The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-09
|KNUDTSON IS GIVEN
| LONG EXAMINATION
| AT WENZEL HEARING
Secretary Of Workmen's Com
pensation Bureau Tells
OF Referendum
SHARED PETITION EXPENSE
| Denies That He Was Forced to
Do So or That His Position
Was Threatened

Undergoing lengthy examination
BY the state In the r. E. Wen0el
custer hearing Saturday, G. E. Knudt-
son. secretary Of the workmen's COM
pensation bureau, told how he shared
in the expense for circulating peti-
lions for referendum Of the Legislative
act empowering the governor to re-
move compensation bureau commits
sioners without cause.
He said the expense, amounting to
about 500 each, was shared by HIM
self, Wenzel and w. G. Preckel, q
member Of the bureau.
George F. Shafer, attorney foi
Wenzel, entered In the record gen.
eral objection to all testimony re-
Rarding the referendum transaction
as immaterial and outside the COM
plant.
Questioned by Charles A. verret
assistant attorney general, Knudtsor
said he had only faint recollections
Of the transaction regarding the IL
nancing OF the referendum, but re-
called that in most 1T the converse
tons he had with the two bureau
commissioners Preckel did the tax
ing.
Talked with Walker
Asked by Verret If he discussed thu
matter with r. H. Walker. third
member OF the bureau, and "dio
some cussing about Wen1er' In con-
nection with the referendum ex-
pense, Knudtson replied, I thinl
So"
Didn't you tell Mr.. Walker tina,
Mr.. Wenzel In substance had put ur
an ultimatum that you share in thu
expense?" Verret asked. Knudtsor
replied, II don't remember"
Later he said he felt he shoulc
not become mixed up In q politica
DEAL" but after consideration I fell
I ought to comply"
Knudtson, who spent several hour!
on the stand Friday, was on thu
stand all morning Saturday and wa.
continued Saturday afternoon.
He was questioned closely regard
ing the manner In which record o.
the minutes Of the bureaus action!
was kept.
Knudtson brought exhibits Of thu
drafts Of resolutions and motions. a.
they were approved by the commits
sioners. before being entered In tn
permanent minute book. He testi'
lied the minutes were Transcribed In
to the minute hook long after the &C.
tons were taken.
Exhibits were entered Of the drafts
OF the motions and resolutions ant
attorneys general opinions obtained
before perfecting bond purchases. Al
exhibit showing that $1,000 900 II
bond investments are held by th<
bureau was entered.
Conferred With Role
Knudtson, ON direct examination
by Charles A. Verrett. assistant at.
torney general. said that he, Wenzel
and w. G. Preckal. member Of the
compensation bureau. each contribut-
ed about 500 to further the referen.
dunn.
On cross examination by George F
Shafer. attorney for Wenzel, Knudt-
son said that he had talked to State
Treasurer Alfred s. Dale about the
referendum. He said he turned ovel
to Dale or someone representing Dale
about 500 to be used in furtherine
the referendum and later turned over
around SITS or $500"
Knudtson said he and the two
commissioners worked to obtain sig.
natures to refer the act empowering
the governor to remove compensation
commissioners without cause.
On cross examination. Knudtsor
said he believed that the first man tt
speak to him about sharing expense
Of the referendum was Preckel. HI
was invited into Preckel's office ane
then Welzel came In and Joined thu
conference.
Knudtson said he turned no none,
ever to Wen1el.
He said he did not recall whether
he approached Dale or Dale ap'
preached him. but that he did talk K
Dale about the referendum law.
Two Others Called
Laura Schlecter, cashier Of tn,
compensation bureau; Theodore w
Settle. auditor for the Bank Of Norti
Dakota, and Knudtson. secretary o
the bureau, testified Friday.
Settle was questioned regarding tn
Workmen's Compensation account Il
the Bank Of North Dakota. He ex
planned how funds were credited to tn
bureau and then transferred to tn
state treasurer. who Is custodian o
the fund. Numerous exhibits Of tn
banks ledger sheets were entered.
On cross-examination by George !
Shafer. attorney for Wenzel, sett
said other departments deposite'
funds to the credit Of the department
and then RENTED to the state treas
urer.
Miss Schlecter testified on no,
funds Of the bureau were deposited 4
the Bank Of North Dakota. Shafe
moved her testimony be stricken q
irrelevant and immeterial.
The objection was entered In tn
records but no action Is being take
by special commissioner Thomas ,
clifford. Iangdon. presiding over tn
hearing. He has held he will not rul
lon admissability Of evidence.