The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-26
The Business Of a. Congressman.

We have been told here in this con-
gressional district that congressman s
principal business was to get things
for his district; that his prominence
and influence in shaping national legis-
lation was a matter Of comparative in,
significance: .'' '. {
If this theory of a congressman g use
fulness and value to his district is cor
rect, Minneapolis ought to have almost
anything she might have been disposed
to ask for. If that theory is right,
Minneapolis ought to have buildings
adequate to accommodate the work Of
the postoffice department here, and all
other federal business. It ought to ap.
pear that the government investment
here was commensurate with the i'm
portance Of the city and the amount Of
business done, and that Minneapolis
was well equipped in this respect by.
comparisons, with other cities. OF course
everyone knows that Minneapolis is not
so. equipped. but probably not many
know how unfairly we have been
treated, how, in fact, we have suffered
| by comparison with other cities In this
respect; but such information is given
in a detailed statement published in
another column. The figures; are from
official sources. * 8 &, =. Hi : !
| From this statement 1t appears that
Minneapolis Is returning the govern
ment more per annum on each dollar
invested in government property in this
city than any other Of twenty-five
cities Of approximately the same i'm
portance, and nearly double the amount
| returned by. st. Paul, Furthermore,
/ it appears that the annual increase On
the return in this city Is more than
three times the increase in st. Paul.
While St. Paul is returning sixty-five
cents on each dollar Of the 1885, 92
invested in that city in government
property, Minneapolis is returning $1.27
on each of the $9s2,27o invested here.
The per. capita receipts Of the govern
ment in. Minneapolis, based on the CEN
sus returns Of 202,713 in Minneapolis
are $6.19, while in st. Paul they are
only $4.64 on population Of l69,065
The gross income for the government
in Minneapolis in 1905 was 81, PA JAP
and in st. Paul $757, 616. And yet, the
government has invested in st. Paul
nearly 100000 more money in govern.
ment property used for civil purposes
than in Minneapolis. = - ..s fl. 7x
| Our representative in congress la
bored hard with the committee. early
in this session and secured it's consent
to an allowance Of 100000 for. site
for a., much-needed postoffice in Min
neapolis-less than one-ffth Of what
such site would probably cost. Mean
= while, the St. Paul representative
added $4,000 for further work on thu
St. Paul building, and North Dakota
congressman secured $125,000 for addi
tions to the postoffce in Grand Forks
) Thru the aid Of an eastern Congressman
interested largely in. Minneapolis real
ty, the allowance for Minneapolis wa
subsequently raised to $4,000. -
: Senator Nelson will undertake to in
crease the appropriation for Minneap
oils to approximately an adequate :fig
}. ure BY adding $25o,ooo to the bill i,
the senate. Whether he will succee,
: remains to be seen, but Senator Nelson
, is an influential man in that body an,
!, can accomplish this feat if anyone can
If it is true-as we have been told
that congressman IS principal bushes
is to secure appropriations for his dis
Itrict WIN doesn II this district oe
: one who can play the game9