The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-01-10
new TAX SYSTEM
HEADS ADVOCAC|ES
OF OUTGOING CHIEF
Program includes Suggestions
on Utilities, Pensions, Re.
lief, Institutions
To the Members Of the Twenty Fourth
Legislative Assembly:

As outgoing Acting Governor It de-
wolves upon me to appear before you
to give you a short outline Of the az
fairs Of state at this time, together
with q few recommendations that
might be Of assistance to you In en-
acting laws to promote the general
welfare Of the people Of our state.
Four years ago the legislature found |
it necessary to replace the old capitol |
building destroyed by fire with q new
structure which we are meeting In
for the first time. We are all agreed
that we have structure which Is q
credit to the state. and 1t Is being
recognized as one Of the most modern,
practical up-to-date architectural
designs in the country. May this
building be an inspiration and an idea
by which we can we'll be guided, even
in the art Of lawn1aking.
Section 208 Of our constitution makes
it the settled policy Of the state to
preserve to the families the homes
they occupy. believe it to be proper
and necessary that we have q system
of taxation based upon what is COM
monty known as the graduated land
tax principle, that is that certain ex-
emptions be granted to owners Of
homes and farms In possession Of and
using their property Is such and shift
ing some Of this burden to those who
hold for speculation more land than
they can use. Furthermore, I believe
that the only title to ownership Of land
belongs to the men and women who
live on and till the soil.
Tax Revenues
recommend that the distribution
Of public utility taxes be so changed
that tax revenues from such properties
will be more equitably distributed to
the various political subdivisions.
State Care for Insane
believe that the state as q whole
should assume all responsibility for
the care Of the insane. feeble minded,
and tubercular in the state institu-
tions In the same manner as the peni-
Tertiary Is financed, and relieve the
counties Of this burden.
State Support Of Local Education
It Is the duty Of the state to its citi-
! zens to see that they have equal OPP
portunitleS to secure an education re.
gardless Of location, and In that meas.
ure the state should assist financially
those who are unable to give that re-
quired training. This applies par
ticularly to rural schools.
The Old Age Insurance
Realizing the necessity Of security
In old age, the 1888 legislature enact
ed an old age pension law. The in
come which this law provided proved
to be inadequate to take care Of the
1000 persons who have been approved
as entitled to old age pensions. I urge
your serious consideration In correct
ing this condition in order to make the
law more effective.
State Emergency Relief
Because OF the extraordinary criti-
cal situation brought on by the drouth.
the Federal Government has financed
the relief Of the needy people Of our
state. Because Of the very grave stu.
ton, would urge that We draw upon
all Of the resources Of our state to
protect our people-that even the Is
suance Of bonds be considered, to as
sist our people in carrying on.
State Mill and Elevator at
Grand Forks
Having been interested In the CO.
operative movement for the past
quarter Of . century. 1t was my
pleasure, together with the other
members Of tho Industrial Commis-
sion, upon assuming my duties -
chairman Of the Industrial Commis.
sion, to reorganize and turn over the
grain marketing business Of the Mill
and Elevator to the agency estab.
lished as the Farmers National Grain
Corporation which has rendered US
q most valuable and efficient service.
The Mill and Elevator 1t Grand
Forks was originally promoted for the
purpose Of demonstrating the high
quality Of North Dakota hard spring
wheat and supplying the state with
It's products made from this wheat ct
q reasonable cost. It was also hoped
that the institution would operate at
q profit that would meet the oper-
ating expenses. and In addition set
up fund to eventually pay the con.
struction costs Of the plant.
I believe the people Of the state |
have realized considerable benefits |
in reasonable flour prices and also In
wheat prices, due to the operations
Of the Mil and Elevator during the |
past twelve years, but Ill our hopes
for these benefits have not been fully |
realized. In my opinion, the greatest |
obstacle in the way Of successful op.
Grafton OF the Mill and Elevator has
been the influence Of political tur-
moil the business has encountered |
from time to time. This obstacle, Or |
disadvantage, was recognized In the |
earliest operations Of the plan, and
legislation was passed from time to
time, with the view Of correcting this
condition.
At the outset. the Mill and Eeva- |
tor was managed by the State Indus
trial Commission, organized a. the
State Mill and Elevator association.
TO remove the institution from pol. |
tiles the Mill and Elevator Law was
amended, providing for the placing |
OF the management Of the Mil and !
Elevator In the hands Of . board Of
managers, consisting Of five members. |
This arrangement resulted only In
adding five more politicians to the
Mill and Elevator management.
To correct this condition the next |
legislature amended the NH and
Elevator Act by giving the Governor !
. full and complete management OF the
State Mill and Elevator.
In 1881 the law was again amended. !
providing that the management be !
placed In the hands Of three persons
70 be appointed BY the Governor. /
The Mil and Elevator Law MS
again amended by the Legislature q |
1883 rc-establiShing the Mil and
Elevator Association. consisting Of the