The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1914-11-26

forthcoming session OF the legislature.
No one can state with any degree of
accuracy what any session of the leg
islature may or may not do during a
sixty day session. Yet think it is
reasonable assumption to say that
much legislation of more or less i'm
portance will be introduced. One can
always count on the quantity if not the
quality. The next legislative assem-
bly, will be largely controlled by the
Republican members of both the
House and Senate and will undoubted-
ly follow closely the Republican plat
form and which contained the party
pledge to the people. That being the
case it is safe to say that there will be
legislation along the line of Good
Roads, Lower Rate of Legal and Con-
tract Interest; legislation that will
have for its purpose the bringing of
more settlers to our state, both native
and foreign born; Farm Loan and
Farm Betterment legislation. Bills
will probably be introduced looking to-
ward fixing State, Legislative and
County elections every for years in
place of every two years as now. Such
a change will result in the saving of
many thousand dollars to the people,
and will not lessen efficiency. We have
too many elections. The primary cleo
ton Of this year cost $9O,0O0.OO and
the November election about $11O, 900.
A session of the legislature continuing
for a period of sixty days brings an
expenditure of money of about $14O,-
100000. That large amount Of money
is certainly worth saving, if in the ac-
complishment Of such an end we do
not lose efficiency of service.
Speaking more directly as to our
own local needs the recent action Of
the Board of Equalization, acting in
conjunction with the Supreme court,
in cutting the special mill tax for ed
ucational institutions 80 per cent, will
undoubtedly work serious hardship
to our Normal school here at Minot,
and even to greater extent than that
of the other educational institutions
located in the state. All educational
institutions in our state have a large
and rapidly growing fund arising out
of the sale of institution lands and
granted by the Federal government
through the Enabling Act, but unfor-
tunately the State Normal school at
Minot has no such land grant and
therefore no revenue from this source.
For its maintenance we have been
wholly dependent upon the mill tax,
therefore to cut in on that source of
revenue 38 per cent naturally pro-
duces very serious situation. The
West wing Of the main building is vet
to be started. The large, costly and
beautiful grounds, a gift Of the city of
Minot, to the State, stands today with
out walks, trees or driveways. The
school so far has been managed with
a faculty Of eleven instructors, in
elusive of a practice school of $50 pu-
pills. Today there is a serious press
ing need for an addition to the fac
ulty of at least three instructors.
No doubt it was condition and not
theory that confronted the Board of
Equalization when they placed the as
sessment of the state within the Con-
stitutional limit of mills. There
cannot be, nor do I believe there will
be, any reasonable or just complaint
for the above action, but the fact re-
mains that it is exceedingly doubtful
II the several educational institutions
can meet successfully their rapidly
growing needs and obligations under
the Constitutional limit Of mills and
an assessed valuation of $3O8,OOO 900.
It therefore follows that it will be up
to the forthcoming legislative assem-
bly, to find new sources of revenue that
may have heretofore escaped taxation
or having been taxed, has not been
bearing its just share of the burden
Of maintaining this rapidly growing
state. ] do not think it will be diff
cult to find opportunity for just tax
alton under either Of the above stated
new sources.
Twenty five years ago was held in
the city Of Bismarck, the states first
Constitutional convention We then
had population of about one hundred
and forty thousand. Today we have a
population Of not less than seven hun
dred thousand. In all other lines
which 60 to make up strong, pro-
gressive state, we have grown equally
as rapid as in population. We are
now confronted with new problems
and largely new conditions neither
thought nor dreamed Of by the men
who made up the Constitutional con-
vention Of 1889. There are many rea