The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-01-06
DOES BIG BUSINESS
RUN STATE MACHINE?
Continued from Page 1,

Continued from Page 1.
fusal he can retire, more or less grace
fully, to obscurity.
The death of George WEIGH, COM
missioner of immigration, and the ap-
pointmeut Of his successor, has turned
public attention to that office, and in
this connection it is interesting to
know that a reporter of the st. Paul
Dispatch, in his investiga tons, found
that the funds of that office had been
paid out to employees Of other depart
ments.
Drew Two Salaries.
That Fred Sherman, who is at pres
ent chief clerk in the office, drew
money from its treas when he was
employed as a clerk in the state aud
itor's office; that Jim Larson, assist
ant secretary of state, was paid
$lO7.35 as expenses on a trip to Oma-
ha: that George La Fond, at present
first assistant in the state treasurer's
office, was paid $1S2.53, for lex
penses to- the farmers congress-"
There is no information contained
In the vouchers on which this money
was paid to give the outsider any idea
of where this Farmers congress was
held, or at what time. A peculiar
thing about this payment was that the
voucher was made out to George l..
Fond.
Paid Under Another Name.
George La Fond has been on the
payrolls at the capitol for many years
and it looks suspicious, to say the
least, when he draws money from the
office in which he is regularly en-
ployed, under another name.
Under another date Jim Larson ap-
pears as drawing the sum of $92.S4,
there being no explanation as to what
this sum was for. In addition to that,
in some manner, the stenographer's
salary in the secretary of states Of
flee and the immigration office ap-
pear to be in a decidedly mixed state,
she drawing money from both offices.
Governor Eberhart was interviewed
concerning this state of affairs and
said, without hesitation, that all ex-
penditures made met with his approx
al; that the money was spent for nee
essary work; that the charges were
not exorbitant, and he approved them
all.
Julius Schmahl Explains.
Julius Schmahl appeared as the en-
palmer for the administration. He
said that Jim Larson didn't have any,
thing to do in particular at the times
when he had drawn money out Of the
immigration office and that George
Welch's father"in-law was fatally ill
at the time so Jim attended to
Georges duties.
1t is question of course how often
Mr.. Welch's father-in-law was fatally
Ill, but on every occasion Jim Lar
son was there with the goods. The
stenographer mixup was explained by
the fact that the stenographer in ques-
ton was originally in the immigration
office and was afterwards transferred
to his office, when she was attached
to his payroll and received money
from the secretary of state.
They Do Not Explain.
Mr.. Schmahl did not tell why it was
that George La Fond drew money
as George L. Fond. He probably didn't
know the reason. Governor Eber-
hart did not explain, it is noticed, he
simply approved. and the taxpayers
of the state should be highly gratified
because of this aprpovel
We take it for granted that the
governor of Minnesota would not be
party to any deceitful dealings. nor
to any expenditure Of public funds
which would be discreditable to the
state: His approval puts this entire
matter straight before the public of
course. If it were not for this, it
would have an exceedingly dubious
appearance.
Fixing St. Louis County.
1t is now in the same class as the
cross-eyed girl Of whom it was said:
"She is good girl, all right, but she
looks crooked"
For some time past there have been
remorse Of discomfort and threatened
insurrection against the administra-
ton in st. Louis county and every ef-
fort has been made to promote har-
mOny and, to get the workers in line
by the administration, and it's cohorts,
To assist to this end, the work of re-
storing the Blashfield frescoes in the
main corridor OF the capitol was given
to Engel & Co.. of Duluth s. ~ z.:
No competitive bids were asked for
the doing of this work. but Fred
Engels who is paymaster Of the state
naval reserves at Duluth was given
ar, open. sort of contract by which
ne was to do: the work and charge
practically what he pleased for it.
Engel's Bill Startling.
The understanding was that q COM
splete restoration could be made for
something like $500 or $500 and as
/: Duluth, must be placat tod Engles got