Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-15
TO sIEZE ALL ELEVATORS.
Nonpartisan League Plans Soc,a''st'e
Step in North Dakota.

Bismarck. n. D., July15.-An order
prenaring for the seizure Of all the
! 3. 200 grain elevators in North Dakota
as the first step in the Nonpartisan
Leagues revolutionary program for
state control of private utilities, mas
been issued by the state council OF de-
tense. Seizure of other industries is
contemplated. The league worked
through the council of defense instead
of waiting for the legislature to act.
The councils order provides that own
ers Of seized elevators be paid rental
| of 7 per cent a year upon the actuai
physical valuation Of their property
| II also provides that the elevator may
be bought outright on the basis OF, phys
| ical valuation. No reutrn upon the
value of the business that has been
built up is provided for.
Instead, all profits above the per
cent rental are to be distributed pro-
rata among tire customers OF the eie-
vators at the end of the year The
order includ IS farm RS CO. opttaiivt cie-
vators as well as line elevators TAX
! ing over all buyers licenses is also pro-
vided for. The council has organized
the North Dakota Council of Defense
corporation to handle the business.
| It is understood that the state coun-
| ell is preparing a similar order for the
seizure and operation OF all creameries
and cream stations in North Dakota
| Another step of revolutionary ma
ture taken by the council was the is
suanee Of a moratorium prohibiting
foreclosure of chattel mortgages or
execution of liens upon any farm ma
chinery, live stock>or any other personal
property used by farmers in the pro-
duction Of food. The moratorium is ef-
| fective until March I, 1919.
| A third step was the action Of the
council in turning over to it's new cor
poration complete control of the Unite
coal industry Of the state.
No date for the taking over of North
Dakota's 200 elevators has been set
TIE leagues newspapers today SAID
that the order was issued 80 that the
corporation would be in position
to put it into effect when necessary,
should it be found there is no prac-
teal obstacle
Meanwhile. it was said both here and
in Fargo today that elevator owners
were getting ready to interpose just
such an obstacle in the way of an appli-
cation for restraining order in the
federal courts, based on the contention
that they are being deprived Of their
property without due process Of law,
contrary to the United States constitu-
ton.
The statement of the league news
papers that the seizure was not to come
Immediately led to the belief in some cir
cles today that the council did not in
tend actually ever to seize the elevators
but issued it's order for it's effect upon
the farmers vote in the fall elections.
The fourteen members of the state
council of defense, in forming the new
100000 corporation to handle the
grain business constituted themselves
the directors until such time as two
thirds of the stockholders shall vote
them out For the present the council
members themselves are the only stock
holders, but 100000 shares Of stocl
are to be issued and sold at 81 each
They will bear no dividends
Under the provisions of the order
control of the 1900 grain elevator.
will be in the hands of local commit.
tees. Each committee will be made ur
of two farmers, two town dweller!
and a fifth member to be picked by the
other four. Each committee will have
control Of all grain elevators and gralr
warehouses in it's community and will
] appoint one man to manage the entir'
) group. He will work with singl,
staff of helpers for all the elevators.
Wheat and other grains will b.
bought on safe margin, the cost o
J handling and the rental of the eleva
, tors, salaries Of managers and assist
ants and proportionate expense accru
ling to the defense corporation will b.
} deducted. and any surplus remainini
lin the hands Of the committee at tn
end of the season will be prorate'
an ng an those who have sold grail
thru the local COMMITTEES, I.