Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-09-15

were told that Mr.. Preus saved the
state two years ago are now wondering
whom he saved it feE::%~
The cost Of government in Minnesota,
according to government statistics, IN
1921 reached the sum Of $l7.8O per cap
tia, as against 1874 in 1915.
For the purpose Of proving my con-
tention I will briefly call your atten.
tion to the case Of the State Board of
Control. Prior to the last session OF
the legislature this board consisted OF
three members appointed by the gov
ernor. Political promises made neces'
sary the re-appointment of the MEMBER
whose term expired right after the last
general election. The candidate op-
DOSING the governor in the last cam
paign stated toward the close Of the
contest. that if elected he would ap.,
noint a woman member Of this board
in the place Of the man whose term
would expire. Whereupon Mr.. Preus
stated that he would do likewise II
elected. Later on when it became nec-
essary to make good his promise, ne rec
commended that the, legislature In.
crease the membership of the Board OF
Control from three to four and that he,
as governor, should sit as the htta
member, and in case Of tie ne snoura
have the deciding vote. This scheme
evidently was too coarse even for tne
most hard-shelled politicians, as 1t
would turn the whole board and It's
sacred transactions into one-man
affair. They finally compromised and
increased the board to five members,
thus adding to the political machine OF
Mr.. Preus, a new unit subject to MS
dictation and political schemes. Mr.
Taxpayer, this one deal represents only
a. few thousand dollars of hundreds Of
thousands that this political machine is
costing you.
Let me call your attention to the fact
that the political machine had num-
Der Of new state jobs created for some
of it's faithful servants, that are mem
bers of the house of representatives,
who are now drawing salaries out OF
the state treasury, not only as members
of the state legislature but also as the
holders Of state jobs-in direct viola
! ton of the state constitution.
! A retrenchment in state expenditures
must be made in the interest of econ
omy. Duplication Of boards at the
state capitol must be done away with;
taxes must be levied according to the
| ability to pay.
Public office is public trust, and
there neverawas time when men high
in office should feel with and under
stand the people, as they should at
"a A ,3sI person with no other business OF
means Of livelihood than politics, and
with no other experience than politics
is unable to know and to see the needs
Of the ordinary business man, the toile1
from the farm, and the laboring man
in the factory.
Brooks Coleman Law
A law under this name was passed
by the last legislature affecting the
Alternating power over street railway
systems by taking it away from the
cities and lodging it in the hands OF
the State Railroad and Warehouse com
mission. It required extraordinary
effort on the part Of the powers that
| be to put the measure over'' The
closest and most influential friends
/ and relatives: Of the governor, and al
| the big politicians, worked overtime
Because, Of this political manipulation
trading and dickering, q majority vote
/ IN both houses Of the legislature was
secured. The city council in the var
ious cities Of Minnesota lost contro
lover their street-car service.
The three members of the Railroad
land Warehouse commission are elected