The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1920-01-16
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Bismarck, N. D. Jan. lG-Bishop
William Lemke arguing for the admin
istration the constitutionality of House
Bill 60 which declares all acts of tho
special assembly to have been emer
nency measures and effective Decem
ber, 21, uncovered figures that arc
sensational and the material far reach
ing, according to Assistant Attorney
General Edward 3. Cox, who with As
sistant General Albert e. Sheets, Jr..
appeared for the officials punished by
the league.
According to Cox the state by de-
creasiug the state taxes 25 percent has
rung up on the register new def
cheney Of over s7O0,O0O 90.
Lemke in his argument before the
supreme praying for the sustaining Of
House Bill so called attention to the
fact that the statute providing for a
decrease in state taxes for general
purposes, excep the soldiers bonus and
state sinking fund, passed with tht.
emergency clause attached and was
not disputed.
He declared then that House Bill
Al which decreases the appropriation
for the expenses of the attorney gen.
erals secretary of states and state
auditors, and other departments was
Offset by the Is percent decrease in
state taxes. Lemke argued that mas.
much as the Is percent decrease was
in effect, it was absolutely vital thet
House Bill A be in effect through the
declaration of House Bill 60 that all
measures were emergency acts.
Cox in his brief states: Il have be-
fore me a statement issued by the
State Tax Commission which deals
with the reduction in appropriations
made by H. B. "A. The records of the
State Board Of Equalization show that
the total tax raised by the state levy
excluding hat raised for the soldiers,
bonus and the interest and sinking
funds for state bonds amounted TO
SO, 45S,9O7,O0. The Is percent .reduC-
tton in taxes did not affect those taxes
levied for the soldier bonus nor for
interest and sinking fund. Therefore
divide the total tax raised by four, we
find that House Bill SO reduced tbs
Cox shows that. the net decrease in
expense account appropriations made
by House Bill "A totals s123,592. 30
and adds "The taxes were reduced
1854, 500 and the expenses $123,OOO' or
the state taxes are reduced rs per.
cent and the expenses but three and
a half percent. -
Showing that H. B. a. should not be
an emergency measure and that II
House Bill 60 is held constitutional,
the administration has gotten itself in
to fine jackpot while holding bob
tailed flush, Cox sums up the situation
by saying 1T is thus clear that if the
figures of the tax commission in the
statements which they are sending
broadcast throughout the state, are
correct, Mr.. Lemke is wrong. And re-
gardless of the fact whether H. B. ~
goes into effect now or July list, il his
argument is correct, the tax peyers OF
North Dakota must make up next year
or aome suhseuuent year a deficit OF
approximately $741,ooo, which deficit
will occur according to Mr.. Lemkes
argument because H. B. A does lot
go into effect Immediately but which
in reality will occur because the IN
come of the state, the taxes, we're re-
duced by the last session of the lests-
lature twenty-five percent while they
reduced the appropriation or expense
Of the state but three and a half per-
cent"