The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-09-15

Mrs. H.. klelnert
Datus c. Smith, we'll known Trail
county farmer, owner Of the Clover
leaf farm near Blanchard, after a
careful study of the I. v. A. proposed
constitutional amendments and init
ated measures to be voted on at the
recall election, is convinced that there
will be no state mill and elevator if
these measures are approved by the
voters.
In the Courier News of September
9Th, Mr.. Smith analyses the proposed
constitutional amendment limiting the
bonded Indebtedness for state indus
tries and the initiated measure. which
provides for a reorganization of the
industrial commission. He quotes par
agraphs Of these measures and gives
the only Interpretation amendment
and its effect:
Drake Mill Eliminated
"Let us first look at the proposed
amendment to the constitution Section
1872 Among the bonds to be issued un-
der it are $4,000, 600, the proceeds to
be used to pay the debts and liabili-
ties of the North Dakota Mill and Ele-
vator association, to pay the expense
Of completing the. state-owned mill
and elevator at Grand Forks, and as
working capital for the operation Of
such mill and elevator"
1T is previously provided in the
amendment that the bonds may be is
sued and sold for the following pur-
poses only"-and Drake, it will be
seen, is not mentioned. 1t is also pro-
vided that "the total debt which may
be incurred by the state in connection
with the state owned utilities, enter
prises and industries is hereby limit
ed to the amount Of the bond issued
here in specifically authorized" So
Drake is completely shut out.
1t is true that the mill at Drake is
mentioned in the inflated law for the
new industrial commission as n of
the permitted activities of that COM
mission, but of what avail is it to be
allowed to live by law and killed by
the constitution?
"The extinction of this industry is
more scientific than that Of the Drake
mill, not so open, but non the less
sure. In the first place it may be OBJ
| served that it is provided in the
amendment that "any profit accruing
from the operation of the Mill and
Elevator association shall be paid into
the treasury of the state and credited
to the sinking funds to retire such
bonds" as have been issued for the
association.
$50, if the bonds provided do not
yield enough to complete the mill and
elevator at Grand Forks and give ade-
quate capital for it's operation (which
seems very likely it does not matter
how great profit the mill may at any
time produce, wen that profit cannot
be retained for working capital, but
must forthwith be turned into the
sinking funds Of the state, eve to be
seen again by the state mill.
Won't Complete Mill
"But this need not be given very
serious attention, since the mill and
elevator at Grand Forks are not to be
allowed completion as I read the pro-
posed initiated law amending Chapter
ISL and creating q new industrial COM
mission that is to have control, among
other things, Of the mill and elevator
business. Let us look at that meas
ure.
I'm section 4 it is provided that the
new industrial commission shall be
Subject, however, in every respect to
the limitations and restrictions i'm
posed-by this act" This follows:
~~For the purpose Of performing its
duties as defined in this act, the in
dustrial commission may appoint and
engage the services of necessary man
ayers, superintendents, foremen, me-
chanics, experts and employees and de-
fine their duties, fix their compensa-
ton and have the power generally to
remove and discharge them. The in
dustrial commission is authorized to
buy and sell leases and contracts and
to buy, sell and lease buildings, equip
ments and other property, Of which
it may le~gitimately have charge and
custody under chapters $50 and 152 of
the session laws Of 1919 as modified
by this act. Provided, however, that
the industrial commission in perform
ing its duties in reference to the Mill
and Elevator association shall confine
i}colf "A U1eoin and Grain nrndncts Mt