Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-07

aEkNatNA 49, 10
On tie whsls. ~ psspss Of inertia
Dakota hase rsasso - congratulate
thsrnseivss On tn results Of the ses-
sloa Of the Legislative assembly Just
closed. With tho league ana inde-
pendent forces erospsd ~ they were,
one controlling the house and the
other the senate, the masBtn In each
case being very narrow, 1t Was quite
evident that legisstion Of = strongly
factional character would be impos-
sdble. In most cases the bills passed
arc those considered Of minor I'm
torrance. or arc recognized BY both
factions as being essential to the
carrying on Of the business OF the
state.
The leseuerA Of course, have had
the more advantageous position. -
the governor. who il Of their faction.
holds the veto power, and can xer
else it at his pleasure now that the
legislature has adjourned, II 10
chooses to exercise this power IA 4
partisan way, the independents are
<powerless to prevent him, Or to adopt
the YetAliatory tactics which could be
employed II The legislature were still
In session.
But something very effective has
been done, aside from tho enactment
OF new statutes. Information as to
the method employed in the govern
ment OF the state has been made ac-
cessible to the people. This is the
first time since the Townley admin
istr Stion came into power that there
has! been . general and thorough ex-
animation Of the states business by
d%isintercsted persons. and 4 systemat-
&c compilation Of the facts. That has
been accomplished at this ~session. fol-
lowing the expert audit which was
undertaken In pursuance Of the law
initiated last fall.
1t has been established by the Of
fetal examination OF records and by
the testimony Of witnesses, many OF
whom are directly connected with the
management Of the states budnesA
that tho government Of the state Of
Norh Dakota has been conducted as
a mere adjunct OF . political o~rsanixz-
ton, and that the extraction Of money
from. the pockets OF the farmers
through 4 group of subsidiary organ
izations has included within its scope
the entire public business OF the state
The plan Of obtaining money from the
farmers through aIez Of stock and
the signature Of accommodation entsx-
ETC. having proven inadequate. Ia en-
tire tax system Of the state has tee-
diverted 70 the same ends The fact
that this policy has b>er pzr.zed- xss
information IS to the Name II which
the scheme has beer cper7.ed AaT-
Ing seen made a.zsAhs<r tie sssEsa
has done something t-oH which LIS
STATE can beasf.
The Independent. members OF IL
two houses ave had \ ds4cz. t2sk
A minority IN one house.. and but a
slender majority In the other, they
were subjected 70 tremendous pres
q during the entire sesu5on- Seek
ing honestly to conduct N tnvess.o-
ton Of the states industries in such
a manner that the people nigh. know
and~understand the facts, they have
been .obstructed and hampered from
the beginning, and every possible CT
fort has been made to discredit them
and their work. They have refused
to yield either to bullying or cajolery.
They have stood their ground. and
have acquitted themselves with both
courage and ability.
1t will take some time to get the
essential facts before the = people in
concise and understandable form.
There has been such q macs Of test
mony, and 1t has been brought out
so rapidly that there has not been
time for the average reader to> digest
it all. In addition to the compilation
which is to be published there isneed.
ed a series Of digests Of the more i'm
portant portions, so that that which lie
of first importance may not be OBJ.
secured by the mass Of other test.
mony. These matters must receive
attention later. But enough ID known
and understood to demonstrate that
the business Of the state is in dang.
erous hands.