The Bismarck tribune., 1923-01-03
Finance Problems of
Mill, Bank, Home
Builders
Continued from Page ~

Tor at the recent biennial session of
the legislature should be thoroughly
revised, as it works a great hard
snip upon large number of poltic-
al SUBDIVISIONS of our state and i
necessarily shifting, undepe ndabld,
ana unsatisfactory. / trust that it
VIII be possible for you to work out
some general plan that will not need
to be revised each legislative scs
SION. The impression gathered from
those who deal with the practical
administration of this problem would
seem to indicate that one of the
methods by which this evil might be
remedied would be by reducing the
percentage basis of assessment
from 100 per cent to about 80 per
cent.
Nou are familiar with the fact
that during recent years there has
been no tax imposed by valid law
upon the stock of our state banks.
and that no tax has been imposed
upon moneys and credits, and
would recommend to you that during
this session you impose just and
fair tax upon these banking institu-
tions and also that you impose
reasonable tax upon moneys and
credits.
1T is also important to seek new
sources of revenue if in doing so
you can bring relief to some of those
upon whom the burden is resting too
heavily today, and | would suggest
that you impose a tax upon luxuries,
believing that those who feel that
they can afford these luxuries will
be glad to pay reasonable tax for
the support of our government and
state institutions, and | believe that
this is proper tax, as good share
o. it will be paid by those who other
wise are contributing but little to
the support of the state and it's in
stitutions."
Wants Longer Terms
Turning to the question of length.
ening the terms of office of the Of
flee holders of the state, the gov
ernor said: ,.ur,r,,
"The experience of ots9eF sastcs
has shown that both efficiency and
economy may be attained by a rea-
sonable lengthening of the term Of
public officials. l believe that the
State of North Dakota ought to make
the term of its state, county, and
district officials four years, those
OF the members of the house of rep
resentatinves four years and of the
senator's eight years, with legisla-
tive sessions but once in four years
unless special session is called by
the governor. About half of the
states of the Union are now electing
their state officials for term of
four years, and in those states the
change has met with general salts
faction and approval. I do also be-
lieve that at this session you ought to
adopt legislative reapportionment
act sinS none was last session, and
in doing so, the membership of the
senate ought to be reduced to not
more than thirty and the member
ship of the house to not more than
seventy-five. l believe that both ef-
ficiency and economy would be at
tanned by this change. l would also
suggest that the laws Of our state
be changed SO that not more than
two railroad commissioners and two
judges of the supreme court be
elected at n single election, and |
believe it would be still more ad-
vantageous to have the laws so
changed as to provide that but one
of these should be elected at each
election with terms of six years
for the railroad commissioners and
term of ten years for the members
of the supreme court.
"These and other essential consti-
tutional changes advocated here in
might be adopted in the form Of
separate amendments or by provid-
ing for the holding of constitution
al convention for that purpose.
"In view of the number of states
four year term for state officials,
believe that very soon the necessary
federal changes should be made to
provide for the election of members
of the national house of representa-
tives for a term of four years, and
members of the senate for terms of
eight years, and thereby enable the
states Of the union that have four
year terms of state officials, to pro-
vide for an election but once every
four years and thus save the expense
of so large a number Of elections.
"Untii such time, however, as ma
tional elections need be held but once
in four years, you should if you
adopt the provisions for four year
term for all but federal offices, hold
these state elections in the year in
which there is no presidential cleo
ton, thus making it possible to set
tie state matters without reference
to the solution of national prob
lems."
Governor Nestos laid before the
legislature recompendation for legis-
lation with respect to the Grand
Forks Mill and Elevator, the Bank
of North Dakota and the Home
Builders:
Mill and Elevator
"There are no problems to come
before you at this session that are
of greater Importance than those
which deal with the management of
the public business Of this state.
The legislation you adopt should be
such as to promote the efficient
management of that business.
81 would urge upon you that you
adopt law providing for nonpoli''
tical board composed of men, versed
in the grain and milling business to
assume the management of the mill
and elevator enterprise at Grand