Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-26
Report To The House Ha.
Been Turned Over To Sui
livan And Murphy; Sew
eral Day. Necessary For
Laying Plans For Hear
ings; Grangaard, Char
man OF Committee Out
lines Plans.
(By staff Correspondent. )

L. tBy STAFF Correspondent,
Bismarck. n. D.. jan 2s.-Takins
OF testimony In connection with the
report OF the audit of the state indus
tries will probably begin next week SO
Tar as the investigation committee 81
the lower house is concerned. it was
said today at the conclusion of the,
organization of the committee,
The report has been turned over to
John Sullivan of Mandan and Francis
Murphy of Minot, attorneys for the
committee. They indicated today that
1t would take several days to lay plans
for further procedure and lay plans
for the hearing.
Senate Committee Meets. "
The senate committee. in charge Of
plans for the further investigation Of
the report in the upper house. met
at ] o'clock today and was scheduled
TO report to the senate this afternoon.
1t is indicated by league leaders in
the upper house. that steps would
probably be taken to use the report on
the Bank of North Dakota, now being
formulated by the Equitable Auditing
company for purposes of comparison,
and checking with that submitted by
Bishop Brissman & Co.
Outlines Plans
NJ. o. Grangaard. chairman Of the.
house committee, today outlined to the
attorneys the theory on which the
committee desires to operate. &
I'm conducting this examination,
gentlemen" he said, I'VE want you
TO bear in mind that there is no m
F,cHnation on. the part of any member
of the committee to have any faction
feeling enter in. This is not a prose-
cutting committee. It,is not 4 defense.
You have been engaged for the pur-
pose Of conducting the investigation.
and to anaiyzc the report of the au-
dts. The committee is willing thar
you have such support and help as
will enable, you to do that work in
a fair, complete and proper Manner
! Want Fair Inquiry.
Mr.. Murphy responding to this.
said: II can say for myself and Mr..
Sullivan that it is our desire to make
fair and impartial investigation of
the facts"
He then suggested that the attorneys
formulate rules of procedure for the
committee. This suggestion was ac-
| cepted.
The senate is scheduled to take def
mite action this afternoon in regard
to the methods to be adopted in hand
! ling the report there. and the proba-
| bilities are that series Of hearings
similar to those planned by the house
committee will be agreed upon.
! Such at. least was the idea ex-
pressed Tuesday by Senator A. 4.
Liederbach and other league leaders
| there.
The senate committee named some
time ago to confer with the state
audit board regarding the report was
in session before the senate convened
today. and were expected to report on
a plan of procedure when the upper
house was called to order.
Senator Liederbach said Tuesday
/! that the senate felt that the two chief
ACCOUNTANTS of Bishop Brissman L.
/ Co. who were in charge of the work
the Drake mill should be brought be-
fore the senate committee to testify
as to how the audit was made
Grace Leaves.
! f. }. Grace. the representative OF
Bishop Brissman & Co.. who brough,
the report to Bismarck from ST. Paul,
left for st. Paul Tuesday. night
Along with the report he delivered
a letter of transn1ittal- from the ac-
counting firm, which gives a complete
sketch Of the ground covered in the
report and replies to the attacks ma de
against the auditors in the Nonparti-
1 weeks.
Text of Letter.
/, The complete text Of the letter is as
follows:
Hon. l.. L. Twichell. Speaker. and
members of the House Of Represent
tatives. 18th Legislative Assembly,
Bismarck. \. D.
Sirs: In transmitting our report OF
examinations. a brief review OF the
Il. ,x, ~ ~
Our instructions received from the
state board Of audit upon date Of
commencement of the examinations
on December 5, 1920, were:
! !. To make@aS complete an inves-
tigation as possible and present fairly
and impartially the affairs and tram
sactions of the Bank of North Dakota
and the other state industries men
i toned frim the information and data
obtaicable. 8H
4 2. The field work Of all examina- :
tions must be completed by December
II 81, 1920. and our reports completed
as socn thereafter as possible and sub
n,i5teG to the state board of audit and
the legislature in session.
8. We were to employ two super
vising accountants and not less than
ten assistant accountants continuously
or the field work until said December
4 81, and as many stan assistants there
after as necessary for completion Of
reports y;{S y - 5t,sls 80 & ,g e 6,
I a. Our. compensation was to be at
the rate Of $.5 per day for the super.
!. vising accountants and $3.50 per day
for the assistant accountants em-
travelling. subaiaence and clerical
work I'M OF the reports.
etc. settlements of both per diem and
texpen1e to 4, be made upOn weekly