davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-11-11

SiGy VI Ely, MllIleSOJd.
Gentlemen:
We, your Committee of the Whole, to
whom certain matters were referred,
beg to report and recommend as fol-
lows:
l. That the communication from the
County Auditor relative to quar-
tiers in the Ely City Hall for the
Commissioner of the 4th District
be accepted and filed and the City
Clerk be instructed to reply that
all offices in the City Hall are nov
occupied.
2. That the communication and re-
port of the Industrial Commission
in the case of Matt Muhvich be
accepted and filed and the City
Clerk be directed to reply that with
the payment to be made covering
the current month the City will
have completed its payments in ac-
cordance with the Findings of
Fact and Award of Compensation
as made by the Commission and
that the case be closed.
8. That the claim of Riley Whitmore
for damages to his automobile be
referred to the City Attorney with
instructions to investigate and re-
port at the next regular meeting
4. That the proper officers be auth
orized to issue warrants to advance
funds for expense accounts to the
City officials who are to attend the
hearings before the Minnesota Tax
Commission on November 10, 1892
in amounts not to exceed $500 to
each person and to require an
itemized verified account and an
adjustment of each sum advanced
upon the officials return to Ely
S. That the matter of city labor be
referred to an adjourned regular
meeting to be held at 500 o'clock
P. NJ, Thursday, November 3, 1882,
and that the superintendents of
the mining companies and the
chairman and members of the
Board of Education, Independent
School District No. IL be invited
to attend the meeting and discuss
labor affairs with the Council.
6. That the communication from the
Judge of Municipal Court request
ing an increase in salary be laid
on the table.
T. That the snow pillow bids be laid
on the table for consideration at
the adjourned regular meeting to
be held on Thursday, November 8,
1892.
Respectfully submitted,
The Committee of the Whole,
BY HARRY j. HOMER. Chairman.
Moved by Alderman Kapsch, sup
ported by Alderman Koschak, that the
report of the Committee of the Whole
be accepted and filed, and that the
be carried out. Car
lied.
Moved by Alderman Koschak, sup
ported by Alderman Banovetz, that the
meeting adjourn until 500 o'clock P.
w., Thursday, November 8, 1882. Car
led
A. o. KNUTSON,
City Clerk.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
A SERIOUS PROBLEM
ditor AskOv American:

rIuItOT <AShOS AulcIlCdu.
read an article in your paper
written by one w. j. Wilkinson Of
Cloquet, Mimi. who seems to take to
task the politicians who are trying
to protect the interests of the Amer
lean people who are paying too high
rate on electricity.
Governor Pinchot of Pennsylvania,
says nothing like this gigantic mon
opoly has ever appeared in the his
tory of the world. Nothing has ever
been imagined before. that even re-
motely approaches it in the thorough
going intimate, unceasing control 1t
may exercise over the daily life of
every human being within the web
of its wires. 1t is UNNECESSARILY the
greatest industrial fact of our time.
If uncontrolled. it will be a plague
without previous example. If effec-
lively controlled in the public inter-
est. it can be made incOmparably the
greatest material blessing in human
history.
United States Senator George w.
Norris of Nebraska, has said, Il have
been dumfounded and amazed, and
the country will be dumfounded and
amazed when it learns that practi-
cally everything in the electrical
world is controlled either directly or
indirectly by some part of this gigan-
tic trust. 1t controls from one end
of the country to the other the gen.
GRAFTON and distribution of electricity
by water power and by other means
and the manufacture and sale of cleo
trical appliances, running all the way
from little electric bulb in the
house lamp to the gigantic generator
that will handle without trembling
from 10000 to $4,000 horsepower. A
gigantic trust that has fastened its
fangs upon the people of the United
States from the Atlantic to the Pacific
and from the Great Lakes to the
Gulf" This peril of the power trust
is one of the most serious problems
of the day, it is one of the greatest
dangers confronting the cities of the
country.
The people at the last election we'll
demonstrated that they are demand
ing some changes. and will likely con-
tinue until desired changes are OBJ
tanned.
ALFRED WALBERG.
Route 1. Braham, Mimi.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
GIVES SOME FIGURES
Editor AskOv American:

Editor ASkOV American:
| believe your correspondent from
ClOquet was miSinformed regarding
public ownership Of public utilities
Municipal ownership overcomes the
strife and contention prevalent under
private ownership, and in addition,
gains many advantages by way of its
fundamental plan.
The consumer becomes the stock
holder. and if the service is not salts
factory, then they have a voice If
expansions need to be made, they may
vote for or against it. Whatever is
done must be paid for by them either
in higher rates, or taxation, but they
have chance to say which way, and
are sure under municipal ownership
| that they will not have to pay twice
or pay more than a fair charge. The
profits made from increased business
reverts back to the stakeholder Gus
| toner in lowered rates or lowered
taxes. In any event he cannot lose.
Whatever is done he becomes a part
of it. and willingly lends his support
as he realizes the benefits.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22

have before me the report of one
hundred municipalities for 1881, who
own their utilities. and all report good
profits. Among them POnca City men
toned by your correspondent reports
as follows: Total revenue, $120,73 SIS;
operating expenses, $4S,996.68; de-
probation, S36.OS8.56; net profits, $685.
647.31.
Let us not forget that municipal
ownership has no relation to tax de-
linquency as invariably they report
a profit.
Here are the figures for 100 cities
and towns owning their utilities: To-
tai revenue, S51,979, 1853 90 or 1913 per
capita; operating expenses, $22, $685.
$4,000, or per capita, $3.50; depreci-
alton, S17.572. $1,000 or $1.94 per CAP
ita; net profits, S11, 61O,49S.OO, or per
capita SIPS.
A. N. LANGELIER.
ClOverton, Mimi.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
SMITH IN DEMAND

Alfred E. Smith, though not elected
to the presidency is still the popular
idol of many, and gets much publicity
There is always much speculation as
to what "Al" is going to do and what
he will not do.
According to some rumors he may
be named to the United States Senate
and then selected by President-elec,
Franklin ID. Roosevelt as leader of the
fight for prohibition repeal.
The story, current recently. had il
that Senator Royal Copeland, New
York. would be selected for an am
bassadC rial post. perhaps France
thus leaving the way open for Smiths
appointment.
Smith also is talked of as pos
sible mayoralty candidate in New
York next fall. Meantime, his edi-
torial and business duties are regard
ed as possible bars to taking on d
senatorship should such be contem-
plated for him.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22

and the public water system will net
1852, 900. The municipality owned
docks. airport, etc. will bring in ad-
ditional income of 100000.
In other words (although the reac-
tiOnary Tribune carefully avoids the
fact), the publicly owned and oper-
ated utilities in Jacksonville, which
furnish considerably more than half
of the city's income and over two and
One-half times the amount raised by
the property tax levy, are the real
factors which makes tax reduction in
Jacksonville possible. Economy and
good financial management, of course,
were important, but without the pro-
fits from the public light and water
plants, Jacksonville would be i'm
position similar to other American
cities hard pressed for funds in these
times of business stagnatiOn and eco
nOmic distress.
The example of jacksonville teaches
a significant lesson to less fortunate
American cities. 1t reveals the ben
efits of municipal utility ownership
which accrue to all the people and
not just a few favored owners as
would be the case under private own
ership. 1t shows the financial adj
vGntages of such ownership to mum
icipalities when taxpayers are hard
pressed by hard times. 1t recalls the
fact that over Is American commune
ties have abolished local tax levies
entirely because the income from
their municipal utilities has been suf-
ficient to meet all the costs of local
government.
Yet the Tory Chicago Tribune,
which unwittingly tells i'm its own
columns the story of the success of
municipal utility ownership in reduc-
ing Jacksonville taxes, repeatedly at
tacks municipal ownership as social
ism" and has denounced its advocates
as radicals Perhaps such radical
ism" is just what scores of bankrupt
American cities need these depression
/ days, not excluding broke Chicago.
And think what boon to Madison's
public financial worries would be the
million year net profit of our local
light and power utility, were it re-
tanned by the city through public
ownership instead of being drained
away by absentee owners of the Madi-
son Gas Electric Co. in Chicago and
New York.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
FARM FORECLOSURES. INTEREST,
MORATORIUM, ETC.

Editor ASkOv American:
The Farmers Covenant meeting in
Hinckley on Saturday. Dec. II, was
not we'll attended. The following
townships were represented: Arlone,
Glover. Dell Grove, Hinckley, Kettle
River, Mission Creek. Norman, Ogema,
and Partridge. After some discussion
about continuing with the organiza-
ton it was decided to keep on until
we had another meeting. The fol-
lowing resolution was passed
ITO the Honorable Floyd B. Olson,
governor of Minnesota, our members
in Congress and Legislature, the
chairman of the Rural Credits Bu-
reau, and president of the Federal
Land Bank of St. Paul. Minnesota.
Resolution adopted at meeting held
in Pine county, Dec. II, 1882, by Dor
rowerS from the State and the Federal
Land Bank. and other corporations
owning mortgages on Minnesota
farms.
After many years of depression we
have now been reduced to state
where it is impossible to meet the de-
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22

that they have sucked the people
nearly to the limit. The labor saving
machines have helped to do that. The
profit has by that been so much more
to the owners of the machines, and
has caused idleness so there is no
money to buy the cheaply made goods
and on account of that the money has
been gathered by a few When it
doesn't flow freely there is bound to
be stagnatiOn, so a remedy to make
it flow is absolutely necessary. 1t is
not only the money that they got in
their possession, but individuals and
governments are in debt to them
many times all the money in existence
All that draws an immense amount
OF money, and it is we'll known
fact that money gives power, and
power gives money. And when will
we come to the end Of it and the rich
become real plutOcrats? Plutocrats
are just as harmful to nation as an
absolute monarch.
| am sure that | have found the
cause of the depression, the real evil
and root of it. Let US agree to cut
the root by an income tax at a rails
ing scale, for idle support
If some others can think of better
remedy please let US hear from you
but have that on your mind-the
sucking must be stopped
ANDREW RASMUSSEN.
5000 West River Blvd,
MINNEAPOLIS Mimi
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22

mands of our creditors with the pres
ent price level of farm products. We,
therefore, ask that all foreclosures he
stopped during the depression, that a
two-year moratorium be granted, that
lower rates of interest be arranged,
that a pure fabrics law be enacted by
Congress. that a flat rate of railroad
freight be granted on all perishable
farm products, and that a world con-
ference on silver be called to relieve
the money stringency by giving us
more primary money"
Those from the townships present
agreed to have their townships can
vassed for signers for resolution, and
it was hoped that there were men in
the rest of the townships who would
be willing to go around and get sign
ers. Just cut out resolution from the
paper and attach to writing paper and
sign your name. Anybody who is
willing can do it, Creameries would
be good place to get signers. After
you have all the signers you can mail
the names to me and | will take care
of it, Try to do it as soon as possible
so we can send it not later than
jan 10.
After our covenant meeting the hall
was turned over to other Organiza-
tions who no doubt will give reports
il the papers.
MAGNUS CHRISTENSEN.
r. ;. Hinckley, Mimi.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
OVER.SUCkING
Editor ASkov American:
r. ;. Hinckley, Mimi.

Editor ASkov American:
A collection of people had COW to-
gether. Nobody seemed to be the real
owner of her. She was running at
large: there was plenty of good feed
for her and she gave an abundant
lot of milk. Some big husky fellows
kept on milking her and kept all the
little fellows away. Then came the
cold season and there was no more
feed and shelter for her. None of the
fellows that had MIXED her consid-
cred it their duty to take care of her,
but they put the milking machine on
so it drew blood. What can we think
happened to that COW? That is what
has been done to the people as a
whole, and the conditions We are in
are the same as with the COW. Shall
we let the big capitalists keep on
sucking the blood. or shall we make
them quit the sucking and support
the people suffering on account of
their sucking? They are we'll able
to do that, and should by law be COM
PEELED to do it, as there is no other
cause of the depression than that
sucking and such sucking is going on
all over the world except in Russia.
1t is claimed that there are hard
times in Russia too, and it is hard
for the old suckers, because they are
not allowed to suck, so they are not
having as plenty as they are used to-
But the common people. who were
used to being sucked, are satisfied. be-
cause they are having a better living
than they had under the sucking sys-
tenn. and they can all get a living if
they will work for it, but people in
the United States cannot get it.
They could have better living in
Russia if their industries were worked
up like ours, but they have to use sc
much of the income for promotion
Later on they will have the benefit
of it,
What an cutlery there would be il
our capitalists should be put on al
equal basis with common people? No
no! | don't want that, but keep them
from sucking people any more. LIE,
them and all others who are having
more income than needed for a liv.
ing, pay an income tax so as to give
| a living to all there can not be worl
for. 1t is so easy to produce it. an(
why should they not be allowed to
| and then have it?
The answer to it is: A minority has
monopolized the money which is the
| lifegiver of society and business anl
the medium of production; and by
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
THE "OSTRICH" MAN
(The Crookston Daily Times)

ne OfODkStOn DAILY 1lmeS)
People laugh at ostriches because
they bury their head in the sand in
an attempt to escape the attention of
possible enemy, and yet hundreds
of motorists will do something a lot
more foolish. They will go at the
work of changing a tire on the left
side of their vehicles at night, and
because they can see the lights OF
approaching vehicles they take it for
granted that the drivers can see them.
If the tire changer has on dark cloth
ing, or is not yet put clearly in evil
dence by light playing directly on
him, he is about as visible as white
handkerchief on field of white snow.
If two moving vehicles happen to
meet each other just opposite his car,
he stands fine show of being a case
for the coroner. An extension light
from the disabled car, torch flare,
or at least a flash light, should be
used always to protect the person
changing the tire if the vehicle can
not be moved wholly away from the
travelled portion of the highway.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
A NEW RACKET

One day recently man called on a
merchant in the county and sold him
some eggs. The merchant received
some eggs to be sure, but not the
number he thought he had purchased.
A few eggs were on top of the case,
so the story goes, and some bricks
were in the bottom. When the bricks
were found, however, it was too late
TO get the crook.
There is a moral once again in this
incident, nevertheless. and that is
to be sure of ones step one should
buy and trade with those whom he
knows and who have established bust
neSseS.
OF course punishment to the full
extent of the law would not be severe
enough for a swindler of this sort,
but if people would not be SO gullible
there would not be so many crooks
travelling around.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
DISCUSS SHOP

For many years there have been
group editorial organizations in the
various congressional districts of the
state. working in harmony and con-
junction with the Minnesota Editorial
Association. but somehow or other
the Tenth district editors have never
gotten together in such an organiza-
tion However. last Saturday after
noon ID of the editors from this dis
trict gathered at the home of Mrs.
Roe Chase of the Herald in AnOka,
and formed a district organization.
o. w. Barbo, the able publisher of
the Braham Journal, who took an &C
tive interest in the formation of a
district organization was elected
president: Mrs. Roe Chase, vice presi-
dent: and Frank P. Gottry, Pine City,
secretary-treasurer.
A round table discussion was led
by Allen E. MCGOWAN, field secretary
of the Minnesota Editorial AssOcia-
ton. and d. NJ. Coughlin of Waseca,
president of the association, also gave
good information and advice to the
scribes who listened intently to those
men who are working diligently for
the advancement of the trade and
better newspapers in Minnesota. The
visitors were all in accord in voting
Mrs. Chase a splendid hostess.
Matters more pertinent to the local
tiles are discussed at the district
meetings and in turn are brought uI
at the larger state meeting annual!
in January
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
A PROGRESSIVE VICTORY

The Minnesota Senate of 1888 will
have another good progressive men,
Der in Editor Henry G. Teigan OF the
Farmer-Labor Leader, who was
elected to that post Tuesday. Mr.. Tel
gan defeated Henry A. Johnson in a
special election in the Twenty-ninth
legislative district of Minneapolis to
fill the vacancy caused by the death
of State Senator Lewis Duemke. The
vote was Abb to 1909. Mr.. Johnson
was a former member of the lower
House but was defeated for re-elec-
tion this year and when the special
senatorial election came up in his
district after the general election he
took fling at that and made a good
race.
Mr.. Teigan is one of the outstand-
ing leaders of the Farmer-Labor
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIP
3O3O West River Blvd.
Minneapolis, MINI.

Editor AskOv American:
Noting an article in the Opinions
of Others" column recently in re-
gard to the power question which up
held private ownership. | am sending
herewith an article which brings out
the value of municipal or govern
ment ownership of utility which
serves all. The article-an editorial
from the Capitol-Times of Madison,
Wis, headed Jacksonville Cuts
Taxes" brings out the benefits of a
we'll managed municipal power plant,
the profits to be derived from such
collective ownership of public util-
ity collectively used, and the result
ant lower tax rate. The editorial fol-
lows this little introduction.
ERWIN l.. NELSON.
Pine City, Mimi
JACKSONVILLE CUTS TAXES
Jacksonville, Fla. reports the Chi
cagO Tribune on its financial pages,
has reduced the burden on its tax
payers by AZ per cent. Philip Hamp-
son, financial writer for the Tribune,
describes the situation as follows:
This southern city of around 10000
persons will end the fiscal year clos
ing Dec. 81 without having to borrow
to meet its obligations, and will enter
the new year with a tax rate which
will be AZ per cent below the current
rate. 1t will have the lowest rate in
40 years.
Five years ago the city's tax rate
was q mills, or $40 for each 500
of valuation of property within the
corporate limits. Beginning Jan. 1
the rate will be lis mills, or S1.15
for each 500 of valuation. The rate
this year is 1875 mills, or S1.95 per
800 of valuation. =.
The reduction in the tax rate is
made despite cut of approximately
S1O,O00,OOO in the assessed valuation
of property both real and personal
within the city. The city property
last year was assessed at S102,S26,210
while this year it is assessed at $685.
322, 700.
The Tribune story then goes on to
say that JacksOnville's 1888 budget
will be S4.3S1,719 of which only S917.-
S37 will be raised by the 11.5 mill
levy on general property. The bal
ance. it reports, will be derived from
the profit on the city's municipality
owned utilities,-the light and power
plant. water works, and other sources
Revenue from the municipal electric
plant is estimated at over S2,O0O,OOC
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22
OF THE PEOPLE

Just a few words ON true democracy
by the great Norwegian statesman,
Bjornstjerne Bjornson. whose centen-
airy has just been celebrated by Nor
wegians all over the world as we'll as
by folks of other natiOnalitieS, is
enough to bring to the realization Of
the reader why NOrwegians honor the
great writer, poet and orator OF few
years ago, why they are proud of him
and justly so, and why educators and
lovers of good literature appreciate
his works.
These words from the pen of Born
son show plainly that he was a man
of the people and why his memory
lives on:
Civilization must be judged. not
by the splendors of your Rothschilds,
your Vanderbilts. and your Astors, but
by the average intelligence, comfort
and well-being of the great people
itself, i'm fields, in mines, and in fac
tory. The progress of civilization is
to be gagged by the admission of an
ever larger and larger proportion OF
the people to that degree Of prosper
ity which will enable them to live
decent, laborious and yet comfortable
lives, and not be crushed into mere
soulless machines of toll. be-
lieve that that country is the strong
est. the greatest, and the most civil
lied, which is covered with millions
of modest but contented homes; not
that in which the splendOr of a few
hundred palaces is supported by the
wretchedness of million hovels.'
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22

party, his work in that connection
up to this time having been largely
in the field of writing. He is grounded
i'm economics and will be hard
worker for the enactment Of the pro-
gram which is championed by Cover
nor Floyd B. Olson. His victory is
hailed with good cheer by progress
sives all over the state for he is a
worthy man and will be a valuable
asset to the cause of the people in
the Minnesota Legislature.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-12-22

Inasmuch as most good things are
produced by labor, it follows that all
such things ought to belong to those
whose labor has produced them. But
it has happened in all ages of the
world that some have labOred. and
others, without labor. have enjoyed a
large proportion of the fruits. This
is wrong, and should not continue
To secure to each labOrer the whole
product of his labor as nearly as pos
sible is a worthy object of any good
movement.-Abraha Lincoln.