The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-03-31

In the administration Of pubic affairs
and in the handing Of public funds.
There must be a stem watch in or
der that the public in every instance
gets value received. The one way
to make sure of that, said the
speaker is to exercise the right of
franchise and in every case where
a public seryant fails to live UP to
the rule of economy, vote HIM down
and place another in his position.
Mr.. Chase stated that the office of
the state auditor is place where
information and figures may be CD
tanned by the public he urged that
at any time when doubt on public
matters arises, the public Of Manka-
to avail itself of the advantages Of
his Office.
Here Mr.. Chase finished his re-
marks in a nattering salvo of ap-
plause and r. A. Jensen, presiding
discussion. c. E. Whitney imme-
diately took advantage of the OPP
portunity to ask If it were true that
per capita tax for every president of
the state amounts to $48. The fall
lacy of that point was shown when
it was figured that at that rate. the
state would thave raised So millions
In taxes last year in stead of IL 1-3
millions.
Williams Advocates Insurance
Strangely enough, Theodore Will
liams brought up the subject of in
surance against calamity making
the relief board an unnecessary
feature. Mr.. Williams showed the
advantage chat would have been
true If the Teachers college build
ing had been insured. Mr.. Chase
agreed and hazarded a guess thai it
was probably legislative over
sight when state buildings were not
insured but that he declined all re-
sponsibility as the question was
purely legislative knot for un-
tangling.
that one item in lowering the state
revenue tax for its first time in the
history of the state. The money
formerly expended from this fund
now comes from the trust funds or
the state.
School Discussion Reopened
So far the discussion had not ap-
piled directly to the city of Mankato
and for that reason Chairman Jen-
sen called upon Superintendent e.
s. Selle for some remarks anent
the school tax situation here. He
said that last year the tax levy for
school purposes in Mankato was
twenty three mills but that on ac-
count deficit at the time there was
made a determined effort to remedy
that condition. Five mills were
added to care for the deficit, five
more to guard against such a con-
tingency at another time and five
more to guard against such con.
tingency at another time and five
mills for the equipment of the new
Lincoln building. That brings the
level to thirty eight mills.
A erroneous impression can be
cleaned from the statement that in
late years the tax rate has jumped
201 percent for school purposes. 1t
will be remembered that seven years
ago the rate was at the too low fig
ure of nine mills and that figure Is
now without a parallel in the state.
The total school percentage Of
funds from the tax dollar here is
forty six cents, exactly the aver
age of all cities of this class in the
state and excluding cities on the
range where entirely different con-
ditions exist. -.-.
Meeting Was Alive
In spite Of the popular impression
that taxes make dull subject for
conversation, last nights meeting
was live one and there was none
in the room who did not feel more
. than repaid for his attendance,
There were number of women in
the audience who appeared to be
thoroughly interested in the subject.
The facts were brought out freely.
the talks conducted informally. but
without confusion. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that inclement weather
probably interfered with larger at
tendance although the room was
comfortably filed.