Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-08-28
GOV. EBERHARDT'S REPLY
TO w. E.sLEE'S CHARGE.
The Governor Does Not Believe Ex-
penditures Could be Cut Without
DAMAGE to States Welfare.

suggest that you publish Governor
Eberhart's reply to Mr.. Lee, in or
der that your readers may have an
opportunity to see both sides Of the
controversy. I believe there are two
sides to every question, and we
should not take everything for grant
ed what these opponents to the gov
ernor have to say. I believe that
much good has been accomplished
during Governor Eberhart's admins
tration, but some say that the gov
ernor should not be credited with
what the legislature has done, but if
that is so, then why do they criticize
him for what the legislature has fail
ed to do?
The governors reply to Mr.. Lee is
as follows:
The Governors Statement.
my attention has been called to
the report Of political meeting held
by Mr.. Lee, a candidate for governor
Of this state, in which the statements
attributed to Mr.. Lee are not only
misleading, but many Of them abso-
lutelv without foundation in fact. If
Mr.. Lee is correctly reported. he dis
PLAYS the grossest ignorance with re-
ference to the governmental affairs
Of this state, and his remarks, when
compared with the records of the au-
dltor and treasurer constitute such
Islander Of the state as will be re-
sented by every loyal citizen. The
voters Of the state are entitled to all
the facts and 1 respectfully ask to
place them before the public verified
by the statements of the state audit
or and treasurer.
'ln the first place, it is a we'll
known fact, that all the appropria-
tons which Mr.. Lee discusses, are
made by the state legisla ture, and
that there is no other BODY in the
state authorized. under our constitu-
ton and laws, to appropriate money
for any purpose whatsoever. Any
effort on the part Of Mr.. Lee, there
fore, to charge the responsibility for
such appropriations to any other
body or individual, and to base his
candidacy for governor thereon, is
SO unfair and unjust as to require no
further comment.
1.-The state tax rate four years ago
is given by Mr.. Lee as l.5 mills,
whereas in fact, it was 81 mills, as
compared with 2.65 mills for the year
1911, exclusive Of the l.23 mills
school tax. The additional increase
consists largely Of .25 mills for con-
structing the new state prison and
20 mills for roads and bridges. It
would, therefore, b. interesting for
the voters to learn from Mr.. Lee if
he proposes to strike off these items
IN order to reduce the tax levy to
what it was four years ago.
CHARGES STATEMENT AS MIS-
LEADING.
"Mr. Lee further states that the
state expenses last year amounted to
over $13,000,000' No statement could
be more misleading. If by Expenses
Mr.. Lee means disbursements, he is
about 100000 short, and if hc
means actual expenses for the run
ming Of all state institutions and the
cost Of the state government, his fig
ures are about 100000 too large.
The reports of the state treasurer
and state auditor show that the act
ual revenue disbursements for the
fiscal year ending July 81, 1912, were
$8,276,552.54, while the total dis
bursements for the same fiscal year
were $16,320,065.4l. Based on the
population Of Minnesota according to
The census Of 1910, the total per
capital expenses Of the state would,
therefore, be 1898, according to the
report Of the state treasurer, instead
of more than $685. as Mr.. Lee as
serts.
'However, in the above statement
OF revenue expense are included two
items, one for $4,000 reducing the
Indebtedness on the new state capitol
and another for 81, 55l 900, as spec
ial aid to public schools. Deducting
these items, there would be $780,
532.54 for all other expenses, max
ing the actual cost Of the state gov
eminent for the fiscal year ending
July 81, 1912, 1913 per capita.
MANY NEW DEPARTMENTS.
ut is true that the state is collect
ing and disbursing much larger sums
now than it did ten years ago. With
in that period Minnesota has estab-
lished departments and institutions
which have placed her among the
most progressive states in the union.
Mr.. Lee claims to be progressive. Yet
he would restrict expenditures so as
to retrace every progressive step
taken during the last ten years.
"Among the disbursements listed
by Mr.. Lee as Expense are the fol-
lowing items: $2,028,457.35 loaned
by the state to school districts, town.
ships, villages, cities and counties, as
an investment; $2,022,41626 appor-