The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-12-11

SCateS government, ana now Cne man
who signed the letter is now serving
three years in the federal prison.
Twitchell Cites Hagen Case
Mr.. Twitchell cited the H. j. Hagen
case as being in point. He told how
some state officers have been lying
about the attorney general in that
case, of Hagen's conviction as justi-
flying the attorney general, and he
took the position that the law was
such as to reach any other state Of
ficer who attempted to undermine the
coincidence of the people in the attor-
ney general Of the state, by telling
lies sabout him.
Rebate on State Tax
The league iegi ,lative bureau,
which several days ago rejected the
bill introduced by Representative
johnson of Pembina county, at the
instance of Justice ]. E. Robinson, Of
the supreme court, proposing Q re-
duction Of all tax levies by 30 por
cent, has reversed itself again to the
extent Of having bill introduced in
the house providing for rebate Of
25 per cent to all taxpayers Of the
tax they pay for state purposes.
In the bill as presented in the house
Saturday afternoon, no machinery II
provided for the return Of the tax,
the section of the bill providing for
the rebate being as follows:
"Sec. l. That the amount due
from each taxpayer Of the state
for the year 1919 for state taxes
be and the same is hereby re- =.
mitted in the amount Of rs per
cant, and each such taxpayer
shall be entitled to a refund of
such amount"
The proposal to cut all state tax
leviGs by Is per cent would mean a
rebate to the taxpayers Of $1,135,206.
Tho total Of all taxes assessed for
state purposes is $4,540,82O, divided
% follows: general fund, s., ,459, ,952;
sinking funds, SCI, $50; interest, $780,
040; soldier bonus, $761,884.
Appropriation Reductions
Companion measures to this also
were introduced, providing for the
reduction Of the appropriation to the
industrial school at Mandan from
$30e, $3.50 to $208, $50, the reduction be-
ing in the item for building opera
tions, which is $20O, 900 in the budget
bill passed at the regular session.
The new item is 100000 for new
building, gymnasium, boiler room and
water supply" if the bill presented
Saturday-H. B. Sis passed.
Another reduction is Of $4,000 in
the dairy test division, the appropri-
alton being cut from $4,000, as au-
thorized at the regular session.
The appropriation for the school
for the feeble minded at Grafton is
reduced from $210,565 to $128, ,065 In
H. B. IS, and the appropriation for
the highway department is reduced
from $181 900 to $f72,OOO in H. B. SO.
Oil Control Bill Killed
Another important reversal Of posi-
ton by the league bureau was the
killing Or the bill providing for the
fixing of prices at which petroleum
products shall be sold in the state.
The principle was set forth in a
bill which declared oil companies pub
lie utilities, and gave to the board of
railroad commissioners authority to
fix prices, within range Of 80 per
cent of the cost at the refneries and
the handling costs.
Extensive hearings were held be-
fore the senate, representatives Of the
Standard Oil company and of many
of the largest independent oil COM
panies in The United States appear
ing before that committee.
The principle of making oil COM
panies public utilities and subjecting
them to price fixing powers, as are
now exercised in the case of such ut
ilities as steam, gas, electric and wat
ter supply concerns, is the one which
the representatives of the companies
opposed
The principal advocates before the
committee for the approval of the
measure were Dr.. E. F. Ladd, presi-
dent Of the agricultural college, and
w. G. Roylance, the tax expert Of the
Nonpartisan league legislative bur
eau.
Cigarette Bill Killed
The killing by the house Of the bill
for licensing the sale Of cigarettes
on Saturday BY standing vote cnly,
Of 81 to "a, means that the parties
hacking that measure vii. be requir-
ed to initiate the law by petition If
they desire . vote on the question.
The original bill repeating the ex-
listing anti-cigarette act WAS killed
several days ago, but was revived and
amended to provide for the submis-
sion TO the people Of . vote On the
question.
When the amendment came from
the temperance committee before the
committee Of the whole house. Satur-
day, it was voted down and the meas
ure killed.
Other Blue Law Repesls
Other blue law repeals, eRecting
Sunday theaters and Sunday baseball,
60 the route Of the cigarette law, and
there will be no Legislation Of that
nature during this session..
Condemn League Paper Report
A report published In the Fargo
and Grand Forks newspapers owned
by the Nonpartisan league leaders,
renresentinp that J. r. 4. OsCnnnor