The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-02-12
THE SEED AND FEED QUESTION;

The county commissioners by vote
of three to two,- re jected the applica-
toms fer seed and feed, under the
seed ard feed bonding act, passed by
the special session of the Legislature
IN 1919. Commissioners Vandenoever
and Powell voting for furnishing the
seed and feed and Commissioners
L0kensgard, krantz and Spicher vot-
ing against it. Commissioner Spicher
says that the question may not be
definitely settled. The board may be
r11alldamused and if the seed and feed
tjpnding act is held constitutional, the
county may be compelled to issue
bonds or warrants to provide for seed
and feed. The act reads as follows:
Petition For. Time to RUM In any
county of the State where the crops
have been total or partial failure by
-feason Of drouth hail or other cause, 1t
shall be lawful for. and it shall be the
duty of the Board of County Commits
sioners in such county TO, issue Inc Donds
of the county under and pursuant 70 me
provisions Of this Article and with the
proceeds derived from the sale thereon
10 purchase seed grain and feed FOR the
Inhabitants thereof who are in need OF
seed grain and feed and are unable to
procure the same whenever said Board
shall be petitioned in writing so to do by
not Tess tnan fifty freeholders resident
an HE county; and said Board at the
meeting called as hereinafter provided
. to consider said petition shall be MAJ
jority vote determine that the prayer of
that all such petitions shall be filed with
the County Auditor at any time between
the iirst day of November of any crop
failure year and the -25th day Of Feb
upon it shall be the duty of said officer
70 forthwith call a meeting OF the Board
Of County Commissioners of his county
70 consider said petition; and provided
surther, that the total amount of bonds
issued by any county under the, provis-
ions of this Article shall not with the
then existing indebtedness of the county
exceed the limit of Indebtedness fixed
by the Constitution in such case; that
said bonds shall be in denomination OF
from one hundred to five hundred dol
lars; shall bear rate of interest not eX-'
ceeding six per cent per annum, payable
semi at such place and time
aes shall be agreed upon by the Commits
sioner of Agriculture and Labor and the
purchaser, and that all bonds issued I'M
der the provisions of this Article shall
1ecome due and payable in not less than
date thereof, the date of maturity to be
fixed by the County Board at the time of
the issuance thereof, provided that the
bUnship supervisors shall advise with
the commissioners concerning the ab-
Diication of applicants from their town
ship. with the above limitation
Mr.. Spicher has thot out a plan
which he believes might work. The
county has already been bonded to the
extent of $4,000 for seed and feed,
.mly $4,000 Of which has been paid
back by the farmers. He suggests
nalling arrangements with some bank
or a number of banks Of individuals
with money to accept county warrants
at 81 given for the purchase of seed
and feed. The farmer pays SO for
his loan and the banks or individuals
will receive so for cashing the war
rants. These warrants are to be re-
tired just as rapidly as possible and
Mr.. Spicher believes that this will be
Much better than issuing bonds. The
$4,000 already paid in on the $780,
900 worth Of bonds issued, could be de-
posted with the banks accepting the
warrants for three years and the coun-
,ty will, receive Sc on this money.
In The past, the farmers have not
always been very keen about meeting
Hheir obligations 10 the county. Some
lave paid up very well indeed, consid-
ering the series of poor crops, but a
number have been trifie careless and
the county is certain to lose good
sized chunk Of money from the feed
and seed already furnished. Mr..
Spidher says that some of the farm
ers who have not been in any hurry
TO pay for the feed and seed argue
!. that they are paying the county six
per cent, whereas if they borrowed the
money at the bank at 10 per cent, the
county would only receive per cent
for the money on deposit, therefore
The county would be out one per cent