Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-04-28
Magnus johnson, Former u.
S. Senator, First to File
on FL. Ticket.
Hot Contest for Mayor of
st. Paul Between Bund-
lie, MahOney.
BY HENRY G. TEIGAN


Minnesota is the ST. Paul municipal
election on Tuesday, May 3.
Labor has a full slate of candidates
in the field, headed by William Ma
honey, editor of the Minnesota Union
Advocate, for the office of mayor.
The other labor endorses are, Will
liam F. Scott, candidate for re-elec-
ton to the office of comptroller; Her
man c. Wenzel, James M. Clancy,
Clyde R. May and Irving c. Pearce,
nominees for councilmen.
Mr.. Mahoney's opponent in the
mayoralty contest is Mayor Gerhard
Bundle, who was elected two years
ago. Bundles appeal to the voters
has been largely on the strength OF
his ability to cut taxes to accomplish
which he has recently given sanction
to the cutting of wages of city en-
ployes.
MahOney the AggreSsOr.
Mahoney has been the aggressor in
the campaign and has made Bundle
as we'll as the other old party can
didates squirm by his charges that
they were largely under the influ-
ence of the racketeering element and
the public utility companies.
After two years in the office Of
mayor and with taxes constantly in
creasing over this two year period,
Mayor Bundle suddenly and happily
discovers the cure all for all the
ills of city government" says Ma
honey. He sees the vision of cutting
the wages of city employees to the
tune of 100000 year and advises us
that this will watt away all our prob
dens of taxation"
States Own Position.
In respect to his own position in
these matters, Mr.. Mahoney says that
he believes in real tax reduction and
not the false, deceptive Sort" namely,
that of cutting wages.
Continuing he says:
Il believe if the tax dodgers and
evaders are caught and compelled to
pay their fair taxes. more than a mil
lion dollars can be added to the tax
roll and the burden OF the home
owners relieved that much. My OPP
ponent and those who are insistent
that wages and salaries of city en-
ployes be cut ask for specific items
to be reduced in the budget The
only item they offer to cut is the
salary item.
THE Northern States and other
public utility companies should be
placed on the tax rolls for their full
share Of taxes. The power company
does not pay tax on the valuation it
claims, nor even on the valuation
allowed by the Bemis report, which
is several million dollars under the
company figures. About 100000 loss
is incurred by this low valuation
The street car company has es-
capped nearly 100000 by securing
reduction in it's assessed valuation
This would not have occurred if the
city officials had been on the job.
Over $4,000 year is lost by the
failure to secure the per cent gross
earnings tax from the bus company
lover 100000 can be saved by the
elimination of nonessential activities
and excess and wastefully employed
help.
1T is not necessary to slash wages
to effect tax reduction in the ordinary
sense. | am sure it is feasible to
effect real savings by the co-ordina-
ton of city activities.
1.-The real burden that rests on all
householders is the tax that public
utility monopolies place on the peo-
NIL I'D eLo ~
off the rates paid for electricity, gas
and telephone. This would mean a
saving to each householder of more
than $50 per year and would mean
more than million dollars left in
the city to sustain professional and
business elements. This huge sum
is now sent down East to fatten mo-
nopoly
my opponent has the backing of
the powerful utility and underworld
forces and will support the rulership
of these siminister forces in govern
ment if reelected. The people of St.
Paul are faced with real opportunity
to get real relief from monopoly OPP
preston on May g."
People VS.. Utility Companies.
The real battle in the st. Paul
municipal contest is obviously one
between the people and the public
utilities companies. 1t becomes more
and more apparent that the issue will
not be settled until the people own
their public utilities. In this con-
nection it is interesting to note that
the recent Farmer-Labor state con-
vention went on record in favor of
the Ontario system of development
and administration Of electric power
and light, thus making electricity
the source of power of the future
mans servant and helper and not his