The Ward County independent., 1921-12-22
Attorney General Johnson Cutting Ex-


of appointing special assistants" to
prosecute cases which ordinarily
should be taken care of by the states
attorneys in the various counties.
From the first of January, 1918, and
up till the time when the new ad-
ministration took hold of the states
affairs, Mr.. Johnson's predecessor in
office had spent, when outstanding and
unpaid claims against the department
is included, nearly $65,000. Of this
$47,713.48 have actually been paid,
bills to the amount of $1,000 remain
unpaid and to this must also be added
$4,000 for which Especial Attorney"
F. A. Pike, of Minneapolis, is suing
the Bank of North Dakota and which
may be allowed
In letter to all the states attorneys
in North Dakota Attorney General
johnson declares that this wasteful
procedure will be dispensed with dur
ing his administration; he calls at
tention to the fact that the states at
t0neys themselves are supposed to
take care of all the penal prosecutions
properly triable within the county and
that, in cases where it is advisable or
necessary to have assistance, the dis
trict judge or the county commits
sioners have full authority to give such
aid. He asks that the states at
torneys do their utmost to cooperate
with the attorney generals depart
ment in the interest of economy.
Statewide Reduction of Cost of Public
Service
Governor r. A. Nestos has taken the
initiative in movement for a state
wide reduction of taxes and the cost of
public service. In a letter to the
chairman of the board of county COM
missioners in each county he declares
that the state administration has taken
steps to reduce the administrative and
other expenses by from one to two
millions year, but, says the governor,
II am also mindful Of the fact that
while the saving of million or two
in the cost of administering the bust
ness affairs of our state is important
that-as compared with the total tax
burdens of our people for the school
districts, townships, villages, cities
and counties of our state-it is, after
all, but a slight percentage of re-
duction and that, therefore, it becomes
| essential, in order to bring any SUBJ
stantial relief to the taxpayers of our
state, to effect similar reduction in
the cost of the administration of our
counties and various other political
subdivisions"
| The governor further informs the
county chairmen that the present state
administration desires to do its share
and a rigid system of economy has
already been instituted with material
saving as result And he continues:
but we are anxious that in this
program of economy we shall have the
cooperation Of every political sub
division of the state. l am sure that
great results can be secured if the
state administration, the county COM
missioners, and the boards Of our
school districts, townships, villages
and cities, together with all public Of
ficials, will apply the same rigorous
economies to all the public business as
the citizenship of our state has ap-
piled and are now constrained to ap-
ply. to their private expenditures and
their private affairs during these
months of depression"
For the sake of securing compare
tive statistics from which to work out
a definite scheme of tax savings the
governor requests the various chair
men of the county commissioners to
have the auditors prepare for the
state administration as soon as Dos
sible a statement of the appro-
priations made for the general funds
during the years of 1917, 1919 and
1921 together with such other infor-
maticn as he would deem of value in
making comprehensive study of the
growth Of these expenditures. In con-
c!usion the governor says: II am sure
that if every item of expenditure and
every appropriation is closely scanned
with this thought in mind, many op-
portunities for reducing the expenses
OF administration and the cost Of the
public service will be found and that,
as result thereof, the tax burdens of
our people will be greatly reduced"
" II all public officials will seriously
and conscientiously join in this plan.
taking advantage of every. oppor-
tunity to conserve the public resources,
by the time the, next tax levies are
made the public treasures will be in
such shape that the levies for the en-
suing year can be fixed at a figure far
below those under which we have
4 struggled for the past several years.
G. r. Green, Of Cavalier, Pembina
County, one Of the best known leading
3 bankers Of the state, has been ap-
pointed manager of the Bank Of North
4 Dakota with salary Of $4,000. There
will be no director general any more
F. w. Cathro and his ten thousand
dollar salary being the first and the
last Of the species. Mr.. Green il
president Of the Merchants and Farm.
ers Bank Of Cavalier and vice-presi.
dent Of the Bank Of Hamilton. HI
has been president Of the North Dako.
ta State Bankers Association and tool
Z leading part In all Liberty Loar
drives. The selection Of Mr. Greer