The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-11-19
MUST STAND ON THEIR OWN LEGS

When the state industries of North Dakota first were
launched the most pronounced advocate of them
stated positively that they must stand their own legs
ard must succeed fail on their merits These industries
have not however, been treated private industries Ere
Qen pressure exerted force such treatment has
caeded The Tribune has from time to time
voiced demand that the industries must be considered
private institutions in financial reckoning if there is 90
be fair test Of them the basis Of profit and loss
method by which the state institutions given
unfair advantage private Institutions and by which
losses of the state institutions may be concealed through
diversion of funds from other public channels has been
commissioners in refusing to abae taxes lands which
Bank of North Dakota has forecosed The law is plain
stated but test of the validity of the law is contem
plated Under the law, the Bank forecloses piece of
land which it has loaned money, takes title and the
Of land foreclosed in Buegh county back taxes amount
Ing $4,000 would be abaed is quite possible that
rilons of dollars indirectly might be diverted from the
Counties of the state to the Estate Bond Payment Fund
md the farm loan business Of the state would be very prot
able business
This practice is not followed in the law governing the
Board of University of School Lands and should not
the loan business of the Bank of North Dakota
Churches in North Dakota are exempted from taxes put
If churches business property this is taxed Property
State of North Dakota used for governmental pur
poses rightly is taxed but business property of the
state such the Grand Forks mill and elevator should be
charged with taxes. if the industry to be conducted III
f.. n'petion to private industries
Attorney General George Shafer in his biennial report
called the fact that the Attorney Generals
office spends much money in furnishing legal assistance to
the Workmens Compensation Bureau This Bureau is con-
tempated by law to be self-sustanlng institution sus
tanned by the employers Its cost of writing compensation
department of the state should assist this Bureau without
compensation this principle of sefsustainng institu
ton is to be continued.
situation true in large degree of the state
hail department few when services
worth thousands of dollars performed by county
officials Yet no allowance for this fact made,
rule pointing the low rate of hail insurance. The de-
partnen its late reports claims this has been changed
through additional compensation given to counties for serv
ices performed.
The Bank North Dakota gets the services of the states
legal staff and other officials the Industrial Commission is
maintained by money and in of ways the state
institutions are benefited by services paid for with tax
money Private institutions do not have such advant-
ages Until every enterprise made to stand its
legs. be entirely sefsustainng principle
and the basis private industries is unfair to
compare any success these institutions private indus
and their losses should be increased in proportion to
the value of services gratuously rendered.