Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-29
NORTH DAKOTA TRANSFORMED
BY LEGAL REVOLUTION INTO
A NEAR SOCLALISTIC STATE
Non-Partisan League
Puts Through Rad
ical Program.

Creates state bank with re-
sources of S150.OO0.000 to IL
nance state-cOntrOIled enter
prises.
Bonds state for S5,OO0.OO0
to build flour mills and grain
elevators.
Adopts state income tax run
ming up to 10 per cent.
Undertakes to build homes or
buy farms for every citizen.
Removes constitutional pro-
vision establishing a state debt
limit. Today ~the sky's the
limit"
Prohibits any woman or
minor from working for less
than $1.5O per day or more than
eight hours per day.
Bismarck, N. D., March 29.-The
Sixteenth general assembly, after
having turned the constitution Of
North Dakota inside out in order to
lay a foundation for the most rad
icaA experiment in state socialism
yet undertaken in America, has ad-
journed. The Sixteenth assembly
was largely composed of farm
ers, elected by members of the
Non-Partisan league, farmers po-
litical organization, to carry out
the program of that organization.
They did as they were hidden. Op-
ponents have claimed that the
league majority went further than
it was asked to. There may be
some minor dissatisfaction with
-
the league program, but the rank
and file of the farmers seem well
satisfied with the major bills.
These measures provide, first, for
a state industrial commission to be
composed of the governor, the at
torney general and the commits
sioner of agriculture and labor, all
leaguers, as is every other state
officer except one This is the par
ent of the leagues entire economic
plan. The industrial commission
selects locations and appoints heads
for all of the other league enter
prises, utilities and industries The
commission is responsible to TO
authority save the people, and its
own powers are unlimited. 1t may
appoint a president for the $780,
100000 Bank of North Dakota one
day and remove him next, with or
without cause. The governor AMI
any one other member may form
quorum for the transaction of bust
ness. The governor may veto any
act of the other two members.
Financial Center Created.
Then there is the Bank of North
Dakota bill, creating a financial
center, which is to be repository for
all public funds of the state and
its minor civil divisions, including
the municipalities, repository and
fiscal agent for all state enterprises
and reserve agent for North Dako-
ta's 700 state banks. The industrial
board selects a president for this
bank and directs how it shall be
conducted
For 10 years North Dakota farm
ers had fought for terminal elevd-
tors and state-owned -four mills
They have them with a vengeance
in the State Mill and Elevator asso-
citation bill of the Sixteenth assem-
bly,. Where the farmer 10 years
ago was afraid to think of asking
for 100000 to finance his elevators,
today he calmly proposes to bond
the state for $5,O00,00O, and not
only to build elevators, but distrib-
uting agencies on the producer-to-
consumer basis in any of the large
American centerS or in foreign
countries.
State viii Build Homes.
There is also State Home Build
ing association bill under which the
state undertakes to build a home
to cost not more than $4,000 or to
buy a farm for not TO exceed
$4,000 for any citizen who has 30
per cent of the purchase price to'I
pay down.
Back of these institutions is
100000 bond issue for the Bank
of North Dakota. The bank may buy
its own bonds, and as soon as they
are bought, or sold, furnishing the
$2,000,000 capital required by law,
the bank may begin business.
Until Jan. 1, 1919, 100000 formed
the constitutional bonded debt
limit of North Dakota. Today, due
to constitutional amendment mi
tiated by the league at the last gem !
eral election, the sky's the limit"
as one of the leagues own legisla- !
tors has put it.
Assessments On New Basis.
The Sixteenth assembly produced !
much other legislation which would /
attract attention in ordinary times |
There is re-classification of prop
erty which assesses farm lands, |
railways and other utilities and !
bank stocks 100 per cent of their |
true value, instead of 80, as here |
tofore; meaning that if the assess |
ments are honestly made, the farm
er who paid $40 last year for state
purposes will pay almost $3.50 this |
year. There is an income tax law, |
specifically exempting revenue from |
farm mortgages, which in this state