The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-16
RADICALGR0WTH
IN THE COSTS Of
ADMINISTRATION
All Departments of State Govern
ment Under Nonpartisian
Rule Initiate Expenses
ATTY. GENERAL IN LEAD
Judicial Bureaus Only Depart,
ment Save Governors Not
Heavily Increased

The high cost of living hit the state
of North Dakota terrific Jolt in 1917.
1t cost the state administration just
$S1 ,602.47, more to keep house in 1917
than it did in 1916 The total admins
trative expenses in 1916 were $685..
337.97, while in 1917 they were $718,-
1884. These facts are shown in a
comparative statistical table prepared
by State Auditor KOsitZky for submis.
sion to the state legislature when it
cOnvenes in special session a week
from today.
Governor Shows Saving
The governors office shows a slight
saving, $9,930 for 1917 as compared
with $10,577.17 in 1916. Lieut.. Gov.
ernor Kraabel spent four cents less
in 1917 than Lieut. Gov. John II.
Frame did in 1916. COL Frame spent a
cool thousand Supreme court costs
were cut from $36,9O925 in 1916 to
$34,304.3S, the bulk of this saving be-
ing represented in travelling expenses
which State Auditor Kositzky, abiding
by the Nonpartisan platform of 1916,
has declined to pay, pending decis-
ion from the provisional supreme
court which tried mandamus proceed.
ings against him several weeks ago.
District court costs were $47,999.52,
48 cents less than in III, and a slight
saving is shown for the law library
The secretary of state spent only $780,
3415S in 1917 as against $2l,377.9O in
1916. The state auditor spent $19,-
1883 in 1917 as against $l1 ,242.0l in
1916, and he goes on record as well
coming an investigation of this ex-
penditure and the results attained
through it.
State Treasurer Steen spent $11,.
1871 in 1917 as compared with $10,-
5S3.16 in 1916 and the commissioner Of
insurance spent few hundred less
than, in 1916. The fire marshars Of
flee cost the state about $l4O more
than in 1916
Biggest Proportionate Boost
The biggest proportionate boost in
costs is shown by the attorney gen.
erals office, which cost the state $780,
72494 under the first year Of William
E. Langer's administration as against
S13,827.92 for the last year of Henry
J. Linde's term LANCER during 1917
paid $7,566 for clerk hire as against
$4,000 in 1916: $41S4O for postage, as
compared with $l43.71; $262.29 for Of
flee supplies, as compared with $42.2l;
$477.90 for furniture and fixtures, as
compared with $15.76: $1l67.22 for
printing, as compared with $12995;
SALTS for miscellaneous expense, as
compared with $2S6.9S; s2,336.0O for
travelling as against $1,475.53; $685.
81 for legal expenses as compared
with $525.51; and $3S3.01 prior to July
1, 1917.
The state superintendent Of public
instruction expended $20.704.43 in
1917 as compared with s13.912.45 in
1916: expenses of the commissioner
of agriculture and labor were boosted
from $11,O47O6 to $12,144.92, and the
dairy commissioner from $9,355.O1 to
s11,405.97. The railway commission
cost the state $20,750.F in 1917,
slightly over $100 more than in 1916,
and the state land department cost
s23,O28.45, more than $40O less than
in 1916. State Bank Examiner Wat
ers showed a saving of more than ST.
600 in his department, which cost the
state s42,O32.77, and the tax commits
sion expenses Of $20,O61.62 were about
edO 1occ +hon in 1915
Others Trail In
Slight increases are shown by the
board of CONTROL library commission,
state engineer, adjutant general, his.
torical society, state certificates and
teachers Institutes, board of public
health, live stock sanitary board and
board of experts. The state board of
regents cost about $4,000 less through
the elimination of it's appropriation
for travelling expenses. The motor
vehicle department spent $l9S,137.25
as compared with $130,534.O7 in 1916,
and there is charged in the increased
expense $33,70597 for the state high
way department which did not exist
in 1916.