The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-05-18


darkness rather than light because
their deeds are evil and the same Is
true Of some courts. Good courts and
judges love the light Of publicity and
do not put their light under, a bush
ell. Next week l hope to report that
our court has disposed of all the old
chronic cases that have hung fire fol
six or ten months and One--a ghos,
case of tttess.S Railway Company.
In which the decision was signed by
three Judges six months ago, and
since then 1t has been hung up to
await the concurrence or dissent ( Of
two judges. Truly that is carrying
judicial courtesy to the limit OF. alb
surdity. We must have some new
rules and better management. ii
Henry George was q single tax LOB;
byist He thought to make people
rich and happy by taxing them. He
never seemed to conceive the idea
that state is merely 2 corporation
formed to serve the people and tina;
like all other corporations, 1t should
live and prosper without preying or
the people and levying an annual tai
burden That state should arrive al
maturity and not forever remain 9
nursling, a'big infant, q tyrant or q
bully.
Our law makers are too much like
Henry George At every session they
lew excessive taxes and create boards
for this and for that and the boards
are ever inclined to exceed their au
thority and to increase the expenses
and tax levies. In former paper
gave my decision against the power
assumed by the live stock board ano
the great expenses made the state and
the people by the bleeding OF 37,Oot
horses as test for dourine ana tne
killing of over 700 horses. And II
seems they must keep it up and carry
on expensive law suits to prevail or
three of our judges to sanction theil
right to kill sound and healthy Worf
horses, For were there no killing
their occupation would be gone.
NV decision of last week shows how
an act was passed to levy, motor
vehicle tax Of nearly 9 million DOL
lars a year with no limitation IN re
gard to the expenditure. Downright
folly. it was to prosecute the secre
tary OF state for borrowing couple
Of thousand Of the money when NJ
had perfect right to expend ever!
dollar Of it without giving share tc
| the highway commission to expend &C
cording to their own good will anc
pleasure. Under the statute they
have perfect right to- expend every
dollar of their share In the maxine
Of paper highways and drawings: Ano
would it not be interesting to know
the amount expended on paper roads
and also for actual roads. Paper, 500,
4SO.S7; actual roads, $685. 81.
The following is my decision
against the power, assumed by tn
board Of tax commissioners to pry IN
to the private and financial affairs Q
the Hughes Electric company for NJ
legitimate purpose Were this cour
to sustain such procedure the boar!
might force the same medicine O
every bank, hotel, and business nous
Of the city and of every city Tn
vexation might well become intolel
able.
Wallace, ct all, .vs. Hughes Electrt
Company.
Robinson, j.: The tax commission
holds office under an act which is en-
titled IAN Act Creating a Permanen
Tax Commission defining its power
and duties and making APPROPRIATION
for the maintenance thereof. (Law
1911, Oh. 3O3.) The title OF the &C
is in all respects similar to that OF a.
act creating the office Of a board Q
state auditrs and prescribing the du
ties thereof The latter act was ]us'
" held void because the sup1ect o
the act was not expressed in 1t
title. Estate v. Nomland2 3 ~ y
427.) !,
In 1917, the legislature re-enacte'
that part of the act which relates t
the powers and duties OF the tax com
mission, CHI: 1872. The act declare
that the tax commission shall nav
power to require individuals, corpol
ations,. companies, associations ant
corporations to furnish information
Concerning their actual funds or 9th
er debts. current assets and liabiii
ties, value of property; earnings, op
Grating and other. expenses, taxes
and all other facts which may o.
needful to enable the commission .
ascertain the value and relative Dur
dens- borne by all kinds of property
in the state Also to summon WIT
nesses to appear and give testimony