Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-01-24
Increase for 1917 Is Decided
Gain Over Those of Pre-
vious Years.
STATE CAPITOL news
What is Transpiring in the Different
Departments Where the Affairs of
State Government Are
Administered.


The Northern Pacific Railroad COM
pany will pay $1,02S.003 in taxes in
North Dakota this year as compared
with $676,519.S1 last year, according
to the comparative statement of 1916
and 1917 operating property valua.
ton and taxes furnished tn. tax COM
mission by the railroad company. The
report is based on figures furnished
by the various county officers.
The 500 line will pay taxes in the
state to the extent. of $780, 91 tais
year as compared with $477, sS3.16
last year. The Northern Pacific
taxes are 51.9 per cent higher than
last year, while the 500 line is as.
sessed 24.17 per cent higher than a
year ago.
Cuts Cost Of Operating.
The state bank examiners depart.
ment, under Major j.. r. Waters of
Beach, shows a saving for the first
year of the new examiners admins.
tration Of $2,400.SG. This in spite of
the fact that tle cost of printing,
postage and a number of other items
in the state banking department have
increased.
During 1917 the force of examiners
on the road was increased, but a con
siderable saving was effected by re-
districting the state and reducing
heavy mileage costs. At the same
time there has been a heavy increase
in the earnings of the department,
which always has been more than
self-supporting. Examinations have
been made promptly, and the work of
the department kept up to date, a.
though during the year there was an
increase in the number of state banks
from CSC to 705. In addition to all
its other service, The department dur
ing the year collected $4,000 in fees
delinquent from 1916.
Hoverstad Is Back.
T. A. HoverstaG, formerly farmers
institute director for the agricultural
college, and for the last six or seven
years industrial commissioner for the
500 line, a position which Director
General McAdoo has abolished. has
returned to North Dakota to re.
engage in agricultural extension work,
and for the present he will resume
| his former duties as institute director
under Commissioner of Agriculture
| and Labor John n. Hagan.
State Banks Appointed.
National banks were given little
consideration in the naming of the
cfofo 1nn0cif0rioc hr tho ototo hoor1
of auditors in regular session at the
state capitol. State banks were given
the preference in every instance, only
three national banks in the state re.
ceiving recognition, while on the
other hand every state bank filing an
application vas named depositary.
"The. seeming discrimination against
the national banks of the state in the
naming of the state repositories" said
Secretary of State Thomas Hall il
discussing the action of the board,
was done to strengthen the new
guaranty fund act. The surety fund.
which guarantees deposits, viii ben.
eft by ~one-quarter of one per cent on
all state deposits by placing them
With the state banks.
l. State Treasury Empty.
I'VE now have about 100000 in
unpaid bills. To assure the legisla.
tors their. mileage and per diem and
other expenses of the extraordinary
assembly, it is possible that state
officials will be required to do with
out their salaries for month";" said
one member of the state administra.
ton, When discussing the special ses.
sion.
TAX collections are now coming in
in a fairly satisfactory way, and we
are meeting current expenses, but We
have almost half a million in accum
ulated expenses to pay, and this spe'
cial session is a new item of expense
which vas not anticipated nor in
Guided in our budget"
State Loans Farmers $4,000.
The state board of university and
school lands has approved farm loans
to the amount Of $4,000. There were
other applications which could not be
allowed because the commission haG
not collected in sufficient money.
Anderson Gets State Job.
State Land Commissioner w. ]
Prater has announced the appoint
ment of A. s. Anderson, Bismarck
as deputy land commissioner to sue
coed Charles Leissan, resigned. Mr.
Leissman was recently chosen secre
tary of the state board Of regents.
Grain Succeeds kernaI.
superintendent Of Public Instruc
ton N. c. Macdonald has announced
the appointment of e. P. Grain O
Valley Cit vas supervisor OF certiiea
ton of the department of eduoatio,
to succeed M. J.. Kernal, resigned
MI. Grain will assume the duties O
his new Office at once. Mr.. Grain ha,
been a member of the normal schoo
: faculty as professor of mathematicl
for six years. HIS has a masters de
I gree from the University of Wiscon