Court Opinion

ID: 6739149
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 23:20:41.045962+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:54.172109
License: Public Domain

Christianson, Oh. J.
(concurring). The sole question presented in this case is the right of the state auditor to inspect the books, papers, and accounts of the Bank of North Dakota. In former cases I have asserted that the constitutional amendment under which the Bank of North Dakota is purported to have been created was not in fact adopted. While these views remain unchanged, the fact also remains that the legislature acting under the alleged constitutional amendment hag enacted a law creating the Bank of North Dakota; that such law has been put into operation, and that the present controversy has arisen thereunder.
The state auditor has such powers and is required to perform such duties as are prescribed by law. N. D. Const. § 83. The Bank of North Dakota is a creature of the legislature. The manner of inspection of books of public officers and departments, as well as the banks and other financial institutions in the state is also a matter of legislative control. Hence, all questions in any manner involved are bottomed upon legislative enactments, and the ultimate question is: Did the legislature intend that the state auditor should be empowered to inspect the books, papers, and accounts of the Bank of North Dakota? I believe that this question must be answered in the negative for’ the reasons stated in the opinion prepared by Mr. Justice Birdzell. I therefore concur in that opinion.