The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-10-09

to stop the practice. a ,a
Referring to the constitutional amendments.
What will be the effect of adopting amendment to
Section 176 of Article II as amended by Article
20 of amendments which relate to taxation. BY
emitting the words: AND SHALL BE LEVIED
AND COLLECTED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES
ONLY will this not give the legislature the power
to levy and collect taxes for any purpose whatso-
ever, whether it be for public enterprise or i'm
provement, or to enrich the private interests? We
would like to know why it is necessary to strike
this clause out of the constitution as it now
stands
| Referring to the debt limit as affected by
amending Section 1872 and Article IL, if this
amendment is approved will it not give unlimited
power to the state, the county and the city to
bind the people to pay bonded debts? We would
like to know why it is necessary to make such
radical change and give unlimited power to the
legislature, county commissioners and city au-
thorities No doubt you have good reason for this.
Will you kindly explain?
Referring to public ownership which is the
amendment to Section 1876 and Article IL as
amended by Article IS Of the amendments. If this
amendment is adopted, if there any business that
the state, the county or the city may not engage
in, excepting the manufacture and sale of lntoxi-
eating liquors? We would like to know more about
the necessities and requirements for this change
in the constitution Many people do not quite un-
derstand. The opinion prevails among large
number Of people that if these amendments were
all consummated and the constitution changed &C.
cordingly, that it will practically abolish private
ownership of land because land will have to carry
all of the burdens of taxation and if the state and
county and city takes up the ownership Of the
business enterprises, private ownership to all
property, real and personal, will eventually bel
abolished. In what particular does this program
differ from the regular sociaistic program as pro-
posed by the national socalistic organization? We
are anxious to know just what the difference is
We should be enlightened You can be Of immense
assistance to the public if you will help out by CIV
ing clear distinct candid writeup in regard to
these different questions The people of this state
are asked to make a radical departure from their
usual and ordinary way of doing business and
should have full and complete detailed informa-
ton. No doubt when you give this detailed in
formation the benefits will be so self-evident that
it will require no argument on your part to con-
vince the public that the step should be taken, but
so long as there is doubt in the minds of the
people, they may consider it part of wisdom to
vote NO on everything that they do not clearly
understand. Your assistance in this matter will
be very much appreciated.
Very respectfully,
F. O. HELLSTROM.
Here is the North Dakota Leader editorial to
which Mr.. Helstrom alludes:
"The Fargo Forum published full page adver-
tisement--pad for by Big Business-in vain at
tempt to show that North Dakota will be ruined
if the constitutional amendment is passed which
permits the bonding of the state for various pun
poses.
LET us see what the facts are in the case.
"There are at present about $3O0000,000 bor-
rowed in North Dakota on farm land mortgages
"The interest alone at eight per cent on this
sum is $24,O00,OOO year.
"The, real estate mortgage investors probably
feel that the security is pretty good or they would
never have advanced the money.
Gust supposng the state of North Dakota
would issue bonds in the sum of $300,000,000
backed by the $3OOOOOOO0 in farm mortgages.
"And suppose the state charged the farmers
four per cent interest instead of the eight per
cent they now paying. ,..' ".
1.-THE RESULT WOULD BE THAT THE
FARMERS OF NORTH DAKOTA WOULD SAVE
$12, 900, 900 ANNUALLY ON INTEREST.
1.-THE Fargo Forum thinks $12,00O,O0O is a ire
mendous sum in talking about bonding the state,
BUT. WHEN '$12, 100000 CAN BE SAVED TO
THE FARMERS OF THE STATE IN INTER-
EST MONEY 1T DOESN'T LOOK LARGE TO
THEM AT ALL.
THAT is WHAT PUTS THE FORUM IN THE
KEPT PRESS CLASS. IT WOULD RUN A FULL
PAGE ADVERTISEMENT TO WARN THE