The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-04
INDEPENDENTS
WILLSUPP0RT
BOARD REPEAL
Measure Which Governor De-
mands Passage to Get Sup
port, With Amendment
TWO A ME N D M E N T S
To Propose to Give Governor
Full Responsibility; Pro-
vide For Auditor


were ready to accede to the demand
Of Governor Sorlie that the board of
managers of the state mill and ele-
vator be abolished, under a counter
proposal for amendment to House
Bill No. "a. which would substitute
the authority of the Governor for
that Of the Board of managers. The
Independents also want an auditor
to remain on the job at the mill who
shall make complete monthly re-
port to the Industrial Commission as
whole.
Governor Sorle today reiterated
his stand that he is ready to assume
full responsibility for the manage
ment of the Grand Forks mill but in
dicated that he believed the provi-
sion for an auditor was a useless
expense since there is provided a
board Of auditors by law who shall
examine the books of the mill and
make public the accountants reports.
House Bill No. 81, which passed
the House. providing for repeal of
the mill board Of managers and re-
enacts the mill and elevator asso-
citation law, is in the state affairs
committee of the Senate and the
Independents will offer the amend
ments there.
Governor Sorlie has won a victory
in his demand that his mill program
be enacted. his supporters believe.
Other measures in the program also
must be enacted, since the Independ-
ents have yielded to his demand for
centralized responsibility. they be-
lieve.
The Governor, who has confidently
predicted passage of House Bill No.
81 in the Senate. maintained his in
sistence that the measure be enact
ec.
Governor Incensed
The Governor has been incensed
over newspaper stories to the effect
that he had threatened to veto ap-
preparation measures to force Sena-
tors into line on the measure. He
engaged in conversation with Senator
Whitman of Grand Forks. during
which the Governor denied that he
had implied such an action would be
taken by him in insisting that the
measure be enacted. The Governor
has declared to friends he was will
ing to take his ease to the people if
the demand was not met.
Two amendments to House Bill No.
81, which will be offered by Indepen-
dents, under a decision reached last
night, follows:
1.-THE governor shall obtain such
assistance as in his judgment may
be necessary for the establishment,
maintenance, and operation of the
association. To that end he shall
appoint general manager and he
may constitute such manager as his
general agent subject to the super
vision limitation and control of the
governor. He may appoint and en-
ploy such subordinate officers, arch
itect, attorneys-as may be required.
and shall designate their titles and
compensation. Such compensation
together with the expenditures for
operation and maintenance shall
remain within the earnings lawfully
available in each year for that pur-
pose. The governor may remove any
employee or appointee with or with
out cause.
"There shall be appointed by the
Industrial commission an auditor
who shall audit the business Of the
association monthly and report to
the industrial commission. He shall
have his office at the mill and shall
devote his entire time to the duties
of his office, and shall receive an
nual salary of $4,000 payable month
ly. He shall be appointed for term
of three years, provided that the
present auditor shall be entitled to
serve until the expiration of his
term of appointment unless sooner
removed by the commission and any
vacancy occurring in the office Of
auditor shall be filled by the COM
mission"
Peace Likely
"We did not want to propose in
the bill that rights be taken from the
Industrial Commission Governor
Sorlie said, with respect to the
amendment providing for full re-
sponsibility upon him. "However, if
the others are willing to propose to
change the law. we will mot oppose
it,"
The developments are regarded as
bringing about peace in the most
tense political situation that has yet
developed during the session Of the
legislature.
Independents View
The view Of Independents is that
q method has been found to carry
out their ideas-that full RESPONSE
bility for the mill management shall
be placed on the Governor and he
be denied the opportunity to shift
failure on the Independent majority
Of the Industrial Commission.