The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-12-31
SHR|NKACE IN TAX
RECEIPTS CAUSED
BY INITIATED LAW
Additional Funds Necessary For
Completion of Building,
Commission Says
WORK OUT BUDGET SCHEME
Moneys Available Divided Into
Three Budgets With Con-
tractors Approval
WORK OUT BUDGET SCHEME

Shrinkage Of the amount anticipate
ed from tax levies for construction of
North Dakota's new state capitol
building leaves the capitol commits
sion $358,540 short of the $4,000, 900
appropriated by the state legislature
to contract the building, according to
the report Of the commission to Gov
ernor George F. Shafer.
If additional funds are provided by
the legislature to complete the build
ing, the administration unit at least
will be ready for occupancy by Feb. /,
1884, and the legislative portion about
the same time or shortly thereafter,
the report says.
Embraced in the report are an his
torical introduction, an outline of the
congressional land grants for capitol
construction, chapters on the appoint
ment of the commission, choice OF
architects and the contract entered
into, the architectural functions, re-
quirements of the building, the design,
the use of the various sections OF the
structure, an outline of each OF the
floors Of the building, mechanical
equipment, plans and specifications.
advertisement and public opening OF
bids, how freight is being distributed
among railroads in the state, insur-
ance and bonds, workmen's compensa-
ton, public liability, and chapter
on coordination of work.
George A. Bangs, Grand Forks,
president of the commission; Fred L.
Conklin, Bismarck, vice president, G.
Angus Fraser, commissioner. ana
Frank L. Anders, Fargo, secretary,
signed the report, which outlines the
work done by the commission since
its organization March 80, 1881.
Initiated Measure Hurt
The report calls attention to adOp-
ton of the initiated measure reducing
the assessed value of taxable property
from IS to so per cent Of the true
value.
Adoption of this initiated measure
and the reduction of the assessed val
uation did not in any way reduce the
amount appropriated by the legisla-
ture for the construction Of the new
capitol building" the report says. 1.-THE
amount appropriated, $4,000, 900, re-
manned unchanged"
Adoption of the measure, however,
reduced the amount which would be
realized from the tax levieS provided
by the 1929 and 1881 legislature for
construction of a capitol.
The reduction of the amount to be
realized from the tax levies CORE
spondingly reduced the amounts i'm
mediately available from that source
through the medium of anticipation
certificates authorized by the capitol
commission act, the report says.
1.-THE adoption OF the initiated mea-
sure did not affect. or reduce the fed
eral land grants nor the funds real
lied therefrom, the unsold lands or
the invested securities" the report
says.
"Nor did the adoption of the initiat-
ed measure affect or reduce the
amount of the insurance money
($30,0O0) appropriated by the legisla-
ture in the capitol building bill.
1.-The adoption Of the initiated mea-
sure did not in the slightest reduce
the rental charges against the state
for the downtown offices, approx
mating more than $4,000 per year; 1t
did not affect or reduce the architects
contracts entered into long prior
thereto, nor did 1t in any way mini
mize the necessity for the construction
Of the capitol building, which neces-
sity had been increasing for more
than a quarter Of century.
Duty Loomed Clear
after consultation with many Of
the state officers and giving thought
full and serious consideration to all Of
the elements Of the situation, the
board was Of the opinion that its duty
was clear and that the best interest
of the state required that II should
proceed to the construction Of the
building upon the plans and specifi- |
cations already adopted, safeguarding
the permanent interest Of the state to
the best Of its ability and within the
cost limits Is named by the legisla-
ture, which was done through the
adoption Of q species Of budgetary or
option system or plan tn The con- !;
tracts"
Outlining the budgets, the report
states that In its first estimate tho
commission allocated 4200,000 to the
payment Of miscellaneous expenses,
including architects fees, expenses Of
the commission. secretary's salary, Of !,
flee expenses, clerk hire, bonds, ETC.,
Continued on page slxl