The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-07
GUARDIANSHIP
ISSUE In N. D.
BOARD QUIET
No Developments Since
Frazier Appointees
'- Sought Removal
EXPENSE FUND
rs VOTED BACK
State Treasurer, However,
Declares Action Illegal,
and Refuses Transfer

Up to the present. time, there have
been no further moves in the pro.
posed change in the Craftsmanship OF
the state board of regents, which
was attempted at the recent meet
ing in Bismarck, when the three
Frazier appointees, elected Robert
Muir. of Sarles, as board chairman
over the protests OF L. F. Crawford,
who was elected chairman last July
Chairman Crawford has announced
that he will carry his case to the
courts If Mr.. Muir attempts to per-
form any 'aGts as president of the
board.
c. e. Vermilya, of Bismarck, mem
Der of the board appointed by Gov
ernor Frazier when Frank White re-
signed, told the board at the recent
meeting that he believed the Frazier
appointees were entitled to say who
should be chairman.
At the time that Mr.. Crawford
was chairman for the year, there
were three regularly appointed board
members acting, Messrs. Crawford,
Taylor and White. Only two of the
board members acting at that time
have been disqualified by the courts,
the right of three men to their places
being untouched.
It is now, commended by Mr.. Craw-
ford and DR.. Taylor that on account
Of the fact that. three regularly ap-
pointed and qualified board members
acted in electing Mr.. Crawford to the
presidency, no subsequent change of
the boards control within the year
should operate to remove Mr.. Craw-
ford from the chair. u.
Mr.. White resigned after the July
meeting and Mr.. Vermilya was subse-
quently appointed. .,
Given Funds Again. .
Governor Frazier, whose veto rob-
bed the board of regents of travelling
expenses after the last session of the
legislature. and who refused the
boards request for the transfer of
funds from the emergency fund to
the regent fund, has suffered a
change of heart since the administra-
ton came into control of the board
Immediately following the close of
the last legislative session, when the
general appropriation bill came to
Governor Frazier for his signature,
he pared from 1t an item of $1,000
for travelling expenses OF members
OF the state board OF regents. The
governor had just failed in an effort
to GUST the board, and he did not
feel friendly toward 1t. He ANNOUNCE
ed that his veto was in the interests
Of economy. Later the board of
regents asked te hemergency com
mission, OF which Governor Frazier
is chairman, to transfer from an un-
expended balance in the regents per-
diem fund to their travelling fund
some $4,000. This the board declined
to do. g..
Steen- Declines.
October 8. Immediately after Gov
ernor Frazier acquired control of the
board, the governor assembled his
emergency commission and voted to
transfer $4,000 in order that his
regents might have travelling expen-
ses. This week the state treasurer,
John Steen, was notified of the
commissions action and
requested by Secretary Of State Hall
to make the transfer. The treasurer
declined to do so on the ground that
such a transfer would clearly be
illegal, and Governor Frazier's three
members of the board Of regents are
ernor set for the old Hanna board.
Recalls Mileage Gift.
Immediately after the appointment
by Governor Frazier of a board OF
regents Of his own, last winter, he
voted each of these Ave men a g.
O00-mile railway ticket. Orders for |
these tickets were presented to State !
Treasurer Steen, and he declined to |
honor them, on the ground that the
Frazier appointees, to all intents and
were still private citizens, |
with no right to travel at state ex-
pense. AS to three of these APP |
pointees. the supreme court sustained |
the state treasurer, but 1t seated two |
- wuyEA h.
Power expired. The third member |
was seated through the vacancy |
caused by former Governor Whites |
but they are still with |
out transportation, and the state |
treasuter is 'standinsA nat "t <-.. |