The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-09-15
N. D. TO VOTE ON
SEVEN PROPOSALS
AT SEPT. e POLL
Two Per Cent Sales Tax on
Tangible Personal Prop.
erty' Holds Center
CONTROVERSY Is PROVIDED
Little Has Been Said About Six
Other Measures Which Will
Be on Ballot
by the Associated Press

by the Associated Press,
North Dakota voters. spectators in
the political drama centering around
the referred sales tax law, will move
onto the stage next Friday to speak
their lines about the issues at the
statewide special election.
The citizens will decide whether
they want to bear tax of two per
cent on tangible personal property"
and on sales Of professional services,
with certain deviations in the tax on
sales for resale.
OF the seven proposals on the spec
ial election ballot, the sales tax has
overshadowcd the other issues to such
an extent that little has been said In
the present campaign about the init
lated beer measure, Sunday Movies
law, two proposed constitutional
amendments, and two referred acts
providing for change in administra-
ton Of closed banks and for removal
OF Workmen's compensation commits
sioners by the governor, with or with
out cause.
Gaining momentum in the last 10
days, the campaign on the sales tax
has developed into a controversy
frought with political significance.
Into the sales tax vortex have been
drawn such outstanding leaders as
U. S. Senator Gerald p. Nye and T.
H. Thoresen, former tax commissioner
and once q candidate for governor
Campaigners for and against the tar
include chiefly men identified with
the Nonpartisan League.
Langer's Aides Working
Leading the forces for approval OF
the tax law, Governor William Lam
ger has been stumping the state, out
lining the arguments for 1t. Ad-
ministration officials assisting him in
clude state highway commissioner
Frank A. Vogel, Representative w. j.
Flanagan. highway maintenance en-
gineer; State Senator S. S. McDon-
aid. inspector for the regulatory de-
partnlent: State Senator D. H. Ham,
ilton, employed by the highway de-
partment: H. J. Roberts, estate tax
commissioner; Stephen Ter Horst,
head Of the regulatory department;
and James Malloy, secretary of the
industrial and securities commissions.
The sensation" Of the campaign
came last Sunday when U. s. Senator
Gerald p. Nye took stand in oppo-
sition to the sales tax in an address at
Sykeston, as Governor LANCER sat on
the speakers platform with him.
LANCER, in subsequent speeches, hes
attacked the junior Senator's atti-
tude on the tax law, as political ton
CUES Wag over the resultant situation
which sees the senator and governor
OF the same political faith at odds on
one of the most important state issues
to come before the voters in recent
years.
Big Guns in Opposition
Entering the lists in opposition are
others whose names loom large in
league circles. Thoresen, once q
candidate for governor. and p. B. Gar
berg, Fargo, formerly United States
district attorney, whose name is be-
ing mentioned in political circles as
possible candidate for governor next
year, have been carrying the appeal
to defeat the sales tax in various parts
Of the state.
Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ton Arthur E. Thompson, by issu-
ance OF statements, has entered the
sales tax fray with warning against
false hopes" for financial support Of
rural schools should the tax pass. He
claims the net replacement effect Of
the sales tax on schools would be
about 10 per cent q year.
LANCER, in his addresses, argues
that many rural schools are in such
financial condition that unless the
sales tax passes they will be forced to
close. He contends the tax also will
be q replacement tax through diver
Continued on Page Three)