The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-10-02
Floyd OIsOn'S Plan Of
Government in Minne-
ap0Iis Proves Costly

self an L. w. w. 1 will have more to
say about Alderman Scott later on in
this report.
Alderman Scott is also in charge of
Mr.. Olson's campaign in Minneapolis
and Hennepin county.
The other twelve members on the
council are Republicans and Demo
Gratis and have no general working re-
conservative as against the sourteen
radical and Socialist members. The
twelve minority members are: Mauer,
aawley, Chase, Currie, Fruen, H. A.
Sheffield, Robb and Buck.
The Council
1 found that the Minneapolis city
council is a much more important ad
m1nlstrative body than perhaps is gen.
orally known. 1t is the chief govern
ing body of a city of approximately
100000 people and it has large pow
ers. Last year the city in all it's de-
partments spent thirty millions of dol
lars.
This is more money by One-third
than the state legislature apprOp-
rated for the use Of the entire
state of Minnesota i'm the same
period.
The council meets regularly in a
special assembly room Of it's own in
the big court house. It's sessions are
as deliberate as those of legislature
and most Of the members devote their
entire time the year around to alder
~
$1,000 per year each.
The Socialist and radical labor ma
Jor1ty completely dominates the coun-
Gil. The influence of these leaders L
1t was a potent and growing influence
even before these leaders came to act
ually control the council. This influ-
ence for example asserted itself in the
election OF Thomas Van Lear as mayor
ten or more years ago and 1 found
many evidences that it has been an
influence that has had the power to
oeIermlne and shape governmental
decade.
Practically all Of the policies
and methods of administration
which have been growing up in
Minneapolis for years and which
MI. Olson told us are ''Farmer-
Labor policies, as he understands
Farmer-LabOr" policies to be,
have been cemented firmly and as
a matter of regular administrative
ence.
-, TT, This is the reason why Mr.. Olson is
right when he claimed for the present
majority of the council the credit for
the existing conditions in Mnneapo-
us, Notwithstanding these Socialistic
entire control Of the council during ali
the years the conditions have been de-
veloping.
"Farmer-Labor" council in Minnesnos
lis In the matter Of efficiency and eco
nomy OF administration? There are
some VINO doubtless will dismiss or
council if it's record of management of
the city has been efficient, business
IKE and economical. There is no mat
Fer fertS OF government which so vitality af-
IectS farmers and other citizens of
our state today as the kind Of mar.
agenent winch leads to tax reductions.
From what Mr.. Olson told us at the
department of the Minneapolis civ
councils activities marked econom,
les IN behalf of the people and a def
mite and pronounced policy of tax re-
L was surprised to find that the
exact opposite is the case.
After investigating the conditions in
Md MI. that have developed UNI
ger the management of the city's af-
talrs by the Socialistic and radical la
oor leadership controlling the citv
Sc42a ua do not believe that if MI.
the poip pans af yis to the state capitol
methods of his political associates of
the Minneapolis city council, as he
SAID ne hoped to do, that the taxpay-
relief ueh LAX
On the contrary, it is my opinion
aIter looking into the matter carefuIIy
and dmpa nf that if the business
/ =
CT are transferred to the management,
or the states affairs that it could have
nc NO q fta effect than to boost the taxes
experienced or suffered.
oase this opinion upon the circum.
stance, easily apparent to anyone VIII,
M Min ao0a into o3+ the matter that the
/ rected as it is by Mr.. Olson,s noliti.
cal associates and campaign leaders !.
acIiveiy and openly committed to the
sb oIfar h taDor policy of shorter ant
es, with less and less output.
| Onoer the operation of this poll
| cy the number of employees in the
ely ely mas been increased beyond any
| legltlmate need, the expense of civ
government has jumped up, while
| taxes and bond issues to cover ex-
penditures have doubled. My in
na t OF this matter leads
| or Minneapolis arouses itself to
| Wnat is going on and takes steps
| 70 curb the extravagances and the
Gil, the influence Of which Mr.. o.
son told us he wanted to transfer
70 state affairs, that the time is
h hon Iar distant when they will
Inc farmers OF Todd county think
their taxes have been increasing rapid
~ OF late years. After looking int
wo oad mas h deveio ped in Minneapolis,
L
would like to change places and No,
minneapolis taxes for q while. remem
| perlng, too, that the Minneapolis ia,
situation is directly traceable to tn.
influence and management of the lead
ers who are now highest in the conn.
sels or MIR. Olson and whom it is req.
| sonable to suppose would be high n
administrative affairs of the state aftel
next January: Here is how Mr.. OF
sons political associates on the Min.
| neapolis city council are keeping doWr
taxes In that city. The figures are
oHlciai and have taken them from
| the 1924 report Of the Minneapoli.
Board OF Estimate and Taxation:
SSity taxes !SlS ............$ 8,574.57!
SS;t taAes !SdS ............ 11.S27,12:
SSity taAes iS1u ............ 13,037,31:
NS.ty tdAos !S11 ............. 18,97025,
City taxes 1928 ............ i6.4i9i5i
A hundred per cent increase in taxe,
Tor city purposes alone in six year,
doesn't look as If the council was max.
ing economy one Of its chief concerns
| neither does it appear from the actua
record that the farmers of Minnesota
| could expect much in the way Of taa
reduction results il the influence Of the
Minneapolis city council is transferred
| to the states capitol.
AS matter of fact, this hundred
per cent increase in the city's taxes
In six years does not indicate the
whole story of city spending because
| found in studying the same official re-
port that In the same period, that is
from 1913 to 1928 inclusive, the bond
ed debt of the city had increased from
~ million dollars to so million dollars