The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-02-03
GIGANTIC ROBBERY.
The Cost of Administering State,
County and Local Affairs
in Minnesota,
Rises From 80 Cents Per Capita in 1860. te
$3.47 Per Capita in 1894.-An Increase
of 1884 Per Cent.
Editor Representative.

Editor Representative
Ia 1860 the State of Minnesota
passed from Democratic control to Re-
publican rule, and has so remained
ever since.
At that time, the cost Of admins
tering state. county and local affairs
was $l3S S4S. This was only SO cents
per capita Of the population, and 1911
per 81 900 Of valution.
We find now that it costs several
times more per capita than it did in
1860. To be sure, the total expendit-
ure should be much larger now than
then. The great increase in wealth
and population renders it necessary:
but the injustice lies IN the fact that
our expenditures per head Of pOpula-
tion shows an enormous increase.
In 1894 the total cost of administer
ing state, county and local affairs was
$5,476, 900, being $3.47 per capita and
1857 per $1,000 Of valuation. Stop
right here and compare the two: 80
cents per capita in 1860. and $347 per
capita il 1891. An increase of 334 per
cent per capita, This astonishing in
crease in the cost of merely admins
tering the affairs of the state, no one
can Justify. 1t is a systematized and
cunningly devised steal from the peo-
pie Of Minnesota.
During these years Of Republican
rule salaries have been unnecessarily,
largely increased, and supernumerary
positions created for the apparent rea-
son Of beStOwing salaries on favOriteS.
The state Of Wisconsin for the same
years mentioned QS6o and 1S9D shows
dor nf to nd
"a per cent per $1,000 Of valuation in
administrative expenses. The great
state Of Illinois only shows an Increase
of l5 per cent per capita and % per
cent per 1000 of valuation.
Why should expenses in Minnesota
outrun both the increase in popula-
tiOn and the increase in amount Of
property taxed to pay those expenses?
If Wisconsin has managed not to
have her administrative expenses in
crease per capita surely Minnesota
could have done the same thing, if
she had SO desired.
The cost Of administering public af
fairs should not cost the people one
half of what they do now. Here is a
reform that is imperatively needed.
There is no good reason why all salar-
les from the governor down should
lOU llOW UC ICuuC dU lCdSU OlC- HAIL,
The income derived from salaries have
been doubled under the operations of
the present financial system, when val
ued in the productions of the country
And the incomes Of the producers, as
represented in money. have been cut
in two. Hence the reduction Of salar-
les would simply be an act of justice
to the producer. During the election
campaign we were told of the dire dis
asters that were sure to come upon us
if we electedJoh Lind and a free silver
Legislature. And in glowing colors
were spread before us the pictures Of
prosperity and happy contentment
the people were to enjoy if the Repub-
licanS we're again returned to power.
Now what are they going to do about
it? All the power asked for was given
them. VIII they use it for the good
OF the whole people, or will they use
1t for the purpose of more firmly en-
trenching the party in power and the
agrandiSement of party adherents?
Time will tell. 1t will be safe to ex-
pect nothing in the way of reform
Expenses will be kept up: appropria-
tions enlarged and taxes increased.
Let labor bend his back. and receive
and carry the load that is being pre-
pared for him, and murmur not, for
he voted for his task k-maSter.
d. @. GATES.
Mantorville, Mimi.