The Bismarck tribune., 1933-01-05
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER. BREWER
Uncorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
More Detail Needed

CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
More Detail Needed
The message which Governor VIII
liam LANCER sent to the legislature
Wednesday whets the appetite Of
those interested in public affairs for
the promised further statement or
suggestion which is the high point
of the initial document.
The message contains many things
with which the average citizen will
agree, some with which many will dis
agree and other suggestions which are
open to argument as matters Of policy.
But il one thing stands out promi-
nently to even the casual reader it is
the lack OF specification or OF detail:
references to tax reductions In bulk
rather than by the more laborious
process OF specific recommendations
The message bears upon its face
evidence that 1t was hurriedly written
and the document clearly reflects,
also, the physical and mental strain
under which the new governor has
been laboring. 1t is to be regretted
that his health was not better so that
he could have given more time and
attention to this document.
The regret. of course, will be even
greater on his part than upon that OF
the average citizen, much as he would
like to have additional light upon
some matters which the governor dis
cusSes in rather sweeping terms. 1t is
only natural that an incoming gov
ernor would want his message to be
clear and direct in tone and worthy
document to be placed in the state
archives for comparison with those OF
his predecessors and SUCCESSORS by fu-
ture generations.
OF the hundreds OF suggestions
which have been made to him, both
before and since his election, the gov
ernor has selected some which are
clearly In accord with the popular
will. Among these are recognition OF
the fact that farm prosperity depends
on national rather than state action;
that the integrity of the state common
school system must be preserved and
education sustained, that the Bank of
North Dakota redeposit its money in
North Dakota banks and that the
practices of finance and re-finance
companies be definitely curbed by
state law. For some OF these things
The Tribune has made editorial decla-
ration in the past
Some other suggestions are matters
Of policy upon which there may or
may not be agreement. The recon-
mendation for the elimination of in
spectors is one OF these. Everyone
agrees that there has been too much
inspection by state departments and
at too great cost. There is some
question, however, if the state wishes
to abandon all Of the work which is
being done by the departments to
which some Of these inspectors are
attached. There is question, too, of
the advisability OF putting all Of this
inspection work under one depart
ment, If it would not be better to Gre
ate board which would list in its
membership the various department
heads who would be vitally interested
in the work to be done.
There is always the possibility that
the state tax commissioner, under
whom the message recommends an
department. be organized,
would not be vastly more interested in
tax matters than in oil inspection,
cream inspection or food inspection.
The idea OF joint inspectorship Ia
not new one and it should result In
economy. Whether the state wants to
the work which they do may
become a pertinent question as the
matter is given detailed study.
A. given to the press and as read
at the joint legislative session, the
message failed to list the appropria-
ton recommended for each state edu-
cational institution. such as the uni
vsraity. normal schools. agricultural
college or school Of forestry. They
must have been available, however,
for the governor arrives at q total
Of $l.s23.3 .34s.23. These fig.
llres viii b Of more than passing I'm.
portance to persons interested in these
Institutions and Of real interest to the
Itate ct large. Presumably they will
- 1et forth In the next message.
The same situation holds true Of the
Dona1 and charitable institutions.
Io3e again 4 rather remarkable re-
Dnettoa is achieved b. the somewhat