The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-03-02
STATE.0WNED
FLOUR MILLS
TURNED DOWN
League Members Oppose Mea-
sures Advocated Because of
Direct Tax
ATTORNEY D1VET AND
HAGAN SPILL EP1THETS
Senate Bills III and 118 for
State. Owned Utilities Cause
Warm Fight

Charges by league members thai
the minority had sudden change Of
heart and counter charges that the
majority was voting against two bills
which 1t had advocated, were the out
standing features Of the fight which
conferred on Senate Bill III, empower
ing the legislative assembly to pro
vide law for erection, leasing, pnr
chasing and operating flour mills by
the state. and Senate Bill lis, for
state owned packing plant and stor
age warehouses. Both measures were
indefinitely postponed in the house
late Thursday afternoon.
State ownership Of public utilities
has been the platform of the league,
but the members contended that
these bills provide for direct lax
and they are opposed to that fea'
ture. -.
DLathrop Recommends Passage.
Representative Lathrop urged the
passage of the measures, which would
place them before the general assem-
bly, for passage or disapproval. de-
claring that the farmers of the state
had asked for such legislation and
that the farmers should have some
protection if the initiative process
should fail.
I'VE are tired of such sop" voiced
Representative Stair. Il don't under
stand the change which has come
over those who opposed House Bill
A. | believe it is for policy sake
and if it is. we got more TO look after
than things Just for policy sake
Representative Divet declared that
he was not enthusiastic as to the
state entering upon the operating Of
-four mills and packing plants or 9th
err public utilities and that if the peO-
pie want to experiment with the ques-
ton of state owned flour mills, he
was willing they should.
1T we pass these bills and send
them to the next legislature it will
enable the state to get such utilities if
the people by that time want them.
If the initiative process will bring it
about I am in favor of it, but what if
it should fall by the way? think
that anyone who is opposed to this
measure, which might be killed at the
next session, is not acting in good
faith. When it comes to the Uues-
ton of flour mills or fight, believe
the gentleman from Bottineau would
vote to fight"
Representative Stair replied with
the statement that the gentleman in
ferred ! wanted to fight. He is right
There are 10000 farmers in this state
( who realize that they have to fight
for their equal rights"
Meyer Of Richland stated that the
majority was pledged to support such
measure and that at the same time
he had this much policy in mind, that
I'VE should vote to make it possible
for the next legislature to vote on
such lines"
Would Substitute No. a..
Representative Eckert Of Mckenzie
offered House Bill No. A a sa substi.
tute. The motion was seconded by a
food of ayes.
rs the speaker going to substitute
A for 1872" asked Staale Hendrick-
son.
Representative Turner, who was
presiding, stated that he changed his
ruling and that the question before
the committee of the whole was on
the adoption Of the minority report
on the bill, that it be recommended
for passage. The vote taken resulted
in its being indefinitely postponed
PUTTING Sometime Across.
Preceding the vote, Representative
Hagan charged that the majority was
trying to put something across"
"They know we cannot build state
owned institutions by a direct tax.
I wonder at the great change of heart
which has come over these men with