The Ward County independent., 1921-02-03
Ge Grist Of the
Legislative Mill
SPECIAL COMMITTEE NOW
HAS STATE AUDIT REPORT

A was expected, the reconvenins Of
the state legislature following g i've
day recess was marked by the sub
mission OF the long awaited reports Of
the Bishop -Brissman company's audit
Of the state industries.
One copy Of the report Went to the
state board Of auditors, another to the
to the state senate. f. J. Grace, 4
member OF the firm. was on hand to
make any explanations that might be
asked.
The first move of the house was to
turn the report over, without comment,
to the special committee Of nine,
headed by Representative NJ. O. Gran
gard of Barnes county. This COM
mittee employed counsel in the per-
sons Of Attorney Francis J. Murphy Of
Minot and Attorney John f. Sullivan
Of Mandan. and long sessions Of the
committee and counsel ensued. The
result was that the two attorneys took
the reports and asked for several days
In which to map out course of pro-
cedure in conducting the necessary in
vestigation and making definite re-
port.
The report covers 500 pages, includ-
ing soyle comment by the auditors,
which. they make assurance. is offered
merely as professional advice and not
with any personal or political bias.
The audit covered the state mill and
elevator association. the Bank Of North
Dakota. and the state home builders
association. 1t was supposed to have
included the wOrkHnen'S compensation
bureau and the state leased creamery
at Werner. which was recently aban-
doned Lack of time was given as the
reason for failure to include a report
on these two enterprises.
In many places throughout the re-
port The company calls attention 10 the
fact that the brief time allotted them
in which TO complete their work made
1t impossible for them to gather full
details and make complete analyses
of the funds and accounts OF the sew
eTtl lHSIltulloilS.
They point out that in some in
stances complete files were not avail
able for their work.
Formal hearings. at which the house
committee. their counsel. and the com
pany representatives will he present,
are being held in the Burleigh county
court house.
No definite and final conclusions can
be drawn until the. report of the spe-
cial committee, but opinions are diver
many details set forth by the auditors.
Among the questions raised are the
method of accounting in the home
builders association. where, the audi
tors claim, no contracts with home
builders are filed and where no ac-
counts are available to show the indi-
vidual cost Of the various building
projects under way: the incomplete
records OF sales and consignments
made by the state mill; the nature Of
the security taken and the details Of
the loan plan adopted by the state
bank
The tying up of considerable sums
Of state money in one or another enter
prises is indicated, but no indication Is
made that liquidation is not possible.
One fact that is apparently settled
on the face Of the auditors figures is
that the state mill has lost somewhere
between $4,000 and $4,000 In its
operations.
Debate Payment for Audit.
In the discussion of the report Of
the auditing company II has developed
that private citizens of North Dakota
have deposited over $4,000 with
Bishop, Brissman & Co. as guaran-
tee that the state will pay for the
recent audit of the state industries,
which will cost In the neighborhood Of
$4,000 Debate in the legislature
shows that Nonpartisan legislators are
opposed to the state appropriation for
payment for the work.
Meoevsrn Has Assiensd.