The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-07

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To the Editor of the Tribune:
I am surprised to e what our rep
resentatives and senators are doing
in Bismarck.
We voters of the state elect and
send them there to work for our good
but it seems to me that they work
against us as the cry Of the people
was, and is, for tax reduction.
I heard one OF the senators say
that they did all that they could and
that it was up to the individual
counties to reduce the taxes by cut
ting down on school and road ex-
penses. That explanation was soon
broken down. however, when the leg
islature passed a law compelling every
rural school to have eight months Of
school q year regardless Of whether
or not taxes in the county have been
paid.
Taxes are so high and conditions
50 hard that only part Of the tax
payers can meet the tax problem and
I can look around and see farm after
farm on the tax sale list.
What is to become Of those people
who have paid their taxes up until
the present time? The land that re-
verts to the county does not bring any
taxes into the county treasury but
the expenses Of running the county
and state must be paid.
Now it is up to the few that pay
their taxes to pay up or 60 with the
rest on the road to destruction, losing
their homes and the fruits Of Z life
times labor and toll.
I think 1t Is high time that our
officers, representatives and senator's
!, elp to remedy these hardships and
not heap burden after burden on the
taxpayers.
Ifhaye heard 1t said that It meant
but little to each taxpayer to finance
certain proposals but the sum total
OF a number OF small additions to
the taxes makes 9 lot Of. difference.
In coming to the main part Of my
story, I am very sorry to say that we
have a minister Of the gospel In Bis
marck representing the people OF his
county, who, l believe has done a
great deal OF harm to the farmers Of
the state by sponsoring the dog tax
bill. I have lived in the state Of
North Dakota since 1885 and I think
that / have handled more sheep In
my time than the average minister.
I have always had sheep, ranging Ill
the way from 1000 to 5000 Of them.
Before coming to this state we kept
sheep and shipped some out from
the east.
In my II years Of experience with
sheep, I have never had the Oppor-
tunity t. accuse q dog Of killing .
single sleep. but I can recall the time,
between 1898 and 1902, when we had
to send out Of the state to get dogs
to help guard our flocks against
timber wolves and coyotes.
I maintain that the dog Is the
greatest friend Of man and that he
has rid our country from the scourge
of the timber wolf and the coyote.
I would like to see any minister 60
to any of the old sheep men and con-
denim the dog, just to see how far he
would get with 1t. He would find
that without exception they would
| stand up for their old friend the dog.
have q dog that I would not part
with for anything, a dog who Is q
great friend Of mine and neither man
nor beast can harm me as long Is
that animal Is alive.
A dog Is the rustlers' greatest
enemy and I think this law will ia
cilitate the theft Of poultry and live
| stock from u farms.
This law would compel every off,
Ger to catch and shoot dogs without
a tag. / Am glad that I am no such
officer for 1t takes "guts'' % take q
mans best friend and shoot him. It
takes v more backbone, however,
to stand back and see q dog killed
and not make any effort to save him,
and I don't mean by the use Of money
either.
I do not think that the blu was
brought W so much to protect the
sheep IS to enable its sponsor to have
a bill before the legislative assembly
and to impose an added burden on
the farmer who must keep . dog to
protect his property and hts livestock.
The minister does not know farm
conditions, even though he might own
one. I suspect that he Is . dog hater.
probably never owning one himself,
or il he has, must have treated It like.
q dog anc not like Z friend. He says
he does have some sheep. Perhaps
he has q man doing his farm work
who takes care Of the alleged sheep,
and MT permitting . dog around.
makes q dog Of the hired man him
self.
I have seen q few men who would
rather make . dog Of y man than
to have q real dog.
I do not think that the Legislative
body at Bismarck gave enough
thought to this small matter or they
would neve- have permitted such q
bill to pass.
A DOGS FRIEND.