Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-10-20

Inc following statement OF IactS Will
Be Of interest to oil people who would
like to have reliable Information on
what has become of North Dakota's
public money. The statement is based
on accurate figures and official rec
urds:
Frozen In Real Estate Loans.
On February 90, 1921, there was, &C.
cording to Cathro's sworn statement,
e2.SS1. S12.22 of public tax money in
vested in real estate loans. The most
of this money was handed out to polit-
lcal pets and in illegally excessive
amounts. Loans should not exceed SO
per cent of actual value of the land.
In Bottineau county $239, 10000 was
loaned on the total assessed valuation of
SPAS. $4,000, the loans being made on
q basis of 97h per cent instead Of on
30 per cent, This county is Fred
Cathro's home. D. ]. McMahon, a nom
resident and relative Of ex-Congress-
man Baer, received a $5OOOO.O0 loan on
assessed valuation Of $34, $4,000; Rob-
ert Roy Craig. league official, $3,8OO.O0
ON S., SOB 90 assessed valuation in Nor
ton county, township 135, range 70.
Loans made in excess of assessed
valuation of land and their location by
EQUITIES are as follows: Bottineau, 10;
Bowman, 8; Burleigh, 9; Dunn, 3;
Golden Valley, 4; McHenry, 10; Nc
Kenzie, 6; Ransom, 8; Renville IL;
Stark, II Ward, 6; Williams, 6. Total
violations Of law, 80. The state has
practically bought much of this land,
which means that it will be tax free,
and the taxes on other property in
creased.
John N. Hagan, commissioner Of ag-
riculture and labor, and one of the d.
rectors of the Bank of North Dakota
made farm loan to himself-not only
that, but he ruthlessly brushed aside
1884 farmers who were waiting for
loans while he walked up to the front
and helped himself. His application
was No. 1,219, while his loan was No.
B6. According to the laws of the state
he should be removed from office, but
neither the governor nor the attorney
general are making any move to en-
force the law.
South Dakota's Rural Credits de-
partment has loaned $34,OOO,OOOOO to
its farmers during the past two years,
and without tying up a dollar of public
money. 1t has sold $36,OOO,OOO.OO
worth of Rural Credit bonds. Other
western states and municipalities have
sold vast sums of their securities,
while our state officials have spent sew
eral little fortunes trying. to sell their
bonds, and make bungled mess out of
1t, having sold less than $4,OO0,OOO.0O
II that much, counting all kinds of
bonds and all kinds Of sales.
fs., "Frozen in Home Building
/ Association"
To set this work going, the New Day
laws appropriated $1O0,OOO.O0 and
authorized the issuance of$2,OOO, 10000
worth of bonds. In addition to an APP
preparation of $1OO,OOO.OO, the indus
trial commission had put into homes
and material $31S,63O14 of public
money making a total sum Of $418,-
554.O5 taken out of the treasury and
the pockets Of individuals. page 1856
House Journal, March 4th).
The law provides that the total cost
of each house built in cities shall not
exceed $5,0OO.O0 Nine of these houses
were built for state and League Off
GERS, among them William Lemke,
Commissioner of Agriculture and
Labor ]. N. Hagan, w. G. Johnson,
Consumers Store Co.. and Tax Com
missioner Wallace. State officers vio-
lated law first by building for them
selves; second, by building too costly
homes, as for example, William
Lemke's home in Fargo. Sworn est
imates of this house (page 1874 House
JOurnaD place its value at $24,O0O.OO.
Five homes could have been built
home. Much building material has
been spoiled, some sold at a discount
of more than SO per cent of cost
plaster at Bismarck and lumber at
Grand Forks. These houses were COM
pleted by use Of public money, while
teachers warrants, hail warrants,
rOadwOrk warrants, and checks Of all
kinds, were registered and went un-
paid.
"Frozen" In Mill and Elevator
Projects.
The New Day laws appropriated
S200,O00OO which in addition to $124,-
G32.47 taken from the Terminal Eleva-
tor Fund, which was the first to go
into this venture. (Chap. ISL Session
Laws 1910.
Drake Mill.
Invested in plant ind equipment,
$2S,6S8.54. Loss on operation Of mill,
$17,6S8.31. Fargo office expense, $751;
O8S.O9. Total funds "frozen," $751;
444.84. Further loss possible on ac-
count Of Consumers Store failure, bad
notes and loss on goods on hand.
page 100 House JourhaD. This is the
mill deal the Courier-N News and Leader
In October. 1920 assured the Dublic