The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-05-14
GOVERNOR CHRIST|ANSON STRIKES
CONSTRUCTIVE NOTE AT FARIBAULT
Opening Address in Campaign for Republican Nomination Empha
sizes Benefits of State Reorganization Plan, and
Conservation of States Resources.

IGSoulSCo lhAOuSh CCOuOuuS III SON-
ernment-was the dominant note of
the address delivered by Governor
Theodore Christianson at Faribault
Wednesday, May u, in opening his
campaign for the Republican nomina-
ton for Governor. He reviewed pro-
gress made along these lines in the
sixteen months he has been at the
head of the State government.
in submitting my candidacy for
reelection" said Governor Christian
son, 81 make overtures to no political
boss and promise obedience to no po-
litical group. | recognize no fealty
but to the people of the state.
/ believe that campaign promises
are made to be kept. Two years ago
l told the people that if they elected
me Governor, would use the power
of the Governors office to check the
mounting cost of government That
promise has been kept / now tell
them that if they re-elect me. / will
continue the job have started. That
promise, too, will be kept.
The kind of economy / stand for
the only kind of economy / believe in
is economy that needs no adjective
or qualification.
submit that there is need for that
kind of economy, and more of it, The
expenditures of government, curtailed
at Washington, have continued to in
crease in most of the States. Gov
ernmental cost payments of the States
increased from less than half bill
lion dollars in 1915 to more than a
billion and a half in 1924; in other
words, the cost of State Government
in the United States more than treb-
led in nine years.
There have been corresponding in
creases in local expenditures. Coun-
ties. townships, cities, villages and
school districts have piled expendi-
ture upon expenditure, until the bur
den is threatening to crush American
industry and enterprise. The total
tax bill OF America, which was $4,000.
100000 in 1913, was S7.500,000,000 in
1923. In ten years the burden almost
quadrupled. In 1913 the taxes paid by
the American people represented Ga
per cent of their income; in 1923, lis
per cent.
And these figures, startling as they
are, do not tell the whole story. Fol
after taxing to the limit, the various
units of government borrowed. In
7 1928, they issued bonds in an aggre
gate amount of $4,000, 100000, bring
ing the total of public expenditures
/ to $10,000,000,0 And, in order that
you may know that the upward trend
has not ceased, let me inform you thai
In 1924, the expenditures of govern
ment in America were a billion dol
lars more than in 1923.
The Federal government has beer
reducing its expenditures, but the
States and their subdivisions are
with a few notable exceptions, still
competing with each other with the
evident purpose of determining which
can spend most without paralyzing the
peoples capacity to pay.
/ said "a few notable exceptions"
I am proud and glad to say that Min
nesota is one of the exceptions. The
upward trend was stopped in our State
in 1925.
The total Biennial appropriations fol
Minnesota in 1915 were $1S,000,000
in 1917 they were $22,000,000; in 1919
$32,000,000; in 1921, s37, 100000; in
1928, more than $40,000,000. In 1925
the appropriations were held dowr
to approximately the same total a:
in 1923, despite the fact that appro
priations for State aid to schools were
increased more than 100000 ovel
those of the previous biennium; those
for eradication of tuberculosis il
cattle nearly $350,000; and those fol
forest fire prevention and reforesta
ton nearly $4,000.
Further, not satisfied with merel,
stopping the upward trend of Stat,
expenditures, the present administra
ion has taken steps to effect reduc
ions. 1t secured the enactment o
law permitting the appointment o
any person already holding Stat,
Sffice to any additional State offic,
without increase of compensation.
Reorganization of State Government
Another step taken by the presen
administration to effect a reduction
expenditures was the beginning o
he reorganization of State depart
lents through consolidation anC
lerging of related activities You
ill note that / said beginning"
sed the word adyisedly, for the pro
ess has not been finished. 1t ha
- My been begun. In fact, the tasl
too big, the readjustments to b,
fected too many, to be completed II
he year, or even in two. The Law
ltempts to merge most of the ninety
20 boards, bureaus and department.
the State government into four
en- major departments. Actually
law effected only paper consoli
tiOnS II is the task of tbe Eoyar
r and the heads of the various de
.rtments to translate each pape
nsolidation into an organic union
at work is progressing as rapid,
may be, but it has not been com
tied. 1t will not be fully accom-
shed for some time
The Budget System.
The third step in the tax reduction
gram was to set up some system
pugh which the Governor nigh
troll the expenditures Of Stat
artments.
he reorganization act gives thu
ternor effective control of State ex
ditures through the Department o
ninistration and Finance. TIL
Iue feature of this system of
cial control is the pre-audit. TIL
lnce Board may grant a requisi
in full, 1t may allow some item
disallow others, and it may re
any item. In other words, j
do anything with a requisitiol
r raise it. 1t can use its power
&c expenditures; it has no pow
aise them.
SSume that you are inWardl