The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-01-18
COUNTY COMM|S-
S|0NERS HOLD
Il. MEETING IN M|N0T
Officials From State Make Recon-.
mendatiOns to Legislature-Want
One County Official Paper

The county commissioners of NORTH
Dakota held their annual convention IL
Minot this week, the sessions being helt
at the Sons of Norway hall. The meet
sized attendance with Peter Vandenoe
yer of Minot, president of the state or
ganization, In the chair. L. J. Palda Jr
the county fathers feel at home ' in ou,
hospitable city. The response was made
by President Vandenoever who stated
that the county commissioners realized
that the people placed a good deal OF
confidence in electing them to positions
where they were entrusted with the eX.
penditure of vast sums of money and he
believed that the county commissioners
as a whole gave mighty good account
of their stewardship.
The forenoon was taken up mainly in
the payment of dues and in getting &C.
quanted.
The attendance in the afternoon was
larger and by evening nearly hundred
have gathered from all parts of the
state. making this one of the best at.
tended conventions in the history of the
Association.
President A. G. Crane of the Minot
Normal delivered the main address in the
afternoon, his subject being. County
pointed out where the commissioners
had great deal to do towards the de-
velopment Of the state educationally.
In the evening a banquet was served
W
hall. 1t was in charge Of the Minot
Commercial Club and directly supervised
by e. L.. Rowan, At it's conclusion
@ and MaSn deten as st
| tOaStS was given.
The commissioners met again at 10
O'Clock Wednesday morning. President
Vandenoever being i'll at his home, Mr.
Hockridge of Cass county was elected
temporary chairman.
State Engineer Bliss gave an excellent
address on state road building and dis
cuSsed the proposed road building laws
1t was easily seen that the commissions
ers We're interested more in the subject
of road building than in anything else
as all about the state this matter has the
closest attention of the county fathers.
Edwin G. Hathaway, U. S. District en-
gineer, discussed the subject of Federal
aid for public highways. Wednesday af-
ternOOn.
The commissioners discussed various
resolutions pertaining to recommends
tons to be made to the legislature. They
oppose the plan of turning the money
hands. of a state highway commission,
believing that the money can be better
expended in maintaining the main trav-
eled roads from the present method.
they oppose raising the license as they
state that just so much valuation must
be included and the taxpayers would
not be any better off.
A resolution to recommend that the
y
$3.50 for the minimum and $500 for the
maximum. according to population, was
voted down.
A resolution was passed recommends
ing the legislature to enact law pro-
viding but for one official newspaper in a
county, but specifying that such paper
must furnish supplement containing
the proceedings to two other papers.
The proposition of recommending a bill
to be passed providing for the expense of
the commissioners to the annual con-
ventions was voted down. The COM
missioners are not favorable to the plan
of paying taxes twice a year, stating
that the money would not be on hand
as needed, besides it would require addi-
tionai clerks at the court house.
Fargo was selected for the next con-
vention. The following officers were
elected this morning:
President. II. c. Hockridge, Cass: Vice
Pres. Harry Hardy, Mountrail; Secy. and
Treas: Frank Heimes. Barnes: Directors
olaf Lokensgard. Ward: Thos. Mooney,
Grand Forks: M K. Nybo. Benson; S. J.
Nagel, Morton, and W. Lichty, Towner.