Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-10-30
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his attempt to put an additional burden
on the farmers and workers OF TINS
state, by reducing the taxes on the
Steel Trust.
His statement in regard to the
Brooks-Coleman law, shows con-
clusively his sympathy with the PRIV
legged interests and his willingness to
tell half of the truth about this ne
farious measure.
The Brooks Coleman law paved the
way for the injection of about Slo,-
OO0. 900 of water into the value OF the
Minneapolis Street Railway company.
If we were to condemn the property
and take it over at its present Valu-
alton. we would certainly get very
poor bargain.
Mr.. Therrien states that only few
politicians in Minneapolis and St.
Paul desire the repeal of this act.
There is no doubt that if the people
of the Twin Cities were given the
right to vote upon the question of re-
peal it would pass in both cities, by
an overwhelming majority. He has
evidently been coached by his friend,
Willis l. Norton, the author Of the So
! called Brooks-Coleman bill
| 1t is true that the street car sys-
tens of many cities, have been placed
under such commissions as the Rail-
road and Warehouse commission, and
! this condition has been brought about
| by the Street Railway companies
! themselves, thus adding to the al
ready heavy burdens of the car riders.
Mr.. Therrien can be depended upon
to stand for every demand that the
public utility corporations make. His
record is consistently pro-corporation.
1t is a fact that the so-called Re-
classification of Buses bill passed the
senate unanimously. But that is only
evidence that the senate was asleep
at the switch. Certainly, the bill did
not pass the house unanimously. Mr..
Therrien forgot to tell his constituents
that the vote in the house was ~ for
the bill and As against it. A change
! of seven votes would have defeated
the bill and it is not improbable that
had ii not been for the fact that when
the debate was getting warm, this
great friend of the people of Pine coun-
ty in particular and the state in gen.
eral, moved the Previous Question,
thus shutting off further debate! A
most contemplate trick, showing
again where this Representatives sym
pathies lie.
He explains that this was an amend
ment, correcting a mistake. The
facts are that it relieved the Street
Railway company of a perfectly just
tax of $4,000 a year.
Mr.. Therrien grossly misrepresenti
the facts in connection with my bill
for a constitutional amendment to per.
nit the state to engage in the power
and light business. That bill did mo-
authorize the issuance of a single dol
lar of bonds. 1t proposed a constitu
tional amendment which of course hat
to be submitted to the voters of TIT
state and passed by majority of al
of the votes cast at the election. TIL
bill provided that if the people rati
. fed il by their votes, some future leg
islature-should it desire to put thu
law into effect-would be authorizes
to issue bonds for S5O,eO0, 900 for tina
purpose. OF course, the amendmen
would be utterly useless if il did no
provide some financial means to carr
out its provisions.
If Incorporated in our constitution
this measure would do more to regu
late the eXtortionate rates of tn
power companies, than all the com
missions that ever existed.
1t is interesting to recall that Nj
Therrien was one of the co-authors G
E this bill in the session of 1923-seve
short years ago,
I At that time, he probably had nc
gotten his bearings
| 1t is we'll to bear in mind that
the bonds provided for in my bill
were issued. they would be on a goin
concern and would be paid off in te
[ years, if the state were to collect tn
:. eXtortiOnate rates now collected by tn
: private power companies. Then tn
o1ettN NOuld ICduSS Tic diSS WHICH W
now pay, better than Sc % per cen
Mr.. Therrien signs himself You
. sincere servant" If his letter ha
been addressed TO the Mining compi
MES or the Street Railway compan.
: or the Power companies or to bi
tax dodgers or to any others VIII
wish TO use the public estat
hshment for private ends. h
closing would have been entirely CO.
Il rect. But being addressed to til
l. workers and farmers of Pine count
II il is nothing short of mockery.
u If the citizens of Pine county desir
to serve themselves and the people
. the state, in the interest of publ
= welfare, they will retire Joseph
Therrien TO private life on Novemb.
4, and send to the legislature in h
place Hjalmar Petersen of Askov.
S. A. STOCkWELL.
Minneapolis October %. 1880.
II RUTLEDGE