Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-29
Dixon |SS|H0RN
0FPERQU|S|TES
|Nb0ARD POSTS
Equalizers Terminate
Privilege Governor
Assumed to Appoint.
Reason for Decision to
Require Majority O. K.
in Hiring Staffs.
Special to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune
Helena, Oct 2S.-Apparentiy holding
to the view that Governor Dixon has
taken upon himself the authority which
the statutes vest in the state boarc
of equalization. that OF appointing such
experts, assistants, clerks and stenOg-
raphers as may be required to perform
the work of. the board, State Auditor
George p. Porter has taken the initia-
tive in insisting that this appointive
power will in the future rest with the
board.
The meaning of the board action
taken Thursday. to require majority ap-
proval of all appointments hereafter, is
that the governor is shorn of an as
sumed prerogative and is reduced to
a simple member of the body in the
hiring of clerks, stenographers and
other help necessary to the transac-
tion of the boards business, same as
he is limited to mere equality in the
exercise Of other functions of member
ship. ~...,
Submitted Haugon's Name Only
The statutes specify that all these
assistants shall be employed or ap-
pointed by the board of equalization.
which consists of the governor, as
chairman, the secretary Of state, state
treasurer. state auditor and attorney
general, and while quite number of
persons have been employed from time
to time during the present year, only
one of these. SO far as can be learned.
was appointed upon the authority of
the state board.
This one exception was that of Nils
Haugen, the Wisconsin expert, who was
employed by Governor Dixon at sal
ary of $1,000 per year, and whose ap--
pointment was subsequently authorized
by the board of equalization.
Appointed Through Edsertoa
. For several months force Of about
eight experts, assistants, clerks and
stenographers has been employed upon
the work of the board but none of
these have been selected or appointed
by the board, the assumption of some
members being that they were placed
on the rolls by John Edgerton. princi-
pal assistant to the board, either upon
the recommendation or approval of the
governor.
Mr.. Porter is jealous of his rights in
this matter and does not intend that
they shall be invaded by anyone. as
was evidenced at the last meeting Of
the board. when he made motion that
in the future Mr. Edgerton be required
to report to the board the names of
persons to be employed and that they
then be employed only by a majority
vote of the members of the board. This
motion was quickly seconded by Attor
ney General Rankin and was adopted
without opposition.
Also Brings Expense Under o. x.
Mr.. Porter also took the view that
the expense bills of the board should
be examined by the board and by a.sim-
liar second and vote he put over
motion requiring that all bills of ex-
pense of the board, with the exception
Of those relating to office supplies, be
presented to the board and approved by
at least three members. He gave no
reasons for the introduction of these
motions and no one questioned his
motives nor the authority of the board
TO carry the motions into effect.
At the previous meeting Mr.. Porter
had succeeded in bringing about the
adoption Of motion made by him
that the force of employees Of the board
De reduced upon the first of Novem-
ger and that Mr.. Edgerton be required
to furnish list of the employees neces-
sary to carry on the work of the board.
Governor Dixon, after the motion had
oeen made, expressed himself as believ-
ng it to be q proper step but he did
lot express himself as to the motion
the appointment Of employees.
Closed Meeting Considers Cut
For the purpose of considering the
natter of the reduction of forces, as
provided for in the latter motion, two |
.losed sessions of the board were held
Friday at which suggestions of Mr.
1dgerton were heard, and he was in
'tructed to reduce his force to three
Jerks, effective November 1.
Under this action he will retain
Ralph Sloan Of Helena and A. A. Ma
ors of Plentywood, assistants and
Jerks, at $3.50 per month each, and
Hiss Beulah Farley of Missoula, stem
,grapher, at 1925 per month.
W. H. Parker, Fred Sheriff and one
who are now with the |
'oard, will conclude their periods Of !.
ervice next Monday.
Last winter Mr.. Edgerton carried on |
he work of the board with one assist !
mt, stenographer.