Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-18
p. Norton Says NJ embers Of
IS IndustriaI Commission Are
u Weighed and Found Wanting

disastrous and ruinous to the credit
and good name Of the state hi been
their stewardship. A partial record
OF the ruin they have already
wrought in tho state shows:
1. The state owned creamery in
the little village of Dunn county,
closed and boarded up after an x
penditure of moro than $4,000, Of
money Of the taxpayers of the state,
and this used largely to furnish po-
fiticAl jobs at this state owned indus
try for favorites and "hangers-on" OF
the administration.
The Drake Mil.
2. The little mill at Drake, also
closed after operating for = year.
Bought at an exaggerated value OF
$4,000. Manufacturing about 500
barrels of -four a month. Having six
engineers and Ave flour packers on its
political pay roll. Heralded during
1920 by the state administration to be
making profits Of more than $4,000 a
month. Found by the audit made I'M
der direction Of the last legislative
assembly to nave a deficit at the close
Of the year Of 1920 of $32,156.40. and
this not taking into consideration large
Losses that have since been incurred
on hour and feed consigned to the
Bankrupt Consumers Stores company,
nor losses on account of failure to pro-
tect against the falling prices of wheat
carried in storage. Approximately
81, 200. 900 of school, county, township
and city tax funds frozen In the foun-
dAtion and skeleton frame work of the
incompleted mill and elevator at
Grand Forks.
Homebuilders Law.
4. An outrageous and criminal
violation of the spirit and letter OF
the Homebuilders law. The most
gross inefficiency and incompetency
imaginable in the administration OF
where and how the $2S8,00O of the
taxpayers money has been spent in
this industry. Homes In value far In
excess Of the maximum limit of 49,
600, provided by the law. built for a
number Of state officials and political
"hansers-on" of the administration. A
palatial home estimated to be worth
more than $4,000 FOR Attorney Gen
eral Lemke. What a spectacle of in
competency, greed. avarice, and dis
loyalty to the people does the admin
istration Of this law evidence.
Bank OF North Dakota.
4. The operation of the Bank OF
North Dakota in open and fragrant
violation of all safe and sane bust
ness. principles. Loaning hundreds oil
thousands Of dollars Of the money OF
the taxpayers Of the state to promote
and League favorites. More than ST..
100000 Of the taxpayers money tied
up in closed banks. A large part OF
this in banks owned and controlled
by political favorites and. political
"~hangers-on" of the industrial com.
mission. A large part, II not all o,
this money, SO tied up is certain neve
to be repaid to the state. The Eros.
mismanagement of this bank causing
the former financial good name of the
state to be .stigmatized and d~iscredited
in every other state in the Union.
Much More of 1t.
This is part of the record as they
have made. There is much more O.
1t of even a more serious and damag.
ing character to the interest Of ever,
farmer, every laborer, and every bust.
nessn1an in the state. Yesterday II
one Of my addresses I made the state
ment that during the past few year,
while this reign has controlled tn,
state the state taxes have been in,
creased more than 400 per cent. Will,
the, population of the state has scarce
ly increased. 1t all. Being questioned
by n Of the recently imported 80
cialist appointees of the industrial
commission as to my authority fol
this statement, I wired State Treasurer
John Steen for the figures as to thu
state general and special fund take,
for the years 1915 and 1921, and her,
is The Geographic answer, more thar
fully confirming my statement as Il
this gross increase Of the state ta1
burdens under this reign Of demo
goguery. deceit and ia Use promises:
1915 Taxes Levied for
General Fund ........ $1,491.6 1914 q
Special Fund Taxes Gre.
dited to general fund 3~44,47S.el
Total for 1915. ..$1,s3 1850
1921 Taxes levied for
general fund. ........ 1914, S4o.0 0
Special Fund Taxes Gre 3
dited to general fund 1870, 0o0.o Of
l. Total for 1921......$ 4,511, $4,000
Further the telegram reads ION,
hundred per cent increase in genera
fund levy this year over last" Unit
received this telegram I did not know
J! they had put over or: US for 1922 al
increase Of another 100 per cent.
They not only have increased tn,
state tax burdens with wild abandon
and unbridled extravaganza, but the,
have also destroyed the former Roof
name and financial standing Of tn,
state.