The Bismarck tribune., 1933-12-27
Worst of the Rackets
Cargo FORUM

Cargo FORUM
OF all the "rackets" whereby Gov
ernor LANCER Is building a political
machine and political war chest,
the administration Of the North Da-
kota beer law under his direction is
the most fragrant.
Sold to the voters Of the state on
the basis Of heavy revenue income,
the beer funds are being dissipated
almost as rapidly as they are coming
in through the hiring Of q horde of
unnecessary inspectors, the latter
words, by the way, having q rather
familiar ring from the last campaign.
Not only are the beer and license
funds being thrown to the winds-the
licensing privilege is being used for
thinly yelled blackmail in soliciting
advertisements for the North Dakota
Leader.
About . month ago the state beer
commissioner, Owen +. Owen, an
nouuced the appointment OF 20 in
spectors and six deputies-although
there Is no provision in the beer
measure authorizing such action. The
appointments, he said, were made be-
cause Of . flood OF complaints OF
flagrant violations Of the beer mea-
sure, operation Of slot machines,
failure to use revenue stamps.
Queried Friday, Mr.. Owen said no
arrests have been made, no licenses
have been revoked. Twenty-six men
working thirty days each is slightly
more than the equivalent Of one man
working two years-and not q con-
crete result In sight.
OF course the flood Of complaints"
was merely . straw man set up to
justify the placing on the payroll Of
IS henchmen for Governor LANCER.
| Figuring an average OF $500 a month
fer salary and travelling expenses, the
state beer commissioners salary and
say $4,000 for expense, these items OF
administration expense in a year
would amount to $4,000. Then add
In the 26 Pontiac cars bought at full
market price Of $799 and the total
Genes to $ll4,974. OF course, that
isn't the whole bill as there still re-
mains office expense, printing of
revenue stamps, and what not which
will doubtless bring the total at least
to $134,0O0, the amount Of income the
licenses and stamps have produced to
date.
It Just looks like the taxpayers
VIII be relieved In the same old
familiar way.
Then the state beer commissioner
has the effroutery to refuse to an
nounce the names Of the inspectors
AZ to just exactly what these boys
are doing, the press Of the state in
the last few weeks q. many different
points has chronicled instances ol
whole professions Of beer inspectors
treading On each others heels.
i Says the Walcott Reporter:
Beer inspectors have been about
as numerous throughout the eastern
part Of the state as the box elder
beetles were earlier in the season
Several Of our exchanges have given
accounts of two inspectors being ir
their town on the same day or the
same hour. Walcott had two in thu
same hour. So did Mayville. Chris
tine boasts three one day, but Barney
takes the prise with six In one day
and Barney u . good orderly LITTLE
town."
Barney's population Is l5o-oe .
beer inspector for every Is inhabit.
. antA.
And Mr.. Owen says he'll doubl,
the number Of inspectors II neces
sary-parenthetically we would in
terpret this to mean il necessary t,
keep up with the income.
Il the reader thinks that 4 blacl
page, have Q look at this one:
Beer parlor proprietors are beint
'oolicited" for advertising in tn
, Ianger Leader-not for single adds
but for contracts running six month
o. . year. The advertising solicito
leaves little to the imagination Of tn,
beer parlor proprietor Is to wha
/ win happen to his license II he doesn'
!. sign On the dotted line. These con
tracts aTe running from 425 to sew
eral hundred. Licenses have beel
j. issued to 1850 beer parlors. Mr.. Owe,
reports.
Advertising solicitors haven't mad
them Ill yet, but they've made
eoodly number-given . brief sale
. talk about the value Of "a adver
, ttsement IN . Bismarck newspepe
for . beer proprietor at Neche Or any
where else-the proprietor invariably
; being reduced to . state Of asking
How much?"
Il There would really be q great dea
les lost motion II the Governor an,
Mr.. Owen would have the beer dep
uties solicit and collect for the ads
! At least then they would be able Il
point 70 some tangible accomplish