Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-02-12
TAX REDUCTION
TALKED AT MEET
Continued from Page u

present. that they are controlling.
But must waive their right to vote on
the other candidates In this case
the other representatives can only
vote for the number of committee
members not elected by this group.
Il presume we will be able to make
arrangements so as to elect repre-
SentativeS the same day we are hav-
ing our annual township and village
elections and the clause in regard
to minoritys right to representation
must also be effective here.
In regard to the financial part of
this organization, why not buy this
organization on trial and try to run
it for time on voluntary contribu-
tons
There are three things | consider
essential for the success of an or
ganization of this nature:
Election must be done by ballot,
electing by reclamation or appointing
are some of the fundamentals of gang
rule We must recognize the minor
ity's right to representation, it is only
Justice, and it is one of the best
weapons against the extreme and
dangerous radicalism.' Party politics
must be kept out of the organization.
This organization must, if possible,
cooperate with other organizations of
similar nature in other counties.
in election years candidates for
political offices may be allowed a
limited time fer reading a paper be-
fore the convention, explaining their
stand on issues and their political
program. But, a sealed and true copy
of same should be in the hands of the
secretary at least two days before the
annual meeting, so as to give all can
didates an equal chance"
Many Give Views.
Geo. W. Empey of Hinckley, gave a
short talk on the tax situation in gen.
eral with suggestive remedies; he OBJ
jected to the organization proposed
by Mr.. Frederiksen, and advocated
utilization with a statewide movement
which is already under way.
Mrs. Alex Thieman of Pine City
township, favored the Frederiksen
plan but stated that we were assem-
bled primarily to suggest to our Of
ficials that there be a substantial re-
ductiOn in salaries of county officials
and to reduce expenditures in general.
At this point it was decided to limit
each speaker to seven minutes at one
time on one subject.
Inasmuch as County Commissioner
F. W. Stepan had been instrumental
in originating this meeting, the chair
man called on him for a talk on the
tax situation in Pine county in gen.
eral. Mr.. Stepan, in accordance with
his custom, responded and gave an ac-
count of things in general. Among the
points brought out by him there can
be very briefly mentioned the fol-
lowing: I'VE have in the past several
years been setting a scale of eXpend-
itures that is now in excess of our in
come; we can blame only ourselves
for the present high tax rates; the
laws of the state govern nearly all
county expenditures; the county board
has complete control of road and
bridge fund, and this fund is in much
better financial condition today than
Tor many years past, $4,000 in road
and bridge bonds have been paid;
commissioners have been flooded with
petitions and delegations demanding
improvements, which in the past
years have been granted, causing
overdrafts; not so many demands now;
the fund is now on cash basis; with
less interest to pay and not so many
demands for improvements there will
soon be reduction i'm the tax burden:
recommended endorsement of a state
income tax law" Mr.. Stepan's talk
was instructive and interesting and
he was granted extra time to bring
his message out.
Mrs. Val Schott of Hinckley, cited
several facts and figures from the tax
records of her district which needed
investigation. She was against the
state income tax.
Mrs. Alex Thieman spoke on school
expenditures for supplies and fixtures.
advising not to make expenditures
unless they were absolutely necessary
even though such expenditures may
have been recommended by inspec-
tors
E. B. Greenwald of Finlayson town.
ship, stated that the meeting was not
for the purpose of ironing out griev-
ances but to devise ways and means
for getting tax relief; cited facts and
figures from his township which
showed that it was the delinquent
taxes that were causing a high rate
for those left to pay; increased valu-
alton causes delinquency. He sug-
Sested lower valuation as means of
getting people to pay their taxes
w. Abrahamson of Cloverdale, stat
ed that the meeting was not gathered
to reduce salaries, but should try to
curtail expenditures and eliminate
unnecessary expenditures such as the
school officers meeting which he con-
sidered worthless and only caused ex-
pense; the assessors meeting was al
so cited as being worthless and only