The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-24
Political Pot Is
Beginning to Boil
AS Heat Develops
Continued from page one)

enter into the situation very strongly
and it is proving difficult to reconcile
them.
Three bills offered in the senate
Friday by A. F. Bonzer. Jr., of Rich
land county. illustrates the point. The
bills in question would impose addi-
tional taxes on buses and trucks
using the highways and are in line
with recommendations made by the
governor.
They are not. however, administra-
ton bills and therein lies the rub. for
Bonner. ats we'll as the governor. is an
I. V. A. adherent.
Pointing his ambition toward high
err political office, the governor is
seeking credit whever it is available
and this is but natural. He would
like to have whatever prestige may
accrue from sponsorship of the bills
but Bonner beat him to the punch
and the question of who gets the
credit If any there be remains, in
doubt. OF course the governor sits in
a favorable position because his sig
nature is necessary before a bill can
become law-but this gives him small
comfort in the present case.
The thing most at stake is the ia
o of the various organizations Of
railroad workers which have sprung
up in North Dakota during the last
few years. These folks believe that
motor buses and trucks are cutting
into railroad prosperity and threaten
ing the jobs Of railroad men. AS a
result they have taken up the fight
against BUSES and trucks anc they
are very much in earnest about 1t.
They contend that BUSES and trucks
practically are being subsidized be-
cause they r permitted to use the
roads at what they regard as small
cost. Whoever is credited with meet
ing their desires in the way of new
legislation may get some help from
them in future elections. Hence the
difficulty.
Another embarrassment which Bon
ger will thrust upon the governor is
another bill to place control of the
state highway commission In the
hands of one man.
Bonner believes that there has been
too much politics and not enough
sound business administration in
highway affairs-and this despite the
fact that he and the governor are
members Of the same faction.
The governor opposed the idea two
years ago and is expected to do so
again. An attempt will be made to
draw a party line on this issue but 1t
may. fail because other members Of
the I. v. A. besides Bonner are dis
pleased with highway conditions and
highway administration.
Governor Shafer has been feeling q
lot of heat as the result of the high
way situation and the outcome Of the
battle now in prospect will be ilnpor-
tant. The fact that the bill will come
in from his W side makes the stu
alton particularly difficult for him to
handle.
Another embarrassment is the fact
that highway affairs may be dragged
very much into the open If !he matter
comes to a fight.
Presentation by the Nonpartisan
side of q statement that a Fargo firm
is being favored in the distribution Of
flour by the state mill and elevator
and the governors promise to l-1vesti-
gate the matter. may prove of some
Importance. The governor said he
had no knowledge of the alleged
practice.
Some significance is attached to the
fact that an alleged similar situation
furnished the I. v. AS with ammuni-
ton for an attack OH Governor A. G.
Sorlie In 1927. If present charges
prove to be true q certain amount Of
odium will attach to the governors
administration Of the mill-and this
despite the fact that he never wanted
to be mill manager and has made a
good financial record during the last
two years.
Regardless Of what the balance
sheet shows, the governor vii! have
trouble in justifying any favoritism IN
distributing the mills products If such
fayoritism should be shown to exist.
It looks as though theater goers
and consumers Of tobacco products
and malt are 'in for it."
The Nonpartisan majority was pre-
pairing to draw up bills placing taxes
on these items when they received
news that the majority faction were
planning the same thing. The Non
partisans, as a result. will wait for the
administrations bills and probably
will vote for them. AS a result, the
bills should pass without trouble.
The idea behind the bills, and both
sides are apparently in agreement on
it, is to shift the tax burden as much
as possible.
The tobacco tax includes an in
crease of the present taxes on cigar
cite sale and an additional tax on
smoking tobacco and cigars.