The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-07-29
ENGINEERING WORK
FOR LICENSE PLANT
IS CAUSE OF Fight
Thompson Demands Action Be
Delayed until Law Is COM
piled With
HOLDS UP $3.50 PAYMENT
Records Of Board Show No Re.
solution Employing Min
neapoIis Company

Launching an attack on employ,
nlent of the Pillsbury Engineering
company in connection with the pro-
posal to install a plant for making
automobile tags at the state peni-
Tertiary, Arthur E. Thompson, state
superintendent of public instruction,
lost the first round Saturday.
A motion to delay action until the
provisions of the law have been fully
complied with was defeated by q
three-to-two vote of the state board
Of administration.
John HUSKY, commissioner of agri-
culture and labor, voted with Thomp-
son.
Nelson Sauvain, board chairman:
r. M. Rishworth and Mrs. Jennie
Ulsrud voted against the motion.
Sauvain and Rishworth were ap-
pointed as I. v. AS. Mrs. Ulsrud re.
Gently was appointed by Governor
William LANCER. Thompson and
HUSKY are Nonpartisans.
Despite rejection of Thompson's
motion, however, the board took no
action and was to meet further Sat-
urday afternoon. Governor LANCER
and Attorney General A. ]. Gronna.
Jr., were to attend that meeting.
One of the major points raised by
Thompson in his motion was thu
TACT that he, as an ex-officio menu
Der Of the board, has not been in
formed Of meetings at which various
details Of the prison plant and other
items were discussed. The first In
timation he had that action on the
license tag plant was contemplated,
he said, was when he read adver.
tisements in the newspapers asking
for bids. Prior to that time, he said.
he had not known that the Pillsbury
Engineering company, represented in
Bismarck by Frank Nutter, had BEEN
employed IN connection with thea
work.
Text Of Motion
Ihompsons motion follows.
Mr.. Chairman: I move that ~
proceed no further on this uatteN
until the provisions of the law have
been fully complied with and made,
part Of our official record. MY reaA
sons for presenting this motion are.
Il. The board records do not
show that any agreement or con-
tract was ever made with the
Pillsbury Engineering company
Tor the preparation of plans and
specifications for this work. Fur
taer, am informed that no
agreement was ever officially
made for the employment of this
firm as consulting engineers for
the board OF administrations
and I find no record of any H.
nancial agreement for payment
OF the services of the said Pills
bury Engineering company.
2. The board records do not
show that any conference was
ever held by the board with the
governor to determine whether
this project Is warranted. The
law making the appropriation for
this work specifically makes this
proviso prerequisite for any Of
ficial action by the board.
80. regard this as an impor-
tant piece of board business and
hence think all members Of the
board should have received due
notice II and when any action
In this direction was contemplate
ed. have never received any
notice OF any meeting to discuss
this project.
q. am not satisfied as yet
that such a project is warranted
or that the establishment OF this
plant will provide labor for any
appreciate number Of prisoners.
Until am shown that there is
an advantage to the state I can
not conscientiously vote to spend
$4,000 OF the taxpayers money.
Mr.. Chairman: I wish to have
this motion recorded in the official
records of the board"
May Ask New Bids
In discussing the issue, Rishworth
said new bids would be called for II
Continued on Page Three)