The St. Paul echo., 1926-05-15
GOVERNOR CHR|STIANSON STRIKES
Constructive NOTE AT FARIBAULT
Opening Address in Campaign for Republican Nomination Epha
sizes Benefits of State Reorganization Plan, and
Conservation of States Resources.

Protection Of the resources of Min
nesbta-of her natural resources
through conservation and of her tax
resources through economy in gov
ernment-was the dominant note Of
the address delivered by Governor
Theodore Christianson at Faribault
Wednesday, May IL, 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.
I'm submitting my candidacy for
reelection" said Governor Christian
son, Il make overtures to no political
boss and promise obedience to no po-
litical group. 1 recognize no fealty
but to the people Of the state.
I believe that campaign promises
are made to be kept. Two years ago
I told the people that if they elected
me Governor, I would use the power
Of the Governors office to check the
mounting cost of government. That
promise has been kept. / now tell
them that II they re-elect me, will
continue the job have started. That
promise, too, will be kept.
The kind of economy I stand for
the only kind Of economy believe in
is economy that needs no adjective
or qualification.
I 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 q bill
lion dollars in 1915 to mere 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 $780, 100000 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, 11.5
per cent.
And these figures, startling as they
are, do not tell the whole story. For
after taxing to the limit, the various
units of government borrowed. In
1928, they issued bonds in an aggre-
gate amount of $4,000, 100000, bring
ing the total of public expenditures
to $10,000,000,000. And, in order that
you may know that the upward trend
has not ceased, let me inform you that
in 1924, the expenditures of govern
ment in America were billion dol
lars more than in 1928.
The Federal government has been
reducing its expenditures, but the
States and their subdivisions are,
with a few notable excep. Ions, still
competing with each other with the
evident purpose of determining which
can spend most without paralyzing the
peoples capacity to pay.
I said "a few notable exceptions.
am proud and glad to say that Min
nesota is one Of the exceptions. The
upward trend was stopped in our State
in 1925. >..t.ee..,s....='
The total biennial appropriations for
Minnesota in 1915 were $1S,0OO,0
in 1917 they were $22, 900, 900; in 1919,
$32,000,000; in 1921, $37,0O0,0O0; in
1923, more than 100000 In 1925
the appropriations were held down
to approximately the same total as
in 1928, despite the fact that appro-
priations for State aid to schools were
increased more than 100000 over
those of the previous biennium; those
for eradication of tuberculosis in
cattle nearly $350,0O0; and those for
forest fire prevention and reforesta-
ton nearly $4,000.
Further, not satisfied with merely
stopping the upward trend of State
expenditures, the present administra-
ton has taken steps to effect reduc-
tions. 1t secured the enactment of
law permitting the appointment of
any person already holding State
office to any additional State office
without increase of compensation.
Reorganization of State Government.
Another step taken by the present
administration to effect a reduction
of expenditures was the beginning of
the reorganization Of State depart
ments through consolidation md
merging of related activities. You
will note that I said beginning. l
used the word advisedly, for the pro-
cess has not been finished. 1t has
only been begun. In fact, the task
is too big, the readjustments to be
effected too many, to be completed in
one year, or even in two. The law
attempts to merge most of the ninety.
two boards, bureaus and departments
OF the State government into four
teen major departments. Actually,
the law effected only paper consoli-
dations. 1t is the task of the Cover
nor and the heads of the various de-
partments to translate each paper
consolidation into an organic union.
That work is progressing as rapidly
as may be, but it has not been COM
pleted. It will not be fully accom-
plished for some time.
The Budget System.
The third step in the tax reduction
program was to set up some system
through which the Governor might
control the expenditures Of State
departments.
The reorganization act gives the
Governor effective control of State ex-
penditures through the Department of
Administration and Finance. The
unique feature of this system of f.
nancial control is the pre-audit. The
Finance Board may grant requisi-
ton in full, it may allow some items
and disallow others, and it may re-
duce any item. In other words, it
may do anything with requisition