The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-06-19

laws to be voted on on June IOtn
has been compiled and Is presented
for the benefit of those Of u reaS-
ers who may not have had time to
follow closely this whole campaign.
or to read carefully the state publicity
pamphlet which has been mailed to
every voter by the secretaty Of state.
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION.
House Bill No. II
BY this law there is delegated to a
commission Of three men almost as
much power as the legislature has
heretofore had. Under %interlocking
laws already enacted by our legisla-
ture. this commission has power over
ST., 100000 in bonds and direct ap-
preparations aud over public funds
ranging at from $5O.OOO,0OO.OO to $780,
600, also to some extent over
the returned soldiers fund. Officers
of this commission cal arrange to loan
public or private money In their hands
to themselves almost without restrfc-
ton and With scarcely any of the Gus
tomary safeguards against graft or
mismanagement.
The commission has power to buy,
lease, build. sell and operate elevators,
-four mills, factories, plants. machin-
cry, real estate, homes and cities. 1t
may establish and operate exchanges,
bureaus, markets and agencies, within
or without the state, including foreign
countries, and do anything that any
individual or corporation might do,
subject only to rules and regulations
of the commission, which makes it
possible to buy and operate milk sta
lions, farms, grocery stores. and any
other activity that might seem neces-
sary in its Judgment. (Read the mill
and elevator law. which becomes eff
fective If the industrial commission
law is approved.)
Should you be unwilling to sell your
farm or home or other property in
case some one close to the state
officials, whoever they might be,
should get a notion that 1t should be
used in a different way or for the
good of other people, then this COM
mission can take it by the right of
eminent domain. (Read the home
builders law which becomes effective
If this law, House Bill II, is ap-
proved.)
The industrial commission has under
this law power to hire and fire with
out regard to civil service require
ments or fitness for the positions hun
dreds of managers, contractors, archi-
tects, attorneys, clerks, agents, SER
wants, ETC., and use them for political
wire-pullers While drawing pay from
the state. The commission provided
for is composed of the governor, at
torney general, and commissioner of
agriculture and labor. In reality, how
ever, the governor Is the commissioner
because no orders, rules, regulations,
bylaws or written contracts shall be
in force or otherwise effective unless
approved and signed by him. 1t is in
fact a one-man ce1nmission-and that
one man is the governor, whoever he
may be.
Add to the power that the governor
has under the industrial commission
law, the additional powers that he will
have owe the schools under S. 3. 1874,
over taxation under S. B. Ct and over
the kind Of people that shall inhabit
our state under II. B. 1913, the $780,
10000 immigration bill; and then ask
yourself If you believe it is wise to
vote for the approval of suah a law
as this.
MILL AND ELEVATOR LAW.
1t is no longer necessary to vote for
the industrial commission law in order
to have a fair trial of the idea Of a
state-owned mill and elevator system,
or a rural credits law, or a home
builders law, because If any court
should hold that the petitions Initial
Ing these laws, which are now on file
with the secretary Of state, can not
be voted on at the next primary cleo.
ton, the same laws, with whatever
improvement can be made on them,
will be re-initiated by the Independent
Voters Association in time to be voted
on at the primary election next spring.
The executive committee Of the Inde'
pendent Voters Association has made
q public promise to that effect. The
laws that we are now asked to ap-
prove have dangerous political handles
on them.
Neither is the Bank of North Da-
kota needed for the purpose Of financ-
ing these because it is proposed that
the bulk Of the money shall come from
the sale of bonds. There is no reason
why the banks now in existence in our
state car not finance almost anything
that could be financed in any other
way and since an overwhelming ma.
jority Of the banks in North Dakota
are now owned and controlled by
farmers, it would be absurd to suggest
that they would not finance industries
and utilities that would be of benef,
to themselves.
Get your pencil and paper and fig
ure out just how much you will be
short in your p%ocketboSk or bank &C
count If you have to wait until mex
spring before q mill and elevator law
or a rural credits law, or a home
builders law can be adopted. How