The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-23
PATTERSON WOULD
PROBE AFFAIRS OF
NATURAL GAS firm
Company Is Spending
Too Much Money in OBJ
! tanning Franchises

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Charges that the Montana-D Dakota
Power company is spending immense
T. mounts Of money" to obtain gas
Franchises were made in q resolution
introduced In the North Dakota SEN
sERte Thursday by Senator Dell Patter-
son. Donnybrook. He proposed an
investigation be instituted.
The matter was referred to the
committee on state affairs after q
brief exchange of words between
Senators Frank E. Ployhar, Valley
City, and Patterson.
Ployhar remarked that: II do not
believe the resolution has any place in
this legislative body, but as long as 1t
has been introduced, it should be re-
3erred to the committee on state af-
fairs" MIR Ployhar is chairman Of
the committee.
Senator Patterson told the assem-
bly, that the proposal should be sent
TO the committee on appropriations,
since some funds would be necessary
to carry out an investigation asked
in the resolution. BY a viva voce
vote the matter vas sent to the state
affairs committee.
Mentions $4,000 Fund
Senator Patterson states in the res
olution that agents of the power COM
pany recently openly stated that this
company has appropriated 100000
additional for the campaign at Mi
not" The company holds gas fran
chises In Bismarck, Dickinson, Valley
City and Wiliston, and is seeking an
other at Minot.
Some Of the agents Of the power
company, the resolution charges,
claim they already have assurance
of two Of the railroad commissioners
of the state Of North Dakota that
these commissioners will vote with
this company"
The resolution proposes that. a
commission of three be created to
make q thorough investigation Of the
claims alleged to have been made by
the power company agents.
The resolution, In part, reads:
Whereas, the Montana-D Dakota
Power company is seeking a gas
franchise in the city of Minot, hav-
ing already secured such franchises
in the cities of Bismarck, Dickinson,
Valley City and Williston.
Whereas: At. q recent meeting In
the city of Minot, it was alleged by
Ivan Metzger, Williston, that this
company was expanding in these diff
ferent gas franchise campaigns i'm
mense amounts Of money for improp-
er purposes. and
Whereas, their representatives have
made claims that this company is
going to secure a monopoly Of the
natural gas distribution in North Da-
kota, as they claim they have in
Montana, and,
Whereas, some of the agents of
the Montana-D Dakota Power COM
pany claim that they already have
assurance Of two of the railroad ON
missioners of the state of North Da-
kota that these commissioners will
vote with this company, and
Whereas, their agents have re-
Gently openly stated that this COM
pany has appropriated 100000 addi-
tional for the campaign at Minot,
and
Employs Great Number
Whereas, the said company has
employed an unwarrantably large
number of men and have been and
are expanding an un~warTantable
amount Of money in the MinOt cam
paign and much of it in a way de-
cidedly against public policy, and
Whereas, such procedure and
claims made by the said company
constitute a threat against and a
danger to the welfare of the state Of
North Dakota,
"Now, therefor, be 1t resolved by
the senate OF the state of North Da-
kota, assembled in regular session
that by virtue of the foregoing facts
and circumstances, that a commits
sion of three representatives be Sc
lected for the purpose of making
thorough investigation of the claims
so made and the legality and propri-
ETY. Of the campaign conducted by the
said Montana-D Dakota Power COM
pany in securing q franchise in Minot
and other cities in the state. and
BE 1t further resolved, that such
commission be given the power to
subpoena witnesses, hold hearings
and punish for contempt any and all
parties representing such company or
organization who directly or indirect
ly by implication or otherwise, by act
or deed, influence or cause to be In
fluenced in violation OF law or
against public policy any person or
persons who may be instrumental in
causing such franchise or right to do
business In Minot, to be granted to