Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-06-12
IS KEYSTONE OF
PROGRAM ARCH
Industrial Commission Law Is
Chief Measure of New Pro.
gram-.Sustains Others.

In building their bridge of progress
across the Slough of Economic De-
slsOnd, the farmer legislators made the
Industrial Commission law the keystone
Of the arch. Without 1t, the program
which has been adopted, will fail and
become as useless as II bridge without
the keystone That is why too much
stress can not be laid upon the vital
necessity of this law and why it's re-
pented discussion is required, so that
1t may be thoroughly understood and
its value appreciated.
The Most Important Law.
House Bill 30. IL, which creates tho
Industrial Commission, is the most
important Law passed by the last
Legislature. The Industrial Commits
sion manages the Terminal Elevator
and Flour Mill association, the Bank
of North Dakota and the Home
Building association. II the Industrial
Commission law is repealed it will be
impossible for the state to build ana
operate terminal elevators and flour
mills, to conduct the Bank of North
Dakota, or to assist its citizens in the
building of homes. A vote against the
Industrial Commission law is II vote
against state-owned terminal ELEVATORS
and flour mills and the entire Nom
partisan League program. This
should be thoroughly understood.
Members of the Commission.
The Industrial Commission is COM
posed of the Governor, the Attorney
General and the Commissioner of
Ayr; and Labor. These three
elective officials are given power to
direct the state public utilities. The
Industrial Commission Gun appoint
managers and other employees for the
Terminal Elevator and Flour Mill
association, the Bank of North DR-
kota and the Home Building associa-
tion. The best men available will be
appointed because of their ability
not for political reasons. They will
lie responsible to the Industrial Com
mission and may be removed if they
do not make good. Members of the
Industrial Commission In turn are
elected by the people.
Other States Follow Same Plan.
Nearly all cities and states which
operate public utilities have followed
this same plan. The great terminal
grain and cotton warehouses, docks
aud railroads of New Orleans, costing
Sl7.OOO.O0O, are operated by state
Dock Board. Seattle's $15OOO,OOO
public grain elevator, public ware
houses and docks are run by Port
Commission. Experience proves that
this system produces successful enter
prices. 1t is an arrangement which
permits efficient management and
lnkes that management responsible
to the people. Every two years the
voters of North Dakota will have an
opportunity to approve the work Of
to select new board of directors for
their state industries.
The Commissions Powers.
The Industrial Commission has the
right to buy, sell or lease property.
1t can fix the prices of farm products
II buys and the manufactured prod
nets it sells. 1t can make rules and
regulations for the operation of all
state enterprises.
The Industrial Commission is given
these powers so that its members can
take advantage of opportunities and
shape their policies to conform with
changing conditions. Managers of
private business concerns have these
powers. The Industrial Commission
Is given the same latitude SO it can
conduct the states business in an
efficient and economical manner.
Right Of Eminent Domain.
The Industrial Commission also has
the right Of eminent domain. Eminent
domain is the right to condemn the
purchase of private property for public
use. In such cases the price of the con-
demned property is fixed by Board Of
of Appraisers who are disinterested.
If the appraisers fix price which is
not satisfactory to the owner he has
the right of appeal to the courts and
the final price will be determined by a
jury of ten men. The right of eminent
domain is only used when private in
dividuals refuse to sell property es-
sential for public purposes.
The right of eminent domain is in
herent in the state. County officials
have the power of eminent domain in
local court houses and other public
institutions. The right of eminent
domain is constantly employed by rail-
roads and other corporations.
There is no case on record where
the state has used the right of en-
inent domain to deprive any person Of
his property without just compensa.
ton.
1t is probable that the Industrial
Commission will never use the right of
eminent domain unless railroads or
other corporations refuse to sell tho
state sites for elevators or other state
utilities. In such cases the state
could condemn site and jury of
twelve men would have the final voice
in fixing fair price.
Safe and Practical.
Another power given the Industrial