The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-01
Situation viii Be
Called to Attention
Of the Legislature
fContinued from paes one,

state forecloscd land which were held
by individuals. OF this amount $780,
600 already has been advanced by
the Bank of North Dakota.
The governor suggested, however,
that if he were wrong in his inter-
probation of the decision it might
be necessary to raise enough addi-
tional money to pay off the tax GER
tificates held by the counties as well
as by individuals. Shafer, however,
insisted that by the time the supreme
court could be expected to act it
would be too late for Legislative ac-
ton.
Compromise Reached
He said that his department had
been advised, in informal conferences
with the court, that an application
for Qualification would be rejected
by the court anyhow, ind that the
court would stand on the decision
as written. The court had the case
for over year before decision was
reached in it. The governor express
ed the view that the court might be
induced to,act within few days and
that in such event it would be bet
ter to hold up action calling the at
tention Of the legislature to the sit
uation until it was clarified and the
industrial commission could itself
agree on a course of action. The de-
cision to submit it to the Legislature
without recommendation was more OF
less of compromise.
J. A. Kitchen, third member of the
commission, suggested that difficulty
might be experienced in getting d
law such as proposed by Shafel
through the legislature in view of the
fact that its result would be to de-
privc counties Of revenue on which
they had been counting and which
many Of them want and need. In thu
event that such q law is introduced
and defeated, the question of whether
or not the counties must wait fol-
their money until the land is sold
would again be to the fore together
with the question Of whether or mol
it is necessary to appropriate money
to protect the states interest in tht
land.
Shafcr said he has been advised
that unless definite steps are takcr
to prevent it, certain counties intent
to resell the land acquired by ia,
title. In that event the states Sc
curity for loans made on such prop
crty will have vanished.
To Judiciary Committees
It is considered probable that tn
legislature will refer the matter tt
its judiciary committees, which vii
be expected to place their own inter
| probation on the supreme courts. dc
cision and determine what polio.
should be followed. Members Of tn
Industrial commission expressed tn
'vicw that it is not improbable tina
a conference will be asked by tn
Legislative committees to discuss tn
situation with the industrial commits
sion before taking final action. j
that event they would have to con
slider the opposing views Of the gov
ernor and attorney general as to tn
Interpretation to be placed on tn
decision.
Attention of the legislature will b
called to the matter in q communities
tion to be delivered today. The com
munication will consist Of the indus
trial commissions resolution and tw
letters outlining the financial angle
Of the situation as presented to tn
commission by G. r. Green. manage
Of the Bank Of North Dakota.
The text of the two letters, eac
i of. which was directed to the indus
trial commission, follows.
Creen's First Letter
1--WE are herewith submitting
you for your consideration and after
|tion copy Of an opinion handed dow
this week by the supreme court whic
very materially affects the state wit
4 reference TO taxes on lands, upo
/ which loans have been made by tn
! Bank Of North Dakota, A. agent "a
the state. This involves taxes Q
! ab0tit- 9T000 'Eefty' " land. which
either in the process o. forscipvur
or has gone to sherift's deed and It'll