The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-01-30

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tax commission, has delivered to the
joint tax committee Of the legislature
a proposed income tax law, patterned
after the federal income tax law The
measure establishes approximately the
same exemptions as are provided by
the federal law, giving the married
man exemptions for his wife, for chill
dren, etc.
The basis Of tax proposed Is / per
cent on the first $1,000 Of income;
2 per cent on the second $4,000 Of
income, and 8 per cent on all incomes
In excess Of $4,000. No distinction il
made between earned and unearned
Income. (, .E y
Mr.. Steele takes the position, it is
said, that it is improper to penalize
the thrifty man who saves up some
thing against old age by exacting
from him a greater income than is
taken ADM his direct earnings.
School Transportation Problem. =
A new angle to the consideration Of
the states educational problems has
been taken by Miss Minnie Nelson,
newly elected superintendent Of pub
lie instruction, in a report just made
to the chairrnen Of the house and
senate appropriation committees. It is
the view that in the development Of
successful consolidated schools where
they are needed the most vital thing
not yet fully provided for is the cost
Of transportation Of pupils to and
from the schools, from which many
OF them live at a considerable dis
lance. In her report Miss Nelson
meets the issue be recommending that
a state appropriation Of 100000 be
made to assist in defraying transport
ton expenses. Consolidated districts
are required by law to transport the
children, she says, and usually four
or five BUSES are required for the
work, the cost for operating these
averaging about 500 a month. The
limit Of the levy for school purposes,
which is set at 30 mills, is inadequate
to cover this cost in most cases and
still provide necessary support for the
educational work of the schools. Some
other Increases over past school ap-
preparations are recommended by her
for the development of rural, graded
and consolidated school work.
Tax Commissioners Reappointed.
Governor Frazier sent to the senate
last Friday, for confirmation, the ap-
pointment of F.. e. Packard and
George Wallace, members of the state
tax commission, to succeed themselves
to their present positions. Only Mr..
Wallace's term is expiring at this
time, but Mr.. Packard Is serving upon
a reappointment given him by the
governor two years ago, at which time
confirmation was refused by the SEN
ate as then organized, and q renewal
Of the appointment thereby becomes
necessary. An early confirmation of
both appointments is expected.
To Curb Loan Sharks.
At a session lasting only 45 min.
utes, the house on Thursday voted the
final passage of House Bill No, IL, to
regulate interest on all Indebtedness
after maturity, which it's friends claim
will put an end to one of the many
abuses practised by 'loan sharks and
interruptions mortgage concerns It
provides that under no circumstances
shall a debtor be charged a higher
rate of interest after maturity of his
Indebtedness than that under which It
was contracted for. The bill was
passed unanimously.
Worst Bill Draws Fire.
A concurrent resolution introduced
by Senator A. e. Bowman, providing
that DR.. j. Fl. Worst, former president
of the State Agricultural college, be
made president emeritus OF that insti-
tuition with a salary Of $4,000 a year,
passed the senate without a dissenting
vote, but drew considerable verbal op-
position when 1t was brought up in the
house. The bill was referred to q
committee to be reported out later.
It is said to have the endorsement Of
the Nonpartisan league.
Regents Want Help for New Normal.
In conference with the budget board
the state board of regents declared It
was not satisfied with the small ap-
preparation Of $45,5OO for the Dickin-
son normal for the ensuing biennium,
and 1t objected to the fact that no
appropriation had been made for
buildings. It is said to be probable
the budget board will reopen the con.
sideration of this item.
Two More Seats Contested.
Two new contests have been
brought In the house since the action
by which Representative Weber was
unseated. They are brought by Val
entine Kuhn and Anthony Riley
against the election Of r. F. Murtha
and Fred RoQuette, both Of Stark
county, and are based upon various
alleged Irregularities.
"Roosevelt Day" Planned.
North Dakota will be asked to join
with other states In setting aside
FEBRUARY 10 as Roosevelt Day" in
memory Of the cowboy statesman who
once made his home In the western
part Of the state. A movement,
1 fathared nv men prominent In the DO