Go2.95. The bias
presented to the auditing board, disailowed,
and the auditor instructed to return the bills to the
state university the same to be paid out of their
funds, with which that institution Is literally sup
Piled as will be shown later. In that list of policies
and bills appeared this bill for the Northern Fire 4
Marine Insurance Company. No. 1896, for $4,000,
with premium at 1904. The board Of trustees evil
IDENTIFY refused to take any further action, in order
that this company might bring action and find out
whether there possibility that the state could
be made to pay the insurance on the university
Every other institution in the state, with the ex-
cepton possibly Of the school Of forestry is paying
for its insurance out Of local funds, now that the
law allowing the premiums to be paid by the state
has been appealed.
The list of policies, shown In the letter filed
with the auditor is too long to publish, but permits
sion has been given to publish the letter sent to the
state university when the disallowed bills were
turned.
The following is the letter:
Office of the State Auditor February 10, 1914
j. w. Wilkerson,
University, North kDaota
Dear Sir
Enclosed herewith am returning to you the bills
listed following, covering insurance written the
University. These bills disapproved by the aud
iting board, for the that Chapter Al Of the
Session Laws Of 1913 repealed the law providing the
state should pay the premiums. All other institutions
ure caring for their own insurance.
H. Eendeke ................$ 1,224.O0