The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-06-12
IS KEYSTONE Of
PROGRAM ARCH
industrial Commission Law Is
Chief Measure Of New Pro.
gram. Sustains Others.

become as useless as q bridge without
the keystone. That Is why too much
stress can not be laid upon the vital
necessity Of this law and why Its re-
peated discussion Is required, so that
It may be thoroughly understood and
its value appreciated.
The Most important Law.
House Bill No. II, which creates the
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Commission law Is repealed It will be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 -four
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 a vote
against s~tate-owned terminal ELEVATORS
and flour mills and the entire Non
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
Agriculture and Labor. These three
elective officials are given power to
direct the state public utilities. The
Industrial Commission can appoint
managers and other employees for the
Terminal Elevator and Flour Mill
association, the Bank OF North Da-
kota and the Home Building associa-
ton. The best men available will be
appointed because Of their ability
not for political reasons. They will
be 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
and railroads Of New Orleans, costing
$17,000,O0O, r operated by a state
Dock Board. Seattle's $15,OOO,0OO
public grain elevator, public ware
houses and docks are run by a Port
Commission. Experience proves that
this system produces successful enter
prices. It is an arrangement which
permits efficient management and
makes that management responsible
to the people. Every two years the
voters OF North Dakota will have an
opportunity to approve the work Of
the three Industrial Commissioners or
to select a new board OF directors for
their state industries. Il.
The Commissions PovseFA
The Industrial Commission has The
right TO buy, sell or lease property.
It can fix the prices Of farm products
it buys and the manufactured prod
ucts 1t sells. It can make rules and
regulations for the operation Of all
state enterprises.
The Industrial Commission Is given
these powers so that It's 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 II 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 fxed by q Board of
Of Appraisers who are disinterested.
II the appraisers FIX q 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 q
Jury Of ten men. The right OF eminent
domain is only used when private in
dividuals refuse to sell property 81.
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 81 eminent
domain Is constantly employed BY rail-.
roads and other corporations.
There is nc . on record where
the state has used the right of en-.
inent domain to deprive any person d
his property Without just compensa-
ton.
It is probable that the Industrial
Commission will never use the right Of
eminent domain unless railroads OF
other corporations refuse to sell the
state sites for elevators or other state
utilities. In such cRses the state
could condemn q site and q jury al
twslye men would have the anal voica
In fixing q fair price. .
Safe and Practical.
Another power given the Industrial
Commission Is the right to inveetiSAtl
any matter concerning the success d
the industries under its management
This makes II possible Tor the Indus.
trial Commission to expose and prose.
cute firms OF individuals which enter
Into price combinations accept q
grant rebates, adultefate thAtr prod
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