The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-01-14
PROSPERITY IN
STATE AFFECTS
POLICIES HERE
''Let Well Enough Alone" Is
Thought Which Appears to
Rule Legislature
FEW BIG CHANGES SEEN
No Banking, Tax or Other
Big Legislation Is Yet Pro-
posed in Legislature
FEW BIG CHANGES SEEN

The 10Th North Dakota legislature
is ruled by a 'lct we'll enough alone
policy.
With this attitude of mind pre-
vailing among most Of the legislators
here, with Nonpartisans unsettled
Oh a major Legislative program and
with the Independents satisfied to
let policy legislation originate
with the Leaguers, the legislature
continues to grind its way at slow
pace, and there is no indication that
it will be accelerated to a pace equal
With former years before the session
Is over.
Radicalism is out in the cold in
improvement of farming and banking
conditions in the state, the Cover
nor's flat injunction against more
state industries and the lack of fam
iliarity of most of the present Lea
que legislators with the machinery
of government in the state has re-
suited in comparatively few propos-
ais for important legislation thus
far. There are a few important is
sues in the making, but very few.
The 1928 legislature passed more
laws than any session in several
years, and covered wider field than
most legislators. The banking and
tax laws were revised, the child well
fare code was adopted which embrac-
ed large part Of the scope of
"moral legislation, changes were
made in the state industry laws, the
game and fish laws were revised,
and an attempt was made to comb
the educational laws for changes.
Few Big Changes
The situation with respect to ma
,jor legislative questions in the last
few sessions appeared today to be:
Few laws making big changes in
banking policy will be enacted.
There is no banking program ready
by Nonpartisans, Independents or
individuals, and aside from Cover
nor Sorlie's proposals none Of i'm
portance have been discussed.
Important revision of tax measures
appears unlikely, although there will
be score or more of measures pro-
posing minor changes in the tax law
of the state. No attempt has been
made by the Nonpartisans thus far
to alter the basis of assessment,
changed in the last session, although
it has been declared that an effort
would be made to boost railroad
valuations, which also would mean
boosting land valuations, and chang
ing exemptions.
Although the educational commits
sion held changes needed in the ed
ucational system Of the state and
there are many indefinite ideas in
the minds of legislators regarding
changes, no proposals for important
changes in the system have yet been
evolved. .arq
Only minor changes can be made
in election laws, which formed, one
big subject for the last legislature.
Agreement On Appropriations
There is general agreement at
this session that appropriations
must be cut down, and there appears
to be less of desire upon the part
of legislatures from educational in
stitution towns to "log roll" big ap-
preparation bills through than for
mFrly. And, although protests have
been made against high schools be-
ing maintained i'm normal schools.
the University and Agricultural Col
lege, it is doubted if enough strength
can be commanded to make an i'm
portant issue out of this situation.
Improvement of farming conditions
has left few legislators with any
proposals for farm legislation. 1t
is generally agreed now that any
legislation of value in changing con,
ditions on the farms must come from
the national legislature, an opinion
which did not prevail few years
ago.
The Grand Forks mill and elevator
= and the Bank of North Dakota pre-
sent big problems, in their present
deficits and in the necessity for
financing them. However, there APP
pears to be general attitude of let
ting them slide along for another
two years. Any programs proposed
by individual Nonpartisans for ex-
pansion have little chance of success,
and Independents do not appear
ready to propose vote on the .ques-
ton Of principle-whether or not the
state is rightfully engaged in such
businesses. Because Of the desire
for economy also there is little pros
pect of the legislature providing q
deficit tax to make up losses in the
Bank Of North Dakota, as recon-
mended by the audit report to the
Industrial Commission.
Governor Sorlie's proposal that the
Continued on page three)