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FRANCIS J. MURPHY REPORT SHOWS HOME BUILD ERS DEPT. AND MILL-ELEVATOR ASS'N HORRIBLY MISMANAGED The report submitted by Bishop Brissman & Company on the audit of the Bank of North Dakota and the other state institutions has naturally been the center of interest among the lawmakers and everybody else in the capital during the past* week. Two special investigation committees, one from the house and one from the sen ate, are considering the report but as it is both a lengthy and complicated affair it will at least take another week before any official statements are forthcoming. A preliminary survey of the find ings of the auditing firm shows how ever, that careless management and gross irregularities have been the or der of the day at the various state industries as well as in the bank. Every chaTge made by the critics of the present state administration has been more than borne ou£ by the re port. Large sums ofmoney have been wasted and a large and import ant part of the "farmers' program" has been run into a hole. The grand prix for criminal care lessness in the management of its af fairs must be divided between the Homebuilders' department and the Mill and Elevator association's man agers. The state has built in all twenty houses jnd work has been started on forty-two others, mostly for the benefit of rich people in the larger cities, but nobody knows what these buildings cost. There has been kept no individual accounts for each house. In this manner $376,699.08 of the tax payers money have been used. The department has over drawn its available funds to the tune of $10-752.52 after having borrowed .$227,000 in the Bank of North Dakota. After /the report of the state mill at Drake was made public Manager J. A. McGyyern, of the Mill and Ele vator association, has admitted that the stories published in the League newspapers during the past year and showing that large profits had been made were untrue. Mr. McGovern admits that all the mill can do under most favorable circumstances is to make a profit of not to exceed $300 a month. He also admits that in stead of making a profit in the past it has, as a matter of fact, lost some $30,000, these losses according to. Mr. McGovern, has been incurred large ly because the mill management fail ed to hedge in wheat. In other words the state mill has been gam bling in wheat. On the mill and elevator at Grand Forks about $650,000 have been spent, but the auditors failed to find any complete itemized accounts of these expenditures. The affairs of the state bank are not in a much better condition finan cially, but there has at least been kept books there. The big question before the investigation committees as far as the Bank of North Dakota is concerned is to find out the approx imate value of the collatexal held for loans. A large percentage of loans past due have not been paid, a fact which does not promise well. It is also worthy, of mention that the amor tization table for rural credits loan is faulty. Under the plans adopted loans are supposed to be paid back with interest after thirty years in an- anual payments. The investigation has shown that on the contracts al-' ready entered into the state still has $151,000 coming after the thirty years,, have gone and it is just possible that! the tax payers' stand to lose this' amount. N. D. GREETERS CONVENE FEB. 22 Prominent Hotel Men to Gather Here February 22. The North Dakota Greeters, an or ganization of hotel men and hotel clerks, will hold their next convention in this city February 22. C. E. Dan ielson, proprietor of the Grand hotel, is president of the Greeters, and J. O. Dahl, the capable and courteous clerk of the Iceland-Parker, is secretary. The arrangements are practically com plete for the entertainment of the guests at the forthcoming convention. Many prominent hotel men 'will be in attendance. Below is given a list of the principal events of the day: Program of the Greeters' Convention to Be Held in Minot Feb. 22. Breakfast, 9 a. m. Business Meeting, 10 a. m. Address of Welcome—H. M. Wilson, Pres. Association of Commerce. Response—C. E. Danielson, Pres. N. D. Greeters. President's report. Secretary's report. N. D. Hotel History, by C. A. Klaus, Prop. Gladstone Hotel, James town, N. D. The Northwestern Hotel Men's As sociation, by J. D. Bacon, Grand Forks. Hotel Legislation, by Earl Byer, Lakota Hotel, Lakota. The Modern Coffee Shop, by Fred Bartholomew, Frederick Hotel, Grand Forks. Tha Newspaper as a Civic Asset, by Hal Davies, Daily News, Minot. Luncheon^ 12:30 p. m. Meeting, 2 p. m. Hotel Cost Accounting—'A. H. Leim bacher, Gardner Hotel, Fargo. Relation of Employer and Employee —J. L. Peterson, Grand Pacific Hotel, Bismarck, N. D. The North Dakota Hotel Associa tion, by H. R. Mayer, Great Northern Hotel, Devils Lake, N. D. Theatre Program, 4 p. m. Dinner, 6:30 p. m. Theatre Party, 9 p. m. Special Ihvitation Elks Club dance. Close with a special midnight Chi nese lunch with music and informal party. A cordial welcome is extended to all North, Dakota hotel and restaurant men to be present. "Only One Minot, and That's in North Dakota" J. A. Roell, for many years a resi dent of this city, writes from Minne apolis, where he recently established headquarters as general agent for the Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. He writes: "We are enjoying Cali fornia weather. Very little snow. Cars are running every day. Some thing like 25 families from Minot axe located here, so we feel quite at home. I miss Minot very much. There is only one Minot and that is in North Dakota." OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF WARD COUNTY AND THE CITY OF MINOT THE WARD COUNTY INDEPENDENT This lttue 12 Page* INDEPENDENT HAS THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY WEEKLY IN THE STATE This Issue 12 Pages The new law firm of Fisk, Murphy & Nash is comprised of men who have already attained celebrity in their pro fession. Charles .1. Fisk was former ly judge of the First judicial district, maintaining offices in Grand Forks from 1897 to 1907, when he was elect ed to the Supreme bench. He was a member of the State Supreme court from 1907 to 1917, the last two years Vol. 19 No. 43 Minot, Ward County, North Dakota, Thursday, February 3, 1921 Subscription $2.00 Per Annum FISK, MURPHY AND NASH FORM LAW PARTNERSHIP! THREE OF MINOT'S MOST DISTINGUISHED ATTORNEYS! COMPRISE NEW LEGAL FIRM—MESSRS FISK, MURPHY AND NASH, LONG PROMINENT IN LEGAL FRA- Attorneys Charles J. Fisk, Francis Murphy and Dudley Nash, three of Minot's most prominent attorneys, have formed a partnership and will maintain offices in the Gordon Block on Central avenue, having leased the entire second floor of the block where Messrs. Fisk & Murphy have had their I offices for the past few years. Dud ley Nash moved his office effects into the new quarters on Wednesday of this week. The Third Annual Father and Son Banquet will be given at the high school auditorium Tuesday evening, Feb. 8, at 6:30 o'clock under the aus pices of the Minot Rotary club. The tickets which are one dollar, permit one man to take one boy to the banquet. One may either be accompanied by his son or some other boy or boys. Two tickets, costing $2.00, will enable one man to take three boys. Plans are being made to entertain 1,000 fathers and sons. A box lunch will be served by the Y. W. C. A. who have offered to turn the profits for the evening over to the Boy Scout Summer Camp fund. A vaudeville entertainment will be given during the banquet period af ter which moving pictures of interest to Boy Scouts will be shown. E. C. Walcott, General Secretary of the Y. M. C. A. with headquarters at Sioux City, Iowa, will deliver the address that evening. He makes a specialty of Boys' work and is willing to de liver an address before the student body of the Minot school and to the boys of the school alone during the afternoon. Four Veterans Attend W. R. C. Meet ing Tuesday The W. R. C. held an interesting meeting at the Sons of Norway hall Tuesday. The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Ida Youngman, the president. Martha Stewart was in stalled as vice president and Mary Lytle as Patriotic Instructor, the two having been absent at the installation in January. Maud Leuhe, Maud Mouck and Florence McKenzie, were initiated. The charter of the W. R. C. was draped in honor of the late Mrs. Olivia Ellison and that of the 6. A. R. for Jasper Baker, whose death .occurred Monday. T. C. Conklin, member of the 6. A. TERNITY OF STATE, ESTABLISH OFFICES IN GORDON BLOCK CHARLES J. FISK of his term being Chief Justice of the court. At the end of his term of of fice he removed to Minot and has prac ticed law in partnership with Francis Murphy here since that time. Francis J. Murphy, upon his admis sion to the bar, located in Kenmare, afterwards removing to Minot, where he was assistant states attorney, 1907 8. In 1915 he was chosen as assistant Attorney General under Attorney General Henry J. Linde, which position he held for two years, or during the Linde regime. Upon his return from Bismarck he located in Minot and for several years has been associated*with I Judge Fisk in the practice of law. Dur ing his incumbency in office at Bis marck he was identified with many suits which figured prominently in the legal annals of the state. Mr. Murpby has gained an enviable position among the members of the bar as a success ful trial lawyer and his services have been in great demand on this account. At the present time he is identified with the investigation of the report of Bishop, Brissman & Co., as special counsel, having been retained by the House of Representatives. Dudley L. Nash for the past 15 years has been identified either directly or indirectly with most of the important litigation that has itranspired in northwestern North Dakota. For two terms he was states attorney for Ward county, attaining a record in that capacity that has never been equalled by any successor since re linquishing the office. His record of convictions is still treasured as one of the great accomplishments of that important office in Ward county. His marked legal accomplishments, learn ing and versatility have won for Mr. Nash one of the most distinguished positions among the legal fraternity in the state. The new legal firm of Fisk, Murphy & Nash, make their initial bow to the public under the most auspicious circumstances. Their success as such is already assured. FATHER AND SON BANQUET FEB. 8 BOY WORKER SPEAKS R. read the following beautiful lines in honor of Mr. Baker's memory: Life's stars that sink into the west, As one by one we seek our rest, The columns brave and steady tread With banners streaming overhead, Will still keep step as in the past, Until the rear guard comes at last. Ah, yes, as stars o'er take our flight, And whisper one by one good-night, Yet in the light of God's bright day, Triumphant each will say, 'Hail Comrade, here has life begun. The battle's fought—the victory's won.' The following members of the G. A. R. attended the meeting: J. D. White, T. A. Calahan, H. C. Bemis, and T. C. Conklin. The hostesses were Mrs. Wm. Mur ray, Mrs. Wm. C. Hunter, Mrs. C. F. Truax and Mrs. James Johnson. FORMER MINOT NEWSPAPER MAN DIES IN SOUTH Word has been received in Minot of the death of William M. Bowen, former Minot newspaper man, who died at Galveston, Texas, after a brief illness. He was 63 years old. Mr. Bowen came to Minot from the south in 1916 and joined the staff of the Minot Messenger, then published by L. D. McGahan. He later served with The Minot Daily News, going to Billings, Mont., for a time. He re turned to Minot and was identified with the Des Lacs Western Oil Co. as salesman and then returned to the south. At one time he was owner and publisher of The Jamestown Daily All at Jamestown, N. Y. Marriage Licenses Marriage licenses issued over the week end by Judge Murray were for William C. Larson, 24, Minot, and Miss Rlice P. Sylstad, 21, Minot Fay C. DeWitt, 25, Minot, and Miss Clara Ramstad, 25, Minot. The Minot Normal School basket ball ijuint journeyed to Harvev last Friday where they met the Harvey high school team. The Normal five emerged victors by a score of 46-21. This marks the fifth straight victory for the Normal team. The game was fast and clean tnru out only two fouls being called dur ing the game. The first hall' was very close. At the end of fifteen minutes playing the score was tied 14-14. The score at the close of the first half was 22-14 with the Normal team leading. At the beginning of the second half Nichols took Zaharee's place at for ward. The Normal team 'hit their stride' at this period scoring twenty four points to their opponents' sev en. The final score gave the Normal school a victory 46-21. Holden, forward and captain was the star performer for the Harvey quint while Greenfield and King scin tillated for the Normal five. The lineup and summary follows: Harvey Schmidt Wolderi (Capt.) Kafton Bentz I Greenwood Pus. .Minot Normal Zaharee King Greenfield Leighton Opland (Capt.) Field Goals: Wolden 7 Greenwood 3 Greenfield 10 King 7 Nichols (!. I Foul Goals: Wolden, 1 out of 2. Time of halves: 20 minutes. Referee: G. F. Mueller, Minot Normal School. I Remains of Jasper Baker Buried With Masonic Honors The funeral of Jasper Baker- who died Monday, was held from the Ma sonic Temple at 2:30 o'clock Wednes I day afternoon. It was largely at tended by members of the Masonic lodge, under whose direction the 'ser vices were held, and by the W. R. C. and the Jasper Baker Camp, Sons of Veterans, who marched to the Temple in a body. Seven Civil War vet erans and many old friends attended the services. The Masonic Ritualistic services were in charge of the Worshipful'Mas ter, V. E. Stenersen, and other offi cers of Star in the West Lodge. Rev. P. W. Erickson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church delivered the funeral address, paying a beautiful tribute to the memory of Mr. Baker. A Masonic Quartette composed of E. S. Person, J. H. Colton, Carl Daniel son and Leon Ellithorpe rendered sev eral appropriate selections. The re mains were taken to the Rose Hill cemetery where they were laid to rest with Masonic honors. The pall bearers were C. F. Truax, L. A. Corey, Henry E. Byorum, S. J. Rasmugsen, Martin Jacobson, and John Nelson. WHEELER GOES TO BISMARCK WILL PROBE HIGH TAX H. E. Wheeler, city assessor, left for Bismarck Wednesday at the request of Minot taxpayers to ascertain if there are Hot some means by which the tax burden in Minot may be reduced. The taxes on the Leland hotel jump ed from $4,000 to $12,000 in three years and Minot property owners de cided such an increase must have some explanation. Mr. Wheeler will try and find just what it is. 9 DUDLEY L. NASH JOHN COLLIER, KENMAREJMUR DERER, GETS LIFE SENTENCE MINOT NORMAL DEFEATS HARVEY 4* & John Collier, the Kenmare minci known as "Oklahoma Jack," who shot and killed John Reynolds, anothei miner, at Collier's sha^k ^'our miles from Kerf mare, a week a'{!. appeared' before Judge John C. Lowe in district court in Alinot and entered a plea of guilty to murder in the first degree. He was sentenced to life in the state penitentiary at Bismarck. He receiv ed his sentence without giving evi dence that he cared. Collier was drinking hard cider strengthened by yeast a week ago and it made him quarrelsome. He enter ed into an argument with A. Hanson, mine lesse. and shot at Hanson with a rifle. Thomas O'Neill, partner ot Hanson, prevented a fatality by grap pling with Collier and taking his gut) away from him after he had shot twice at Hanson. Collier proceeded to his shack while Hanson and O'Neill went to town with the intention of 'having Collier arrested. On their way to town they met John Reynolds and told him to keep away from Col lier as he was drinking and had a gun. Reynolds disregarded the warning. Collier went into Kenmare the next morning and gave himself up to au thorities, stating that he had killed a man. Reynold's body was found near Collier's shack with four bullet wounds in it. At first Collier said he killed Reynolds in self defense when they I quarreled but later admitted his guilt liamstad DeWitt Nuptials Miss Clara Ramstad. daughter ol I Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ramstad, was I united in marriage to Fay C. DeWitt, at the Bethany church Tuesday morn ing at 10:30 o'clock, Rev. O. L. Jen sen officiating. The bride has lived here all her life. She is a graduate of the Minot high school and the Park Region College at Fergus Falls. Minn. For several years she was connected with the G. N. offices here. The groom is wire chief for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. and came here three years ago from Cal ifornia. The couple left for a week's honeymoon. Featherweight Champion Wants Bout "Jock" Mungavin, featherweight champion pugilist of the Northwest, is endeavoring to get an engagement in Minot soon, enroute to the west where he has signed up for several bouts. His manager is N. F. Tier ney, Fargo, N. D. Mungavin has had bouts in Italy, Paris, New Or leans, St. Louis and St. Paul. Mun gavin has signed to meet Baird, feath erweight champion of the Pacific coast in an eight-round preliminary to the Jack Dempsey championship battle should it go thru. Date for Hearing Set According to an announcement made today by Clerk of Court T. N. Hen derson, the next naturalization hear ing will be held in Minot May 9. Per sons expecting to receive a hearing at that time must have their petitions filed on or before Feb. 7. Awarded S. D. Contract Bartelson & Ness, Minot contract or the construction of a new $70,000 ors, have been awarded the contract high school building at Mcintosh, S. D. There were 30 bids received from contractors in North and outh Dako ta, Minnesota and Iowa.