The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-10-13

OJNAlvl
Forks and give adequate capital for its opera
ton (which seems very lkely) it does not mat
ter how great profit the mill may at any time
produce, even that profit cannot be retained for
working capital, but must forthwith be turned
into the sinking funds Of the state. never to be
seen again by the state mill. T.
49, Won't Complete Mill
But this need not be given very serious atten-
ton, since the mill and elevator at Grand Forks
are not to be allowed completion as l read the
proposed initiated law amending Chapter 15l
and creating q new industrial commission that
is to have control, among other things, Of the
mill and elevator business. Let us look at that
measure. :, ,~e
In Section 4 it is provided that the new.in-
dustrial commission shall be Subject, however,
in every respect to the limitations and ~restric-
tions imposed-by this act" This follows:
For the purpose of performing its duties as
defined in this act, the industrial commission
may appoint and engage the services of neces-
sary managers, superintendent, foremen, me
chanics, experts and employees and define their
duties, fix their compensation and have the
power generally to remove and discharge them.
The industrial commission is authorized to buy
and sell leases and contracts and to buy, sell and
lease buildings, equipments and other property,
Of which it may legitimately have charge and
custody under chapters $50 and 162 Of the seS-
sion laws of 1919, as modified by this act. Pro-
vided, however, that the industrial commission in
performing it's duties in reference to the Mill
and Elevator association shall conine itself to
grain and grain products at Drake and Grand
Forks"
Provision is also made for meetings, clerks,
~~~~~l~ hv ~-,n - >-l Az ~41-no~$ - h
debts Of the Mill and Elevator association. but
the foregoing is every word as to the work
the industrial commission may do or have done
at Drake and Grand Forks, and it is most ex-
plcitly forbidden to do anything else.
The first part quoted above as to managers,
etc., clearly refers to the operation of the mills
(if there are any, Ito buy and sell leases and
contracts can only refer to existing contracts.
paying some contractors to let the state off and
selling the privilege to others to be let off; while
the permission to "buy, sell and lease buildings,
equipments and other property" is all too plain
in its meaning. =
Since 50 elaborate provision is made for the
employment Of every kind Of help that can ap-
parentiy be needed in any mill and elevator, and
since Drake and Grand Forks are mentioned
specifically, it may be thought by some that it
was really the intention Of the trainers Of this
initiated law that those two industries should be
continued by the state. If so, why not have said
so in plain language? Can any other conclusion
be reached than that that stuff is mill dust for
the eyes?
But supposing I am wrong. Say that soma
lawyer can find in this law permission to the
new industrial commission to complete the mill
and elevator at Grand Forks, let US see how the
designers of this proposed law would have it
worked out.
Into Unfriendly Hands
The new Industrial commission will consist Of
the secretary Of state, state treasurer and COM
missioner Of agriculture and labor, and hold Of
fee until their successors are appointed during
the next legislative assembly, that is, over .
year at any rate. The first two named are open
opponents of the League and the industrial pro-
gram. I do not in the least mean to cali Id
question the integrity Of these two gentlemen.
but they are at least unfriendly to the enter.
PRISE they are to manage. Who wants an una
friendly manager Of any business. Can fair re.
suits be had in any such case? =
Now let US see how these unfriendly managers
OF the industries are proposed to administer
those affairs. Tho they will all be in Bismarck
practically every day and tho the business ID
urgent, they are not required to have their first
meeting till seven months after their election.
that is. mot later than the first Monday in
July" # this is not plainly an animation that
they need be in no hurry, / fail to understand
the uses of the English language.
But what actually happens when they do busi-
ness? Thomas Hall and John Steen and the
governor Chat is, the majority, consisting of
Thomas Hall and John Steen) are to issue the
bonds that they determine to be necessary
and the proceeds are made available to Thomas
Hall and John Steen with the commissioner 81
agriculture and labor, who need not county act.
ing as the new industrial commission. -
Now suppose that Thomas Hall and John
Steen acting as q majority Of the industrial
commission, should conclude that the only tbonds
necessary were enough to pay the debts ana
close out the enterprise at Grand Forks. as they
would have 2 legal right to do, beyond a doubt
Thomas Hall and John Steen Of the joint bond
issuing agency would arrive at the same con-
clusion. -
repeat that these two measures, the amend
ment to the constitution and the initiated Law. "a
establish q new Industrial commission will. 81
enacted, strangle both the state owned mill at
Drake and the state owned mi and elevator st
Grand Forks. The helpless princes in the tower
encountered no less friendly visitors in the ruff
fans that King Richard sent against them thar
will the helpless enterprises at Drake and Grand
Forks find in these two initiated proposals af
they are enacted and sent against them. |~s
call on every man and every woman ID