The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-05-14
AUDIT SHOWS
DISTRIBUTION
OF REVENUE

What is done with the money paid
into the state motor vehicle regis
tration department by autoists of
the state, is shown in an audit report
of the state highway commission,
covering period from Nov. l, 1923,
to Dec. 81, 1924, made by O. B. Lund,
auditor for the state board Of audi
tors and submitted to them yestor-
day.
The motor vehicle tax dollar is
divided as follows: 1891 cents to the
state bridge fund, as provided by
law; 1900 cents to the operating
fund of the highway commission;
5.27 cents for administering the
motor vehicle license law; 500 cents
to the 10 percent road fund to be
spent by the highway commission
for counties; credited to counties on
highway commission books, 1858
cents; RENTED direct to county
treasurers in proportion to collec-
tions from each county, 1886 cents.
Total 1924 Disbursements
Collections for motor vehicle IL
censes amounted to $816,871.15 during
1924, and the money was disburscd
as follows:
Operating commission .$106,925. 90
Operating motor vehicle
department .......... 43,075 90
10 percent fund ......... 26,843.55
State bridge fund ..... 10000. 90
Credited to counties -. 241 ,592. O2
RENTED to county treas
urers ............. 268,435 SO
Engineering Cost Held Low
Highway commission engineers be-
lieve the audit shows a good record
for low engineering and admnistra-
tive expense, since the total high
way funds derived from the motor
vehicle department, federal aid and
county matching of federal aid re-
suited in expenditures from $2,435,-
964.30 from Nov. 1, 1923 to Dec. 81 ,
1924. OF the total operating expen-
diture of $106,925.OO for the last
year, $47,404.36 was paid out for sal
aries Of officers and engineering
force.
The equipment department of the
highway commission, which handles
the surplus war materials, automo-
blles, trucks, mileage accounts and
shop work Off the state highway
commission, is shown by the audit
report to have deficit of $51 ,211 SO
on Dec. 81, 1924. Of this, $36 SIT. 92
is listed as having accrued prior to
the last audit, Nov. 81, 1928, while
the deficit since then is $17,533.44.
Much of this deficit appears to have
been incurred, however, in the equip
ment department. furnishing services
for the highway commission. There
is listed as gross trading profit on
the war materials from Nov. 20, 1923,
to Dec. 81, 1924, Of $l9,OS7O7.
During this period the equipment
department made sales totaling $48,-
654.20, being mostly sales Of equip
ment, such as trucks. to counties for
road work. The cost Of the sales
was $12,796.28, the decrease in value
of Inventories $16,77O.S5, leaving a
gross trading profit of $l9,OS7.O7.
The expenses Of the department,
however, we're increased by salaries
in the highway commission shops,
gas and oil furnished and automo-
tive parts purchased.
Equipment Branch Is Bugaboo
The equipment department has
been the bugaboo of the highway
commission since the government be-
gan to distribute war surplus ma
terials in 1919 and 1920. Trucks and
other equipment were forwarded to
states on payment of freight, for
road work. The shipments made
from government storehouses, how
ever, have never been explained to
the satisfaction of state officials,
since hundreds of articles which had
no place in highway equipment we're
shipped.
Many of these still are on hand
with the highway commission. They
include, as examples: army tents,
large milling machines, incomplete;
wooden pulleys, wheelbarrows, pick
handles. steel water tanks, boxes of
iron nails, barrel of castor oil; Even
rude motors, timber for airplane
hangers, crosscut saws, garden
rakes, long handled shovels, short
handled shovels, incomplete steam
shovel.
Much material has been stored at
Fort Lincoln, the government mill
tary reservation near Bismarck. The
total amount Of equipment has been
reduced materially, and both the 4
former and present highway COM