The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-12-01
WOULD SUSPEND LEAGUE PROGRAM
RATHER THAN RUIN FARMERS NOW
HARD HIT THROUGH HEAVY TAXES
League Jurist Appeals 10 Legis-
lators to Reduce Burden and
Is Jeered For His Pains-De-
clares There Is Waste, Extra
vagance and Inefficiency on
Every Hand-Regrets to Part
With Townley But Must Make
Good Promises

With Townley But Must Make
Good Promises
/ Declaring he would rather see the
Bank Of North Dakota and every de-
tail of the leagues industrial pro-
gram suspended for year than to
see a double tax burden imposed up
on the farmers at this time, Associate
! Justice James Z. Robinson pleaded
with frivolous, Indifferent league
Legislature Saturday evening to cut
this years tax levy in two and to give
the hard-pressed farmer on tthe west
ern prairies an opportunity to live.
Del Patterson of Donnybrook and
other league Legislators essayed with
out much success to heckle the ven-
cradle league jurist. Patterson in
| timated that the increase in taxes
this year was entirely due to the in
creased cost of maintaining the col
leges, the state university and the
charitable and penal institutions, and
he asked if the state should close
these. Judge Robinson replied that
he had worked for his education; that
he believed it good thing for any
man to work with his hands, and that
it would not be bad thing to give
the colleges and the men at the head
Of them lesson in economy.
Would Save Farmers First
He declared it would be better
even to close the public schools
than to drive the drouth-ridden farm
ers to ruin through excessive taxes.
Judge Robinson declared the fact
Of the tax increase could not be dis
puted. He asserted that the present
| legislature was responsible for these
excessive taxes ana that it was the
duty of this same assembly to cor
rect its errors.
His Friend, Mr. Lemke.
~ saw my friend, William Lemke,
some time ago when first took up
this natter said Judge Robinson.
Il understood then that he favored
my proposal for lower taxes and that
he would confer with me later on the
! ouDJSIl - udlC llC AoI OOAO
so.
Our taxes are excessive. Our as
sessed valuation has been increased
4 u times over last year; our taxes
have been more than doublcd. NO
doubt the purpose Of this legislature
was goOdit desired to finance the
industrial program OF the league, but
it has gone too far. Most appropria-
tiOns made by the last assembly
should be reduced, and some salaries
should be cut sharply"
Judge Robinson declared the $1O,-
OGO salary of Director General Cathro
of the Bank of North Dakota twice
what it should be, and he said no
other employe Of the bank should re-
ceive more than $4,000. He condemn
ed the spo:ls system which had re-
suited in men being placed on the
pulic payroll at eXtravagant salaries
merely because they mad rendered the
party in control a service.
Doesn't Want to Quit TownIey
! 81 don't want to part with Mr..
Townley,' said the Judge, his voice
quavering with aga and emotion.
Il had gone into these things long
before ! met Mr.. Townley. l feel
that | know something about taxes.
l do not believe there is a lawyer west
of Moorhead with more successful
experience in tax litigation. When I
was elected three years ago by the
biggest vote given any candidate on
the league ticket it was a result of a
campaign in which sent out thou
sands Of letters over my own sign
ature promising that if elected l
would reduce taxes several hundred
thousand dollars. want to make
good my promises, ana when l am
through l will not ask the people to
vote for me again.
IF l were governor of this state I
would so run it that after a year or
two there would be no taxes to pay.
Taxes are an internal nuisance, and
if we continue as we have begun,
high taxes will break the league.
This is the last chance you will ever
have, gentlemen, to save the league
by putting taxes back to where they
were in 1918, and where they belong"
Criticises Bank
Judge Robinson criticised the con-
duct OF the Bank Of North Dakota in
things other than salaries, Il have
a letter on my desk now from poor
man out here on the prairie. He
made application TO-: loan TO the
bank and paid SIS for appraisement
three months ago, and he hasn't got
ais loan yet. And | understand they
have gotten many q $25 that way.
If wanted to discover the value of a
niece of land it wouldn't cost me or
the man who wanted the loan $25. l
could find out what that land was
| worth for ten cents"
What do you think Tof appropria-
ting, $4,000 for the automobile de-
partment when the last leg stature
already had appropriated $SS,0O0 for
the same period?" Representative
| Twichell Of Cass county asked the
jurist.
Il think it perfectly awful" re-,
piled the judge.
Il would contract to take that de-
parGment and run it for 100000 and
make clear profit Of $1,000.
o'DoWD OFFERED $4,000
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