The Bismarck tribune., 1922-05-17
ONE OFFICIAL
! TO DIRECT U. s.
LAND OFFICE
Another Official Cannot be
Named Under Terms of
Appropriation Bill
THE PROGRAM is OUTLINED

lHE tkt(VIhAM lS OOlLlNED
The federal land office in Bismarck
will remain under the direction Of one
official, under plans of the Depart
meat Of the Interior, laws OF Con-
gross and executive officers. Former
ly there was register and receiver
at this office. Otto ". Anderson re-
Gently was appointed to fill both po-
sitions. The consolidation Ofithe Mi
not, Dickinson and Williston offices
with the Bismarck office will give, this
office additional clerks but no addi-
tional officials,
Because of receipt Of many letters
concerning the land office Senator
Porter J. McCumber went over the
situation with the officials, of the De-
partment of Interior The whole sit
uation was put forth in letter by o..
c. Finney, acting secretary.
For the fiscal year ending June 80,
1891, the combined compensation OF
both register and receiver at Bis
marck was only S2,202.69. which in
cluded $500 statutory salary and about
5000 fees and commissions for each
official An act of October %, 1921,
provided the President may consoli-
date the offices Of register and re-
ceiver where, the total compensation
shall fall below $4,000,7per annum, ap-
point a register and abolish the po-
sition of receiver. The law permits
allowance Of. the statutory salary Of
$500 and fees, all not to exceed $4,000
per annum.
NECESSARY to Consolidate
The acting secretary says that even
if the offices OF register and receiver
were not consolidated at Bismarck
they nevertheless would have been
consolidated under the terms of the
appropriation bill for the interior de-,
partment.
Under the inhibitory clause of the
pending appropriation bill it was ne
cessary, to discontinue the offices at
Dickinson, Minot and Williston on or
before June, 80, 1922, and combine
them with Bismarck. The new regis
ter named at Minot was nominated,
confirmed and received his commits
sion, but in view of the uncertainty
caused by the inhibitory clause of the
appropriation bill, and the absolutely
certain discontinuance of the office at
close of business June 30, 1922, he did
not qualify. and for this reason the
office was consolidated with Bis
marck.
~ Business of Offices
The following table was cited by
the acting secretary to show that the
public land business in North Dakota
had decreased to great extent. Bus
mess transacted at the various Of
fices for the year ending June 30,
1921, follows;
Bismarck-arca of vacant public
land on July l, 192l-4,256 acres, fil-
ings of all kinds, including final proofs
2l7; total receipts, $14,0O7.15.
Dickinson, area of vacant public
land, 6O,77l; filings of all kinds, in
Guiding final proofs, 516; total re-
ceipts $5,S42.00;
;Minot-area of vacant land 6,O07
acres, filings, 456; total receipts $751;
466.11.
Williston, area of vacant land, TO-
269 acres; filings, 1863 total receipts
$2,33O.74.s
/. The :>table cites other receipts, sal
aries and other expenses, and gives
the ratio of expenses to revenue pub
lie lands" as follows: Bismarck 1903
per cent; Dickinson, 1898 per cent;
Minot 1881 per cent; Williston 184.8
per cent, showing that it cost the gov
ern nent more to keep the offices
than the receipts amounted to.
Since the consolidation order has
heen made one clerk at Minot was
transferred to Bismarck. 1t is esti-
mated that three clerks can handle
the Bisamrck office when the business
is c6ncolidated. It is possible that it
may be necessary to have four clerks
The clerks are chosen in Civil Ser
vice examinations and assigned to the
office.
""The time appears to be approach
ing." concludes the acting secretary
when serious consideration might be
given to the matter of requiring all
fees and commissions to be covered
into the treasury and paying regis
'ters of land offices fixed salary
graduated perhaps according to the
area Of vacant land remaining. Land
offices with only ore official in
charge, with an. experienced clerk, or
clerks. aDroar t.o be more desirable
than reduction in the number of
land Offices. or the continuance of Ger.
tain offices with two officials in
charge"
BIDS RECEIVED