The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-03-08
Covern(i Frazier Kills
Terminal Elevator Bill

Bismarck, March Ex-Governor Lynn
J. Frazier today vetoed Senate Bill "a,
the terminal elevator bill, which was
passed by the Fifteenth assembly
two hours before it adjourned.
The governor in vetoing the bill sent
a message to the secretary of state in
which he stated that he is satisfied
that this measure would hamper and
retard real progress, discourage the
people and make the struggle Of the
farmer against the gambler much
harder and would tend to block the
ultimate establishment of a terminal
elevator and -four milling system on a
business basis that will assure sue
cess"
Senate Bill "a, introduced by Sena-
tor Gronvold, was originally a bill for
a state-owned terminal elevator to be
erected in Fargo and an appropriation
of 100000 was provided to be raised
by direct taxation. It created COM
mission of Is with the governor at the
head to carry out the provisions. The
old guard senators secured it's passage
in the senate and when the bill
reached the house it was amended.
The two houses were unable. to agree
on the amendments until two hours be-
fore close of the session. The amend
ed bill as it passed both houses pro-
vided for commission composed OF
the governor, attorney general, state
treasurer, and citizen from each con-
gressional district and one from the
state at large to be appointed by the
governor. The commission was en-
powered to erect q terminal elevator
or terminal elevators within or outside
of the state and the appropriation OF
100000 was provided to include the
100000 which is now in the terminal
elevator fund. The balance of the ap-
preparation was to be raised by direct
taxation.
Governor Frazier in his veto mes
sage gives five reasons for vetoing the
measure. He takes exception to the
direct taxation features of the bill and
to the fact that 100000 would not be
sufficient He states that such ter
minal elevator without mill to exper-
iment to show the value Of such state
ownership of such institutions would
be of little or no value. He also states
that he is satisfied that the people Of
the state would take no pride in build
ing such an institution outside of the
state, as could be done under the terms
of the bill, where the elevator would
not be under the control of the laws
of this state.
He further states that ne. with
holds his approval for the reason that
the legislature appropriated money in
- ~ 49, 1oh dc
His message is as follows:
ITO the Honorable Secretary of State:
Il file herewith Senate Bill Number
"a, an act to provide for the creation
of a commission, the selection of To-
cation, erection, leasing, operating,
renting or selling, one or more termin-
al elevators either within or without
the state of North Dakota and making
an appropriation therefor, without my
approval, for the following reasons.
"1-This act provides for the build
ing of an elevator or elevators by di-
rect taxation.
II feel that the taxes are high
enough and in view Of the condition of
the states finances and the financial
condition of the people, an increase of
the taxes is unwarranted and unde-
sirable.
our state permits cities to issue
bonds for improvements such as sew.
ers, water works, paving, electric light
plants etc. This method has proven
to be the correct principle and has
given general satisfaction. l believe
the state should follow the same prin'
ciple in the building of terminal ele'
o4h ctot G
for the benefit of the farmers who pay
the greater part of the states taxes
and produce most of it's wealth.
"2-I believe a state owned termi
nal elevator without state owned
-four mill to grind the wheat into
-four and demonstrate it's true milling
value, thus showing the wide differ
ence in the price received by the farm
'ers for wheat and the price paid by
the public for flour, would be failure
Such an elevator in this state
without a mill would be of no value
unless it were large enough to han
die or control all of the North Dakota
crop. In fact, 100000 would not ever
finance such an elevator il it were al
ready built.
'3-This act provides that the ele
vator may be built outside of the
state.
II am satisfied that the people Of
North Dakota would take no pride ii
building such an institution in anoth
,er state, especially in state where
the grain gamblers still control the
marketing and influence legislation il
their favor. =
Should the elevator be built outside
the state, it would not be under the
control Of Qur laws but would be regu
lated by the laws of the state in which
it was built. Neither would it be il
keeping with the often expressed sen
timent and desires of our people tt
keep North Dakota institutions AM
money at home.
al believe it to be my duty tt
withhold my approval of this act TO-
the further reason that the Legislature
appropriated money in excess of tn,
states available funds. 1t is true tha