The Bismarck tribune., 1935-03-04
SCHOOL FUND BILL
With AMENDMENT IS
SIGNED BY WEXFORD
Emergency Clause Providing for
immediate Enactment IN.
cluded in Measure

In record time the legislature Sat-
urday passed three-way measure
designed to give schools Of the state
approximately 100000 to aid them
In remaining open.
Pushing the measure through with
rare speed, the two houses sent the
measure-house bill 339, to the gov
ernor who signed 1t less than four
hours after it had begun its final
legislative journey. It passed as an
emergency measure. which put It In
force Immediately. It Is sponsored by
Traynor, Odegard and Hill.
Facing the bill however, was the
hurdle Of legal determination Of its
constttutionality, which spurred the
legislators In an attempt to obtain
an early court decision before the
closing Of the legislative session.
TranSfer Immediate
First provisions Of the bill as finally
passed by the house and senate pro-
vide that 81 900, 900 shall be immedi-
ately transferred from the hail insur-
ance surplus fund to the state equali-
cation fund to be distributed to the
schools on need basis.
Should the court hold this provision
to be In contravention Of the consti-
tional provisions, then, under terms
OF the act. the commissioner Of in.
surance, Harold Hopton, would be
ordered to give 100000 to the va
rtous county treasurers Of the state In
proportion to the amount Of the flat
hail tax received from the county.
Also under this provision, the coun.
ty treasurers would be directed to
apply the amounts received on any
delinquent school taxes due on land
that had paid the flat tax; II no
delinquent school taxes were against
the property, monies will be impound.
ed, and credited against future school
taxes to be levied against the prop
erty.
Delinquent flat rate hail taxes
must first be paid, under terms Of |
this provision.
Direct 70 School Districts
The bill also provides that any
person, other than original owner,
who obtained title to the land, SUBJ |
sequent to 1928, shall not be given |
credit from the fund, but that the
tax refund shall be paid directly into |
the school district fund.
The record owner or legally quail |
fled agent Of land against which the |
fiat tax levy was made In 1927, may. |
upon written application with proof |
of ownership filed within 30 days |
after the decision of the court, re-
ceive payments from the refund.
If such application is not made
within the time limit, under terms of /
the final provision Of the act, the
refund hail tax shall be credited to l.
the flat hail tax and school taxes
outstanding.
The bill is one Of a group Of mea-
sures sponsored by the super COM
mittee Of 81 factional leaders in house
and senate. An additional 81, ,000, 900,
1t IS hoped. will come to the schools
from the proposed sales tax which the i
senate has passed and which is now
In the house for final legislative ac-
ton.
Traynor Urges Enactment
Traynor Of Ramsey In the house
Saturday urged the bill be passed
with the senate amendments by
sufficient majority to clinch the
emergency clause which puts the
measure In effect as law Immediately.
The house responded with q vote Of |
l03 to 3 with I not voting.
With that accomplished the bill |
was rushed back to the senate where |
reading on another was temporarily |
halted by Fowler Of Cass to enable |
the president pro tenn to sign the |
measure.
It was messaged back to the house |
at once, which in turn sent it i'm.
mediately to the governor.
The house state affairs committee
earlier In the day frowned upon
A. F. Bonzer's proposal for q one
house legislature, and recommended
his bill for a unicameral system for
indefinite postponement. The house
approved the committee report.
Pass Utilities Probe Bill
A bill to empower the state board |
Of railroad commissioners to investi-
gate utilities on its own motion also
was passed by the house. The mea-
sure provides for such Investigations |
to be made at the expense Of the
utilities, and sets up an original pub
lie utility valuation fund Of SIS, 900.
It now goes to the governor for sig
nature.
Killed was q bill TO create water
conservation districts. but 1t was
nlanned hv sns,,a 1,oa,eo v,aa,nha.. -
move reconsideration Of the vote on
the measure Monday.