Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-01-29
MEETING VOICES
MORE ECONOMY
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motion to this effect was adopted. 1t
was further agreed that no speaker
should have the floor for more than
715 minutes at one time on one sub
ject.
Before going into the school dis
trict discussion, however, Commits
sioner F. w. Stepan in an able man
ner addressed the audience for ten
minutes during which he forcefully
brought out the following points:
''The prosperity we have had the past
few years was not real; it was built
On the installment plan, and today
we are paying the installments. Our
taxes did not become excessive in
year, it has taken 10 or IL years to
raise them to the present peak. We can
not reduce them to the old low level in
1 year-it will take many years. We
have the right spirit and the right
start today, and if we all put our
shoulders to the wheel and push to-
gether, material relief will result very
soon. We cannot reduce taxes by
standing on the street corners and
criticising this or that board If we
want reductions we must spend less.
Adopt modified scale of wages for
road work, school faculties, ETC." Mr..
Stepan was called On several times
later during the meeting to answer
questions which he did freely and
ably and evidenced the fact that he
is well posted on county matters.
School Matters Talked.
During the As minutes that were de-
voted to the discussion of school dis
trict matters some very good points
were brought out. 1t was plainly
evident that although the greatest
part of our tax money goes to the
school it is not possible to make much
of a reduction there, for reductions
have already been made and many of
the reports showed that economy with
efficiency was the common watch
words. Upon motion the chairman
was instructed to appoint a commit
tee of five who should meet at once
and draw up a possible resolution for
reduction of expenses. Chairman
Petersen, in conformity with the mo-
ton, appointed David Goranson, Dist.
SO; Carl Andersen, Dist. 20; Louis Oh
sen, Dist. II; Paul Dubbels, Dist. Sc;
and Herman Nortrup, Dist. 81 They
met in an adjoining room and about
so minutes later returned and re-
ported as follows: Taking into con-
sideration the cost of the teachers
living exepnses (board and room)-
$65 plus living expenses is about what
we are now paying. We recommend a
reduction to $3.50 plus board and
room as basis of wages; local con-
ditions and the quality of the teacher
and her length of service must be
considered" This resolution was
signed by the entire committee.
Upon motion it was unanimously
adopted as read.
Township Committee Makes Proposal.
The discussion on township affairs
was introduced by Chris. Frederiksen
of Partridge township. Some of the
points which he brought out were
that townships should club together
in the purchase and use of larger
pieces of machinery; buy collectively;
have uniformity in wage scales and
to endeavor to get value received for
money expended. Reports from var
ious township officials revealed that
the wage scale was now down to a
minimum as far as common labor and
teams were concerned. One party
suggested that the officials themselves
ought to reduce their own wages from
the present So per day schedule to So
per day. E. B. Greenwald from Fin
layson township, showed with facts
and figures that their tax levies for
both township and school purposes
had been reduced and yet their taxes
\ were not reduced. Many took part in
the discussion and in each instance
it showed that the officials had made
reductions and practiced economy
Upon motion the chairman was in
structed to appoint a committee of
five who should meet at once and
draw up possible resolutions. The
following were appointed: E. B. Green
valid, Finlayson; Chas. G. Peterson,
Sturgeon Lake; A. j. Larsen, Norm an;
Nels Liljedahl, Birch Creek; and
Chris. Frederiksen, Partridge. After
about 40 minutes of elaboration the