The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-01-10
Presents Check
For 100000 as
Operating Profit
Continued from page one)

Continued from page one)
at their command in order to in
fluence legislation. Only eterna
vigilance on the part Of friends o
these progressive measures, tn
steadfastness of progressive though
in the state and, in some cases, exec
utive veto have stood between thes
persistent raids and the people,
interests"
The state mill and elevator, oper
ating on competitive basis an,
confronted with the problem o
marketing special brands Of whoa
and flour, shave been still NOR,
exposed to repeated attempt at de
struction," the governor said. "Whei
We look back on all that has bee,
said, written and done during TIL
five years since these state indus
tries commenced operating, we cal
but wonder that the plotters ant
raiders have not completely sue.
cccded in their attempts.
1.-TWO political factions have beer
at loggerheads on the issues Of thu
state mill and elevator. The industrial
program sponsored by the Nonpar
tisan League and sanctioned BY 8
popular adoption Of the necessary
constitutional amendments, has from
the first been q subject Of bitter
political controversy with resulting
bias and prejudice in judgment
Political conventions and campaign
spellbinders have made . political
football Of the state mill and ele.
vator. Great daily newspapers have
devoted space and influence to con.
slant attacks on industrial enter.
prises owned by the people and built
with the taxpayers credit. A large
majority of the weekly newspapers
moved by prejudiced influence and
fooled by paid propagandists, have
followed suit and lent their influnece
to the forces of destruction. This
publicity, hurtful to these enter.
prises and damaging to the state az
whole, has been broadcast
throughout the nation. It has ct al
times depressed business at home
and beyond the state boundaries. It
has come very close to wrecking the
export market entirely"
Too Many ADULTS
Alleging that some Of the adverse
publicity has been brought about
by an impossible audit situation .
the governor said that besides the
monthly audits made by the auditor
employed by the state industrial
commission and paid for b. the mill,
there are three separate and COM
plete semi-annual audits. Copies of
these will be given to the legislature
along with the reports of the senate
fact finding committee, the Cover.
nor said, and "perusal Of these will
readily prove to any fair-minded
man and woman that broadcasting
Of such conflicting and diverging
reports can but serve one purpose
that Of destroying the effectiveness
of the mill and elevator organiza-
tion."
Mill Makes Operating Profit
Turning to the question of what
to do with the operating profit which
he reported, the governor said: u
am satisfied that now, with your
cooperation and advice, a commence
ment may be made to pay out Of the
earnings of the plant something
upon the bonds issued by the state
and upon the excess debt created in
the construction Of the plant, over
and above the amount of construc-
ton bonds. I believe that $780,.
2O6.57 can now be paid out Of the
earnings of the plant, being the
years profit, without interfering
with the efficient working of the
plant or needed working capital. y
The law, he said, provides that the
industrial commission shall pay to
the state treasurer the earnings of
the mill and elevator, the money to
be used in paying the bonds and
interest and that the industrial COM
mission shall specify the purpose for
which it shall be used.
"Since more than $50, 900 in excess
of the amount of the construction
bonds was spent in building the
plant, am of the opinion that
the excess amount should first be
paid and the balance Of the $780,
2O6.67 applied to payment upon the
principal of the bonds maturing
July l, 1925" Governor Sorlie said.
IT have before me a check for
$3.50, 2O6.57, issued by Mr.. Spencer,
the manager of the terminal elevator
and state mill, payable to the state
treasurer for the purpose of carry.
ing out my suggestion. I request
your concurrence in my recon.
mendation."
Recommending the construction Of
q terminal elevator at Fargo, the
governor said the Grand Forks
terminal has already demonstrates
it's value despite handicaps in rail
way rates and privileges.
Should Convict or Acquit
!. Referring again to the fact-find.
ing committee, the governor asked
that the legislature call in the mer
connected with the state mill and
elevator to find out IF there haa
been any dishonest dealings going
on as some Of the newspapers have
intimated. Mr.. Webster, the grair
buyer, and Mr.. Spencer, the man.
ager, have both been placed under
suspicion and I think that in fair.
ness to them, and to me as genera
manager, this cloud Of suspicion
should be cleared away or else have
US proven guilty Of some wrong
doing"
Saying "our marketing facilities
| in North Dakota are too vitality i'm
portant to us to permit them to b
used for political footballs" TIL