The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-10-02

increase, but as the city's governing
body this increase Of course reflects its
vain for even the slightest effort by
the council majority to effect econo-
mics or to sound demand for cur
hand. 1 found that It is the councifs
policy Of day labor work on city
projects, together with other methods
and systems it has inaugurated which
astonishing increases in the city's
taxes and bonded debt.
Increase In Employees
AS indicating that it does not seem
city council to protect the taxpayers
by limiting the number, who get onto
the city's pay rolls, the 1928 annuol
mission shows that the number of
names on the city,s pay roll increased
was 1917, to 1918 for August, 1928.
names on the city's pal roll in six
years and practically all of these en-
ployes directly or indirectly are UNI
der the control Of the, city council.
eliminate unnecessary employees from
the states pay rolls and also his state
ment of desire to transfer the infiu-
ence of the Minneapolis city council to
way employees on thee city pay rolls
have been increasing in numbers, it
would not seem as If the state can ex-
pect much relief in the way Of cur
tailment Of useless employees from the
Olson administration.
The Day Labor System
| found that one of the chief rea-
sons why the cost of practically all
city projects has increased to the add
ed burden of the city Taxpayers is due
to the policy of the city council of US
ing the day labor system in place of
contract work on all city projects. This
system has tended greatly to increase
the number of city employees, to delay
the completion of city work and ia
system is one which the Socialist and
radical labor majority on the council
not only advocate. but fight for. It
is quite apparent that if their influence
that one of the first things insisted
upon would be to introduce this day
LABOR system into state projects. Con-
slderlng the way the system works
the state it would, by introducing the
radical labor union method of work
ana system, increase the number of
state employees amazingly and increase
every department of the state govern
ment. Here are some instances Of how
TINS system which is the pet demand
OF o. ME- Mr.; Olson's political associates on
on projects in the city:
The Ryan Baths
InlS was project located on the
river east of Hennepin Avenue bridge
In the face of objections that the day
labor system would add unnecessarily
70 the burden of the taxpayers the
socialist and radical laborities on the
council forced it's construction by day
labor. The record shows that the pro-
Ject cost from 25 to 40 thousand dol
lars more than it would have cost if
the day-labor system, wasteful and po-
lIt1cal in character. had not been used.
There is no record anywhere that Mr..
Olson's political associates on the
council objected to this extra expense
IN y tne contrary, the records show that
1t was the radical labor element, led
oy Alderman Scott in the council that
insisted on the use of the day-labor-
In 1921 Comfort Station was erect
ca at seven Corners on Washington
avenue. AT the time it was built the
council had on file in the Building In
structure and contract estimate of
$4,000. The radical Iaborities forced
the construction of this Comfort sta
t tton on on 20. day labor basis and it cost
Filtration Plant
IN the face of protests against the
expense, the Socialist and labor radi-
ahead to build this large project bS
day labor. The estimated cost of the
plant is $2,6000O0 and it will take two
years to finish it. The plant is located
If the experience with other projects
handled by these radicals is anv cri
ter1on and with the day-labor system
as an avenue to dump money, it is
quite probable that before the project
is finished it will have cost the tax
payers million and half or two mil
non dollars more than it ought to cost
90 Just to show how these radicals are
starting out with this project, they
paid $4,000 for tract of land upon
which to build it. The Real Estate
Board Valuation Committee brought
to prevent the council paying sSS 00S
for the tract, as the estfmted value
OF the tract was only $4,000. Ths
s SUIT came on in December, 1928. The
Board, although it agreed that $4,000
| was an excessive price to paw Ths
court said that it had no right to over.
RUE the c1uncils action except il
In the purchase. While this was an
parent, it could not be proved. Wher
IT is recalled that the council possessed
the power 10 condemn the property ant
purchase 1T on valuation disinterest
edly arrived at and when it appear.
that a responsible board valued tn,
property at only $4,000, the action O.
tract merely indicates las reckless atti
tude in the matter of economy and /,
more or less prophetic of what an ar
| IisIlc yoD OF Sklnn1ng the taxpayers /,
| TO De done by these radical labor lead
ers before this nearly three million dol
| lar project is completed.
II the kind of administration thes,
| socialist and radical labor leaders hay,
peen giving Minneapolis in the way O.
eHclency and economy is the system
Mr.. Olson tells us would be trans
rerred to the states capitol after Jan
| uary l, the taxpayers of Minnesots
can well ask themselves what I'll.
change is going to mean to them. Sun
pose, for example, the states roaf
building system is turned over to suci
management. The state is engaged II
building 1000 miles of road. Tn,
work is all being done by contract af
ter competitive bidding. There is nt
such thing as contract work or com
pet1t1ve bidding in any Of these Bis
| projects now being managed by th1
Socialist leaders of the Minneapoli,
city council. There seems little cues
ton but that if Mr.. Olson is elected
governor, the influences closest to hin
VII! be the influences which are now
backing him in his home city of Min
| neapolls. Is 1T then unfair to assum,
that when Mr.. Olson becomes govern,
or these labor policies. which are hit
opportunity to extend and expand a,
the men responsible for the poIicie,
come into the management Of the state
| of Minnesota?
The Auditorium
Minneapolis has voted bonds for ar
Auditorium to cost three million dol
lars. 1t is one of the largest project.
| ever undertaken by the city. TIL.
council, led by Alderman Scott AMI