The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-07
Former Governor
Is Probe Witness
CREDIT PROTECTION
Seen AS NECESSARY
PART OF n. D. POLICY
Land Owners Committee Re.
views State Situation At
Meeting Here Monday

views State Situation At
Meeting Here Monday
Establishment Of North Dakotas
credit on q high plane Through
prompt retirement Of obligations on
state bond issues will be the major
made to the state
lands owners conference at It's next
meeting by its special committee q:
taxes.
Getting state-owned lands back on
the tax lists will be Of secondary i'm
portance to maintenance Of good
credit In the list Of recommendations,
B. E. Groom, chairman Of the agrt-
cultural committee Of the Greater
North Dakota association. said follow
ing q meeting Of more than dozen
representatives Of the state admins.
tration and several organizations here
Monday afternoon.
The committee was appointed at
the last meeting Of the land owners
conference, which was sponsored by
the G. N. D. A., and Groom was In
charge Of the conference here.
The fact that 76l ,232 acres Of lana
Is off the tax lists was brought out at
the conference but taxes which could
be derived from this land were 1t put
on the tax lists would be small In
comparison with the amount needed
to meet bond interest and retirement
payments. Groom said.
Interest Taxes High
w. w. Felson Of Cavalier. Pembina
county auditor, pointed out that last
year his county was taxed $500 for
interest on state bonds and that other
counties were taxed correspondingly.
The average tax on land Is only 80
cents per acre.
Practically all Of the conferees were
"unqalifiedly" in favor Of any action
by the state legislature to make posi-
BILE prompt payment on bond obliga-
lions. Groom said.
Among recommendations for raising
revenue to be applied on bonds were
diversion Of part Of the gasoline tax,
diversion Of part Of the hail insurance
fund and diversion Of part Of the au-
tomobile license fees.
Diversion Of part Of the gasoline tax
revenue was generally acceptable to
the conference, though there was
opuoSition. Groom said.
Diversion Of part Of the license fees
which was recommended by former
Governor George F. shafer. found the
most favor because license fees are IL
lieu Of property taxes and could be
relegated to a retirement fund much
more appropriately than could part Of
the gasoline tax or hail insurance
fund, since the latter two are desig-
mated for special purposes by their
nature Of collection.
Would Classify Lands
Among other recommendations de-
cided upon are establishment Of q
system Of classification Of state lands
for taxation purposes and changing
the time Of leasing school land from
the spring to fall.
Realizing that it is practically i'm
possible" to sell land at present, the
committee will recommend that sale
Of state-owned land be pushed vigor-
ously as soon q conditions war
rant It.
Present lack Of classification.
Groom said. Is proving unjust to GER
tain owners, particularly to those In
the western part Of the state.
Suggestion that the leasing time be
changed was made by Ludwig Peter
son, new land commissioner. Peter
son said shortage Of funds in the pos
session Of prospective farmers in the
spring and difficulty In getting to
leasing sales because Of Indictment
weather and poor road conditions
hamper leasing IN the spring. These
conditions would be much better In
the fall. the commissioner said, and
most Of the committee agreed with
him.
At the opening Of the conference.
shafer gave picture Of the land sit
uation for the last several years.
George Young and A. g. Brainerd,
| OF the Bank Of North Dakota, de-
clared the hank has foreclosed or
395,567 acres Of land, only 81 Of one
per cent Of the land assessed IN the
state. but that the prospect d for
acceleration Of foreclosure In the near
future. Foreclosure has been started
or completed On u per cent Of the
land on which the hank has mort
cages, they said.
Contracto Are Cancelled
Peterson said that contacts for the
purchase Of 2l5,666 acres Of school
land On 20-year payment plans have
been cancelled. Funds realised from
the sale Of school lands have been re-
invested and this has resulted In fore.
closure on m additional 10000 acres
Peterson said the prospect Is for &C.
federation Of foreclosures In his de.
ipartment.
Sentiment Of the conferees w.
against any system Of taxing these
lands, Groom said.
Others attending the meeting in.
cluded J. J. schmid. Wilton: August
Kranx, Minot: John l. Rovig. Man.
dan; Fred A. Irish. Fargo: Arthur
Tollefson. Dickinson: w. T. Hope,
and @. H. Reimer. Darlington: Dugak
Stewart, Bowman: State Tux Com.
missioner Frank Vogel, n. Y. barron
80 - N1S>->.