Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-11-29
n interview

Minot, Nov. 2S.-in IN interview
with Ex-Governor j. NJ. Devine re-
garding legislative matters, he made
the following interesting statements:
"You asked me to give some infor-
nation as to probable legislation at
the forthcoming session OF the legis-
latura. NO one can state with any de-
gree of accuracy what any session OF
the legislature may or may not do dur
ing a sixty day session. Yet think
it is a reasonable assumption to say
that much legislation OF more or less
Importance will be introduced. One
can always count on the quantity if
not the quality. The next legislative
assembly 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 it's 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
toward fixing State, Legislative and
County elections every four years in
place Of every two years as now.
Such a change will result in the say
ing OF many thousand dollars to the
people, and will not lessen efficiency.
We have too many elections. The
primary election of this year cost
80, 100000 and the November election
about $4,000. A session of The leg.
~islature continuing for a period of,
sixty days brings an expenditure OF
money Of about $140,000.OO. That
large amount of money is certainly
worth saving if in the Accomplishment,
Of such an end we do not lose eff.
cheney Of service.
Serious Handicap.
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 50 per cent, viii
undoubtedly work a serious hardship
TO our Normal school here at MinOt
and even to a greater extent than tina
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 al
Minot has no such land grant and
therefore no revenue from this source
For its maintenance we have beer
wholly dependent upon the mill tax
therefore to cut in on that source Of
revenue SO per cent naturally pro
duces a very serious situation. The
West wing OF t e main building is ye'
to be started. The large, costly ant
beautiful grounds, a giftyOf the city O.
Minot, to the State, stands today will
out walks, trees or driveways. The
school so far has been managed will
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
nlty of at least three instructors.
, Condition to Face.
J, s"No doubt it was a condition ant
not a theory that confronted tn,
Board of Equalization when The,
placed the assessment of the stat,
within the Constitutional limit of
mills. There cannot be, nor do l be
lieve there will be, any reasonable o
Just complain for the above action
+ but the fact remains that it is exceed
{ ingly doubtful if the several educa
tional institutions can meet success
, fully their rapidly growing needs an,
5 obligations under the Constitutions
t limit of 4 mills and an assessed valu
alton of $30S, 600, 900. It therefore fol