The Bismarck tribune., 1919-03-24

ernor of North Dakota is supreme
power. Without him, or his opprov-
al the commission can do nothing.
It is given power to investigate itself
or sucil. of its branches or various
activities, as it may, see fit.
The industrial commission directs
the activities of the Bank of North
Dakota. II for any reason the majori-
.ty of the commission, not including
the governor, desires to remove or
to engage any one, or to take any
Bank of North Dakota, and it does
not meet with the governors approx
al, it can not be done.
Under the power given 1t under
the banking act the Industrial con,-
mission can put any private bank out
of business. All loans to be made by
the Bank of North Dakota are to be
made under such terms and under
such rules and regulations as the in
dustrial commission may determine
Right Of Eminent Domain.
Under the bill providing for the
Home Building Association of North
Dakota, in which the industrial COM
mission is given the right of eminent
domain, it can take the farm or prop
erty of any private owner "and sub
divide the same into lots and lay out
streets, sidewalks, parks and gardens
and improve same by building houses
as provided herein and supply them
with water, light and heat"
This means that the commission
can 60 into the manufacture and sale
of heat, light and power.
In the bill providing for the estab
lishment of manufacturing and mar
keting Of farm products, under the
name of North Dakota Mill and Eele-
vator association, the industrial COM
mission is given the power to locate
and maintain the places of business of
the association. The principal place
shall be within the state. The COM
mission has the privilege Of establish
ing branches in any state.
3,tfss..s 81 Other Powers Granted.
BY the right of eminent domain the
commission can take. over any private
property that may be engaged in a
business similar to which the bill pro-
;vides the association may do. It pro-
vides that the commission shall fix
the buying price Of an things bought
and the ssellipgesprjce Of all things
sold. Itsprovtdls That Shess commission
mSy. borrow smDn1H aNdSgiye promis-
soy notes on Sehalf offhe associa.
stiops and that itsnaN pledge.QE mort.
/ Eare any orsall iSfstke pioIertyl under
tsa tSs,ts se1tse1 4, ,5sl! st h$ '''''oai'' Sc
1t lis difficult, to, understand row
any legislative body In, Its sane mind
could delegate to commission of
three men,. who are dominated by
one, such wide powers pertaining to
financial and business energies OF the
commonwealth. Whether or not the
three men who constitute the indus
trial commission of North Dakota
are great and good men is beside the
mark. 1t may be that the governor
of North Dakota is man fit to take
:lis place beside the great men of
the ages, but under our system of
givernement- we have been educated
to believe that no one man.. or small
coterie of men, shall be given the
power to wreak private enterprises
or to plunge and state into financial
and industrial panic.
Please understand that | do not say
! that the industrial commission of
North Dakota will do these things-l
do say that it has the power to do
/ them.
sItEmay be that the men who passer
the, bills( placing these vast powers
in the hands of three men, did not
realize the full extent of the danger
that they were inviting, but that does
not alter the facts. 1t emphasizes
however, the tremendous menace that
confronts farmers and men of small
means who are trying to get ahead
by legitimate means \
I$ff CHARLES W GORDON.