Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-01-03
ShoWered With Congratulations
Over Verdict Which Gave
Him vindication.
STATE CAPITOL News
What is Transpiring in the Different
Departments Where the Affairs of
State Government Are
administered.

IAN VI oSSIS'
tary of State Thomas Hall when he
opened his desk at the state house
the morning following his acquittal,
We're IS kilograms and scores of let.
tiers and cards, containing congratu.
lations from friends in all parts of
North Dakota and in other states who
had learned through. press dispatches
of his vindication.
Friends Of the secretary of state
feel that the fact that the jury stood
IL to n for acquittal on the first
ballot and that but ten minutes were
consumed in reaching a unanimous
verdict, is a complete %vindication for
him.
Steen Criticises State Auditor.
John S1een, state treasurer, has re-.
fused to honor a $500 warrant drawn
on the state treasurer by Karl R.
Kostsky. Mr.. Steen states that this
warrant is issued for the purpose OF
transferring this amount from the
contingent fund to a special clerk-hire
fund for the state auditors office.
He declines to make the transfer
because in his opinion no emergency
exists which justified the action Of
the emergency commission in author.
izing the transfer. He believes the
transfer would be contrary OF the bud.
get law. In commenting on his &C.
ton, Mr.. Steen issued the following
statement to the press:
THE impression seems to be geners
al that Mr.. Kositsky, the present state
auditor, is a regular watch dog of the
treasury of the state, when it comes
to scrutinizing expenditures of the
peoples money.
"Now as to his own expenditures,
as state auditor he does not appear
to have shown the same economy as
he would have the people to believe
that he uses when it m to scrutin.
izing bills contracted by other depart
ments.
For instance, during the year 1916
Carl O. Jorgenson paid out for clerk
hire for the state auditors office the
sun of $6,644.29. During the year OF
1917, MI. Karl R. Kositsky, the pres.
ent state auditor, has expended for
clerk hire in connection with the
state auditors office the sum of $1O,.
1889.
Must Unload Cars Promptly.
Attention to the necessity of speed.
ing up a movements is called by
Capt. L. P. Baker, federal fuel adj
ministrator, in an appeal to the
chairman OF each district committee
Of North Dakota. "Your committee
can be of great service in urging
c%onsignee to unload cars promptly
upon receipt of Them" says Captain
Baker. you should give the matter
all possible publicity and work up
public opinion so that it will be un.
popular for any n to delay the un-
loading Of cars, particularly of coal
cars, or otherwise delay car move
mAent."
Bliss Makes Reply.
In a lengthy communication reply
ing to charges of extravaganza made
against the state highway commission
by State Auditor Kositzky, State En-
gineer Bliss says among other things:
"The state auditor carelessly re
marks that %S3O,OS9.3S has been spent
for salaries and travelling expenses
AS a matter of fact, the sum mention
ed includes postage, supplies, equip
ment, furniture and fixtures, five Fort
cars, printing, telephone and tele
graph charges, freight, express, dray
age, and the State Highway commits
sion's salaries and expenses ($61O.0O
to the sum of SS,229.22, much of which
are assets and can not be chargeabl,
solely and exclusively to the first MIN
months work of the commission. A
stated a sum of $4,000 was specificall,
provided for the purpose of immediate
ly organizing the State Highway com
mission and performing all the neces
sary preliminary work; PURCHASING
supplies, office and field equipmen
and securing expert assistance. Cor
sequently the expenditure of not owe
$4,000 Of state highway moneys dt
rived from the licensing of motor W
hicles has been made.
with due Difference to the stat
auditor and his counselors, let me sa
in behalf of the state highway con
mission that it considers itself as muc
responsible for, and the guardian o
the state road funds as anyone els,
in addition to being in a position t
judge whether or not such expend
lures are being made wisely"
State To Have Federal School Aid.
North Dakota's vocational educatio
has progressed so favorably that
, has come to the attention of the fe
) eral department of education. Folio,
: ing a meeting Of the members of tt
; state board of education and member
l Of the federal department, the state
> vocational education system is to |
placed under the Smith Hughes la,
. Under this law states that plan voc
b tional educational courses according
q the standards laid down by the fe
. eral board Of education will get fe
5 eral aid to pay for the training
vocational instructors.