The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-07
0NE.MAN CONTROL
OF ROAD WORK IS
ASKEDbY bonner
RichIand County Man Would Re.
organize Highway Depart
ment to Fix Responsibility


Centralized control Of the state
highway department by a chief com-
missioner Is advocated in a measure
introduced in the North Dakota SEN
ate Friday by Senator A. F. Bonner,
Jr., of Richland county.
Introduction of the bill yesterday
followed q statement by Bonzer
charging political administration" of
the state highway department.
Bonzer's bill was offered as q corln-
ter-proposal t. an administration
measure providing for reorganization
of the state highway commission,
which would be composed of three
members, n of which would be the
executive officer of the department.
The governor would be relieved from
acting a. a member of the commits
sion under the administration bill as
well as Bonzer'S proposal.
Bonner proposes that the governor
be given authority to appoint a chief
Of highway commissioner, who could
be removed at the pleasure of the
SVtC1 AlVO NIIAC4 VV184A1A10OAVkgCA
would receive $1,000 a year.
The chief would be chairman of
the state highway commission, and
he would have full control, manage,
supervise. administrate and direct the
state highway department" the office
of registrar of motor vehicles and
such other offices and duties q may
now or hereafter be imposed upon
and placed under his jurisdiction"
Two other commissioners would be
appointed by the governor. and would
receive a per 6iem Of $40, for not to
exceed 100 days a year.
The commission would have u
thority to let and award contracts
and make all purchases of material
and highway equipment for highway
purposes for the department in ex-
cess of $1,000.
Commission Power Limited
The two commissioners shall ad-
wise and consult with the chief of
highway commissioners" the bill
states, but shall have no authority
or power to administer the affairs Of
the state highway department."
The death penalty would be in
flicted, if recommended by a jury,
under a measure offered by Senators
F. E. Ployhar of Barnes county, and
J. p. Cain of Stark county. The
measure is a substitute for a previous
proposal to establish capital punish
ment.
= Death would be Inflicted on con-
victed murderers by el~ectrocution at
the penitentiary. II q jury did not
recommend death, Life imprisonment
would be ordered for persons con-
victed Of first degree murder.
A tax on firms selling goods by
conditional sales contracts for de-
ferred payments was proposed by Sen
ator Dell Patterson Of Renville
county.
Under Patterson's bill, 60 per cent
of the finance charge which exceeds
the equivalent of interest at the rate
of nine per cent a year on the de-
ferred purchase price, would be i'm
posed as a tax.
The measure defines a finance
charge as ANY addition to tie cash
selling price at the time and place
Of sale Of personal property pur-
chased on the installment plan OF
payment, secured by conditional sales
contract"
Asks Insurance Deposit
Senator C.. w. Fine of Benson
county introduced a bill requiring a
surplus of $780, 900 as a condition to
admission Of foreign mutual insur-
ance companies being permitted to
transact business In the state.
Companies writing burial insurance
would be required to comply with the
state laws governing the organiza-
ton, qualification and conduct OF
legal reserve life insurance COM
panies, under 2 measure presented
by Senator Lynn Sperry Of Burleigh
county.
Gas companies operating pipe lines
into the state between stated points
would be required to erect and keep
filled with gas reserve tanks located
at strategic points under the terms
of an act proposed by Senator Joseph
Renauld of Rolette county. Reserve
storage tanks would be under the
SUPERVISION and control Of the state
railroad commission.
The purpose Of the bill is to pro-
vide the consumers Of gas from pipe
line. companies with a reserve supply
of gas in case the pipe lines should
become INSTRUCTED or, for some other
reason. tail to supply a sufficient
amount of gas for the use OF con-
Sunlers.
If during any one month there are
four Interruptions of over 10 minutes
each. or one interruption IN excess OF
40 minutes. the affected consumers
of heat, li.h; or power would be n
titled to a rebate of five per cent OF
the net amount used. For additional
interruptions, a rebate Of n per cent
of the net amount would be given.