The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-01-29
FORCED SALE
!OF DRAKE MILL
! is DEFEATED
Five Ward County Iniepend-
cnts Stray From Fold Fri.
day to Defeat Measure
VOTE Is TIE, 81 TO 81
N0npartisans Claim Forced
Sale Was Sought to Aid
Certain Interests
VOTE Is TIE, 81 TO 81

Five Independent house members
strayed off the reservation Friday and
their action resulted in defeat Of the
\ bill to force the sale or lease Of the
state-owned elevator at Drake with
in 80 days.
An attempt to amend the bill to
grant the state industrial commits
sion power to reject bids again was
defeated when unanimous consent for
the amendment on third reading was
refused. The vote was 81 to 81 and
the bill failed to carry because it did
not receive constitutional majority.
Those who strayed from the fold
were the entire delegation from the
29th district, which includes the city.
Of Minot. r. A. Johnson, one of the
members from that district, was alb
sent but his cohorts joined with Al
bert Hauge, Ransom county, and J.
d. Holthusen, Richland county, to de-
feat the sale. All sorts Of opinions as
to why the five were not in line were
expressed later. Some said it was
because Of failure by the Independent
leaders to recognize" the Ward
county men and others. In other
quarters it was whispered that they
lad been swung into line by a threat
of the governor to veto certain APP
preparations. Still others credited
them with being against the bill in
principle. y
Trying to Force Sale
Nonpartisan opposition was based
on the charge that the Independents
were trying to force sale of the mill
to benefit certain" interests and
against the public welfare. Many
Nonpartisans explained their votes
by saying that they considered it an
unbusiness-like way Of disposing Of
the property and Q. F. Anderson, Di-
vide. said he opposed the bill be-
cause he thought it should stipulate
that the mill should be given away.
Independent supporters of the mea-
sure contended that it is to the
states interest to dispose of the mill
since it is earning nothing and is
costing the state money for insur-
ancc and other expenses as we'll as
SlOO a month for watchman.
Efforts by the industrial commits
sion to sell the mill after the last
session failed, only one offer being
received. II was for $4,000 whereas
the property cost $32, 900 and the bid
was rejected. Later efforts to sell
tho mill failed to elicit single bid
The sole offer was made by I. r.
Sleight, McHenry county, who intro
duced the bill defeated Friday.
Slcieht said he would have been able
TO use it two years ago but would
have no use for it now. His right to
vote on the subject was challenged
by o. f. Erickson, Kidder county, on
tho ground that Slcight was person
ally interested.
Slcight Allowed 10 Vote
Slight made no response to the
sneakers declaration that II he was
interested" it was his duty to an
nounce the fact and the speaker held
that the McHenry county man was
entitled to vote.
1t is probable that the matter may
be brought up again if Independents
feel they can muster sufficient
strength. In the committee Of the
whole two days ago they had more
than enough votes to insure it's pass
age.
The Independents rode rough shod
over the Nonpartisans, however, in
passing the bill authorizing officials
Continued on page three.)