The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-09-11
TAX BOARD IS
POSSIBLE FOE
SAYSK0SITZKY
State Auditor Would Have Tax
ing Powers Centralized in
Equalizers
va PLANS TO SAVE MUCH
Asks That Offices of Historical
Association be Moved to
Capital


Practically recommending the hb0li.
ing that supreme court judges be
placed on a parity with Judges Of the
district court, who are required each
quarter to certify that no issues re-
main undecided on their dockets be-
fore they can draw their pay, State
Auditor Karl Kositzky in his biennial
report to the governor explodes a num-
ber Of bombs which will not add to
his popularity in certain official cir
cleS.
Would CentraIize Powers.
The state auditor says that tax max
ing powers should be centralized in
the state board OF equalization. which
he would have headed by the govern
or with the attorney general, treas
urer, auditor and agricultural COM
missioner as members.
He says there is danger with a
tax-makinq body composed Of ap-
pointive officials over whom the
governor may have no control Of
"antaoonism" to the administra-
ton, which might prove enbarrass-
inc. For instance, the admins
tratiOn might ask certain revenue,
and the "tax-making body" might re-
fuse to raise that revenue. Instruc-
tions relative to tax leXies should
come from one body, instead OF sew
eral, says the state auditor, who would
have the state board OF equalization
provided with a full-time secretary,
with at least three years experience
as member of tax-making body.
The present tax commission Is COM
posed of one member appointed by
Governor Hanna and one by Governor
Frazier. 1t never, however, has shown
any disposition to kick over the traces
and display antagOnism to the present
administration.
Feminist the Judiciary.
The auditor comments on the fact
that he is persona non grata to GER
tain district judges because he held
up their pay when he believed they
were not complying with the law, and
he? suggests that the law relative to
the certificate required from them
showing a clean slate every ninety
days be made more specific and that
it be also applied to justices Of the
supreme court.
The auditor recommends that the
distribution of printing be taken from
the various departments and cOncen-
trated in the printing commission, in
order that heller SHELTER claims may
not come in from unknown sources
and also with a view to having the
states work done legally under the
various classifications and at the low
est contract price.
/, l--. More Power Asked.
He would give the state auditing
board more power. He advises that
the state carry it's own insurance on
state property, thus saving premiums
aggregating $4,000 per annum. He
urges that an appropriation be made
to pay $4,000 in outstanding claims
for wolf and coyote bounties.
mr.. kositzky feels there should
be some qualification examna-
tions for state employees, and that
. public jobs not be used to pay
personal political debts. He asks
that a standard wage be fixed,
calling attention to the fact that
the state treasurer pays two book
keepers $780,, while the \tate
auditor pays only $1,000.
He would have the Legislature give
the state auditor authority to draw
direct on the various counties for the
care of their insane, and he asks that
closer restrictions be thrown around
the admission of patients to the state
(Continued on. Page FOur)