Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-19
SINCERITY OF
GOVERNOR IS
QUESTIONED
Points to Arrangements Be-
ing Made for a Lengthy i.
Session. =.

Bismarck, n. d., Jan. 19.-The
fact that President A. c. Townley Of
the Nonpartisan league. has leased
the Northwest hotel for the special
session with a view to handling league
legislators there. as Vas done during
the regular assembly a year ago,
leads to a general impression about
the capitol that no brief session is
contemplated. Doubts as to the sin
cerity of Governor Frazier the
ToWniey press in urging brevity are
commonly, entertained.
The league closed the first year Of
its administration with 100000 in
unpaid bills and with expenditures
$14O,324.36 in excess of those for the
last year of h Hanna administra-
ton. The league administration paid
out in one form or another during
1917 s752.645.76. as compared with
$6l2,321.4O expended under the Han
ma administration during 1916. Elm
mating an item of $S%3.705.97. charged
which did not exist in 1916. the
leagues boost in state expenditures
SINNERS down to a net $106,61S.39,
of which $~67.6O3.18 is represented by
money paid out by the automobile
registration department from increas-
ed receipts in the registration of mo-
t~or-vehicles. and which cannot be
charged 10 increased
More Money Needed.
In spite of these largely enhanced
expenditures, which carry the state
half-million dollars, many depart
ments find themselves in need of more
funds to finance them through the
second year of the biennium, and at
least a ~half-dozen appropriation bills
will be the first to go into the hopper
in the special session. Some of these,
such as an emergency appropriation
Of $4,000, which will be asked by
the board of control for the state hos
over which no human agency had any
control.
The state board Of control began
asking more money for the care Of
the insane in 1918. 1t asked at each
succeeding session of the legislature,
but obtained no relief until 1917,
when the allowance per capita was
Increased from SIS to $40. From 1912
to 1916 the average yearly value of
crops raised by the institution, based
on present prices. was $~42.044.84. In
1917 the drouth cut the value of all
crops raised at the institution to $14,-
$3.50, and it was necessary for the
hospital to dip into its appropriation
for $37.158.94 to make up the differ
ience. coupled with a crop loss OF DO
2-3 per cent, the institution faces an
increase in the cost of all supplies of
80 1-2 per cent. and it was allowed
by the last legislature but 20 per cent
more to meet these enhanced burdens.
Some of the heaviest increased ex-
penditures at the capitol, itself, how
ever. probably cannot be easily ex-
planned to the average taxpayer.
Money has been spent needlessly and
recklessly by some departments. it is
claimed, and lack of efficiency and in
experience has cost the taxpayers
thousands of dollars which might. it
is commended. have been saved by a
display of ordinary business sense and
reasonable ability.
Governor Frazier has said nothing
of these increased burdens which his
administration has laid upon the
farmer. He has made much adoo ov-
err the need of the farmer for fnan'
cial assistance. and to give that as
sistance he has called a special ses-
sion. which many predict will run al
least a month and taxi $4,000 or
more additional money out of the
farmers 'DOcket.