New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-02-26
REPORT OF SAFETY
BODY MADE PUBLIC
THREE WEEKS ON GOVERNORS
DESK WHILE LEGISLATORS
is cLAMoRINC

IS CLAMORlNG
EXPENDITURES ARE MORE THAN
THREE-FoURTHs OF ONE
MILLION DOLLARS
At last the public of Nfinaesota has
been given an opportunity be read an
account of the war activities and finan-
scial expenditures of. the State Public
Safety Commission. The report al the
commission is before the state legis-
lature and, in. part has been published
in the daily papers. The only really
striking" feature i'm the whole state
ment is the vast amount of money ex-
pended by this body during the short
period of its existence. These ex--
penditures total $756 ,O65.77, according
to the report.
Where Some OF It Went. 81.
Aside from soldiers pay and sus
tenance, the largest item in the general
expense account is for printing: and
publicity. This publicity consisted
largely Of songs of praise for the governor
and malignant ISLANDERS and falsi6ca-
tions directed at his political opponents.
Both city and country newspapers
reeked with publicity matter sent out
by the commission and paid for by the
taxpayers Of the state. 4.
The report shows that it cost $22, 1863
to supply coats and equipment for the
home guards. According to that, the
home guards have been a rather ex-
pensive adjunct to the Public Safety
commission. Besides, at this time there
is pending in the state senate a bill pro-
viding for an appropriation to pay for
the home guard uniforms. Just what
this means. no ordinary citizen has any
means OF knowing. Taxpayers viii
likely remain in the dark on that ques-
ton also.
Salaries.
The report further shows that the
salaries of the commission amounted to
$55, 539, besides $4,000 more to main
tain q labor bureau. Expenses Of the
commission We're set down at So, 40
and Sl2,028 went for miscellaneous:
just what this miscellaneous was the
public is not informed Maybe part
Of it went to Ambrose Tighe who aided
in creating the commission by his legal
advice.
!; Keeping order DURING, the Twin Cits,
street ear strike cost the commission
Sc, 552.81, and forest fire fighting almost
the same amount, Sc, 7l8.4l. The battles
ship Minnesota was given $4,000; The
First, Second and Third Minnesota
Infantry regiments, and the First and
Second Field Artillery were given So, 500
each.
Recollections.
What the commission really accom-
plished by spending this vast amount
of money is not stated in its report.
Perhaps it supposes that all that is too
we'll rubbed into the memory of the
general public to require repeating in
the report.
AS for some Of its deeds and fiomgs,
the citizenry Of Blooming Prairie Will
readily recall. It requires no report
to inform them Of Its activities.
Also there are several Thousand fa1na-
Eers over the state who have vivid recol-
lections Of the activities Of the commits
sion and its county subordinates.
y Likewise the striking street carmen
of the Twin Cities viii have no difficulty
in recalling some of the heroic services
rendered by the knights Of. MCGEE. s &.
People Of New Ulm also have some
strong elections regarding, their.
history of recent date. The names Of
DR.. L. A. Fritsche, Albert Pfaender and
others cannot be wiped from their.
memory. Judge Martin of Olmstead1
county also belongs TO- this group ssof
men. a sr.s 81 &c. sss
SURPRISING - isloyalty''''. IS