The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-03-14

LEGISLATURE makes it possible now to
give in full the North Dakota pro-
gram" as enacted into law by the
farmer lawmakers.
The 1919 North Dakota legislature
was the most economical in the his
torv of the state. 1t adjourned at
the end of 81 days, instead of wait
ing for the legal limit of so days.
No sessions were held on Sundays
and holidays, SO the actual sessions
extended over only 45 days. Furtn-
er economy was provided by cutting
down the list of employees. These
were chosen on a civil service basis,
instead of distributing jobs to
friends and relatives of legislators.
The laws passed by the North Oa-
kota legislature naturally separate
themselves into four main groups
the bills carrying out the industrial
program, the bills amending methods
of taxation, bills Ior labor refo rm,
and miscellaneous measures, princl-
pally for the purpose of making the
states business more economical and
efficient.
INDUSTRIAL BILLS.
The basis of all the industrial bills
is a constitutional amendment, adopt
ed by the people of North Dakota
at the 1918 general election and rati-
fed by the legislature, giving the
state authority to engage In any
line of business for the benefit OF its
citizens.
To carry out the purposes OF fhis
amendment, the legislature enacted
the industrial commission bill, Great
ing an industrial commission to be
sioner of agriculture and labor, and
composed of the governor, commits
sioner of agriculture and labor, and
attorney general, to have general
charge of all business in which the
state may engage.
The mill and elevator bill provides
that the state shall construct sys-
tenn of terminal elevators and flour
mills, operating under the name OF
the North Dakota Mill & Elevator
association" Another bill provides
for the issuance of $5,000,000 in
state bonds to finance the system
The industrial commission is given
authority to buy, store and sell any
farm products, which would include
authority to operate packing plants
cold storage warehouses, ETC., il
considered advisable.
The bank bill is intended to carry
out the League pledge of "rural
credits at cost" to help in the oper-
alton of the mill and elevator act, and
to aid in the financing of all state in.
dustries. The Bank of North Da-
kota" is created, with 100000 cap
ital supplied by the state, to be the
depository of all public funds and to
act as reserve bank for any of North
Dakota's 701 state banks which may
elect to come under the system
which most of them probably will do
The bank is empowered to sell state
bonds up to $10,000,000, lending the
money thus obstained, at cost, tc
farmers on first mortgages on real
estate at the cost of handling the
business. 1t may also lend money uE
to 90 per cent on the value of grain
in state terminal elevators. 1t may
rediscount paper guaranteed by the
banks which use it for reserve
thus greatly increasing the lending
power of the local banks.
The Ahome building" bill provides
a plan by which tenant farmers OF
city workers may obtain possession
of farm homes to cost not more than
$4,000, or city homes to cost not
more than $1,000, upon paying 20
per cent Of the purchase price, COM
pleting payments over long terms
Homes are to be secured by the state
on the wholesale plan to lessen the
cost.
Linked with the same building bill
is he soldiers relief bill. This pro-
vides bonus of $25 for each North
Dakota soldiers or sailor for each
month spent in the war service OF
the United States or the allies, the
money to be used either as first pay
ment on a city or farm home under
the home builders act, or on the SOL
dier's education.
The legislature has also made
preliminary provisions for the de-
velopment of the Ignite coal OF
North Dakota, providing for expert
mental work, on a commercial scale
to demonstrate the possibilities OF
making briquets, with gas as a by
product, from the raw Ignite, and
also for surveying the coal deposits
so that the next legislature may
have information necessary to make
state development on a large scale
possible if it is desired.
To MAKE the industrial program
workable the legislature also passed
Laws dealing with the railroads and
ether utilities. The railroad rate act
based upon the Minnesota rate act
which has been upheld by the United
States supreme court, ends the dis
elimination against North Dakota
and in favor of the Twin Cities, so
that in future shipments can be
made within the state of North Da-
kota, for similar distances, for as
advantageous rates as prevail in
Minnesota or on interstate North Da-
kota- Minnesota shipments. This will
enable the state elevator system to
handle grain and -four in competition
with the millers of the Twin Cities
and will also encourage the building
up OF Industries and jobbing business
No1.4l vi 8 - II.