The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1919-03-21

Three of the most prominent men,
bers of the Nonpartisan leagues state
administrative staff-State Auditor
Carl r. Kositsky, Attorney General
William LANCER and States Treasurer
Obert A. Olson-came out today flat
footedly for the referendum of the
Brinton newspaper bill and the Mac
donald board of administration act,
characterized as one-man legislation
which can only serve to jepardize the
league program, of which these bills,
declare Kositzky. LANCER and Olson
form no part.
Thomas Hall, secretary of state,
is known to have expressed similar
opinions upon several occasions, but
he was out of the city today and could
not be interviewed.
Kositzky Speaks.
II am opposed to the board of ad-
ministration bill, the printing bills,
the judicial redistricting bill and the
commissioner Of immigration bill"
said State Auditor Carl R. Kositzky.
81 do not believe this state needs
three more judges, increasing the ex-
pense for salaries alone by $4,000
year, any more than wagon needs a
fifth wheel. All Of the judicial busi-
ness of the state was handled for
almost two years past by eleven
Judges. With the return of Judge
Hanley, we now have our full quota
of twelve once more. This judicial
.redistricting bill would give us fif-
teen.
X. sI know that several other mem
bers of the administration feel as I
do about these measures" Il.
To Initiate Act.
There is being advocated the initia-
ton of an act relating to the man
ner of paying and auditing claims
against the state of any utility, indus
try, enterprise or business project
owned, controlled or operated by the
state. This act. has already been
drafted, and it reads as follows:
s'Be it enacted by the people of the
state of North Dakota:
"Section 1.-No money shall be
paid out of the state treasury from
any fund whatsoever, or from the
funds created for the purpose of con-
ducting and maintaining any state
owned utility, industry, enterprise or
business project, except upon the
warrant of the state auditor, and not
Until the proper claims have been pre-.
sented, audited, allowed and ordered
paid by the state auditing board, COM
posed by the governor, attorney gener-
al, secretary ~of-~state, state auditor
and state treasurer, or majority
thereof .... ~r =, ...
( "Section 2 All acts and parts Of
acts in conflict with the provisions of
this act are hereby repealed"
~, The petitions, now ready for circu-
latIon, make LII. Frazier, William
LANCER, Thomas Hall, Carl Kositzky
and Obert A. Olson the committee for
petitioners. -.
e.. No Check Now.
""As the law now stands on our
statute book the state has no check
OF any kind upon the expenditure of
S17,O0O,OOO to be provided through the
sale of state bonds for the financing
of various utilities and enterprises"
said Mr.. Kositzky. ; p ,...-...,. ~ =.
$l53 1T lis poor policy, if not absolutely
unconstitutional, to permit any repre-
sentative of the state to expend
large sums Of money wit thout making.
AM nysproper accountin ng therefor. III The;
people who furnish this money should
have right to know how is ex-
pended y they should have positive;
sTroof that it Was oxpende ed as the
law iintended, for the estab blishments
and operation Of these state utilities
and enterprises, and for no other
!tpIHrp0se. i AS it now stands neither
the SIT 100000 which are originally
appropriated to- finance these enter
$prises; nor any earnings which may
..ae ec,tre from the operation of these.
SSenteEprtses need be accounted for
through any: OF the regular channels.
accounts should $50 before
the state auditing board and should . /
sbe approved n the usual manner, q and i, !;
warrants should he drawn moving u 1 q
Just what the money is being spent. ant.