The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-18
SENATE GIVEN
new PLAN FOR
HAIL INSURl:NG
ZOning System with Counties
Falling Into Different
Classes, Proposed
BILL.
Hot Fight Is Staged in the
Lower House Consider
ing the Bill

ing the BILL
The state senate today received
for new plan of state hail insur-
ance, under which the state would be
lzcned, by counties, in making hail
insurance rates. The bill passed the
house yesterday afternoon. The
scheme, worked out by the state hail
Insurance department because of the
decrease in the annual business Of
the department for the last four
years, especially in the eastern part
lof. the state where private insurance
companies were enabled to write hail
| Insurance at lower rates than the
state department, provides for four
GLASSES of hail insurance rates, bas-
ed on the loss experience of each
Iycar. Each county would fall in one
luf the four classes. The maximum
rate of hail insurance per acre is
raised from so cents under the pres
ent law to 70 cents for $500 an acre
insurance.
The bill, as it was passed by the
House. provided also for continu-
ance of the one-cent flax acreage
tax on all tillable lands, whether
they are insured or not, until the
surplus fund of the hail insurance
department reaches $4,00O,00O, pro-
vides interest and penalties shall be
used in paying indemnties after the
fund has reached this point, and for
payment Of the 100000 deficit of
1923.
The measure, which had been made
a special order of business for 3
o'clock yesterday, was passed after a
hard and close fight, dur
ing which several Nonpar-
tisan league members desert
ed their leaders on the question of
increasing the flat acreage tax to
two cents. Opposition of League
leaders to the bill continued until
it was passed. The emergency then
was added to the bill so that, if it
is passed by the Senate, the hail in
surancc department can pay the 20
percent deficit incurred in 1923 from
Its surplus fund, without delay. Two
roll calls were forced on the mea-
to "a, every member voting.
Unable to Agree
The House had been unable ia
agree on the divided committee re-
pert on House Bill No. S6 in COM
mittee of the whole and it was made
q special order Of business. When
it came up Rep. Twichell urged that
tie House reach an agreement so
the emergency clause could carry
and the money to pay the 20 percent
deficit of 1923 could be made avail
able Immediately after the bill is
signed by the Governor.
Rep. Hoople sought to amend the
bill to provide a two-cent flat tax for
the years 1925, 1926 and 1927, strike
out that portion of the bill which
provided that the flat tax should be
used to meet indemnities after it had
reached $5,0OO,OO0.
Rep. Traynor, an advocate of the
limitation of one-cent flat tax. OPP
POSED this, declaring it contained
merely an implied promise which
would be repudiated. Rep. Twichell,
answering a statement made the day
previous, declared that one member
who said that the flat tax would fall
heavily on railroads who owned land,
said this was mistake. He said he
looked up records and found rail-
roads owned land worth only $4,000
in the state.
The Hoorle motion lost, IS "ayes"
to SO "noes."
Put on Final Passage
Rep. Peters then moved suspension
Of the rules, placing the bill on final
passage and this. was done. Several
members explained their vote.
Although in the discussion as be-
tween the reports of the majority
and minority Of the insurance COM
nittee was limited chiefly to the
question. of a one cent flat tax or a
two cent flat tax, it was shown that
many members opposed the coming
scheme.
"As the bill stands before US we
have the best we can get,"t Rep.
Morton, Nonpartisan, said. "Our
county is interested in payment of
this 20 percent deficit of 1923 and
/ told my people would try to get
il. No doubt will be criticized for
{, voting sgainst the 2-cent flat tax
lat l want to see my people get this
100000, and hope the bill passes,
With the emergency"
Rep. Vogcl, Nonpartisan leader, or
posed the hill.
"Mv people have $4,000 coming
from the 1928 deficit, he said, re-
ferring to Mclean county. "But
when the people who have been
fighting state hail insurance get up
here and continue the fight by OPP
posing the two cent flat tax, won't
let this $4,000 be used as bait for
my vote. l won't sell my vote for
,S35 100000"
+ Rep. Burkhart, Nonpartisan, Ward
county, declared that the bill, as