The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-02-24
HOUSE CHARGE
IS CONFIRMED
J. BY SECRETARY
Declares 1t No Secret That
Stenographers Being Paid
BY Commission
House Committee Inquiries Into
Payment of Commission
Advertising

I The fact became known today that
the Industrial Commission is paying
the salaries of two court reporters
employed by the senate investigating
committee, inquiring into state indus
try management.
An effort was made by counsel for
the house committee to obtain this
admission from John N. Hagan, men,
her of the Industrial Commission, on
the witness stand. Mr.. Hagan re-
fused to make positive statement.
but said he would be glad to produce
the record tomorrow morning show
ing if any payment were made. 4
Following the hearing H. A. Pad
dock, secretary of the commission,
said that the commission was paying
the expenses of two reports for the
senate investigating committee, and
declared it was not a secret.
The effort of the house COM
mittee counsel along this line
evidently was to show that the
Industrial Commission was pay
ing part of the expenses of an
investigating committee suppos-
ed to be investigating the acts of
) the Industrial Commission itself
and its agents, and that, there.
for it was not to be presumed
that such an investigation would
be anything except favorable to
the Industrial Commission.
Mr.. Hagan was asked about the
full page advertisement which the
Industrial Commission is having
printed in various newspapers
throughout the state. When the first
took the stand Mr.. Sullivan elected
information as TO- the appropriation
made by the legislature for the Indus
trial Commission amounting to $780,.
900. , A
~- Advertising Authorized.
Mr.. Hagan said that the advertis-
ing had been authorized by the In
dustrial Commission. Mr.. Hagan said
he thought the commission had con-
tracted to pay for the advertising,
and that the commission had author
lied the secretary, H. A. Paddock, to
make arrangements for the adver-
tising. No limitation was placed up
on the action of the secretary, Mr..
Hagan thought. He was to investi-
gate and report to the commission,
which he did.
"Do you know whether it is true
that the advertisement authorized by
the Industrial Commission is sent out
from Fargo to the legaue newspapers
by the Publishers National Bureau?"
Mr.. Hagan said he did not, but
thought it was done through a Min
neapolis or St. Paul agency. Mr..
Hagan said he had read but one ad-
'vertisement after it was printed and
that hebelieved he went all over it
before it was printed.
He said he understood Rex Large,
identified as of the Minnesota Daily
Star, Minneapolis Nonpartisan news
paper, assisted in the preparation of
the advertising.
The witness declared that the adj
vertising was not, in his judgment,
political advertising. . ....
"Will 1t Get Votes"
"Do you think they would get votes
for the Nonpartisan league +" he was
asked. .a. .s--r' ...'.
"They are not written with the idea
of getting votes" replied Mr.. Hagan.
lis it not fact that the purpose
Of the articles is the creating of pub
lie opinion in %he state in favor of
the present administration ?" asked
Mr.. Sullivan. .
1--WE wanted the people to know the
TRUTH" said Mr.. Hagan.
Mr.. Sullivan referred to the third
advertisement containing consider
able testimony of NJ. W. Thatcher, of
the Equitable Audit Company before
the senate investigating committee.
Why Not Both Sides
"1f it was intended to give the
truth wouldn't it be better to have
given both sides of the Thatcher tes.
timony, as general proposition %
asked Mr.. Sullivan.
II don't consider this a very good
hearing" replied Mr.. Hagan.
Mr.. Hagan then said that he didn't
think one could get both sides in the
house hearing. .
Mr.. Sullivan asked if the witness
thought one got the truth in the SEN
ate hearing, and a tilt developed over
the method of questioning in the
house hearing.
"Now we people who are paying
taxes are paying for this advertis-
ing" said Mr.. Sullivan.
Eyes, if you are paying taxes" said
Mr.. Hagan.
The witness was asked the section
Of the law on which the commission
relied for authority to make the ex-
penditure of money for advertising
Mr.. Hagan read from the law and he
declared, the advertising was for the
Continued on page 81