Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-16


Previous to the introduction of the
public ownership system in Ontario
they had about the same power rates
there as in Minnesota. They make
electric light and power the servant
of the people and not the oppressor
in Ontario. One-half dozen years ago
the Northern States Power Company
operating in the Twin Cities and trade
territory, purchased the Minneapolis
Mill Company and the st. Anthony
Falls Power Company. The book
value of the two properties at that
time was $1.7OO,OOO and this was i'm
mediately increased to $7,500,0O0, ac-
cording to the report of R. G. Dun
& Co. 1t is argued that power COM
panies pay big taxes, said the speaker.
but added that they collect taxes and
turn it over to the county treasurer.
Consumers pay the tax to the power
company in high electric bills.
Seattle, Los Angeles, Cleveland, and
other large American cities have
forced down the power and light rates
through their municipal plants. In
the state of Minnesota, there are
many villages and smaller cities with
municipality owned plants that are
successful and serving the people we'll.
Some of those plants are hydro-elec-
tric, others steam and Diesel engine
plants. Amongst the municipalities
with successful plants may be
mentioned Rochester, Virginia, Owa-
tonna, Austin, Willmar, Luverne, Ty-
Ter, Benson, and others.
Continuing, Mr.. Stockwell said that
Nebraska, Wisconsin and other states
are awakening to the need of public
ownership of public utilities, especi-
ally that of power and light. The
power trust is also made up of hold
ing companies, one piled on top of an
other, in order to cover up profits, and
it is also to be observed that the
power companies never retire the
capital account. There is much jugg-
ling of figures. The holding compa-
MES are rendering no service to the
public. Bankers and others are re-
ceiving commissions on the sale of
preferred stock and they desire the
set-up be continued. Mr.. Stockwell
stated that the government should
take over the institutions that have
usurped natural resources.
The veteran legislator, now past Is,
who speaks candidly and truthfully
and only after due consideration and
research. did not mince words, when,
iii referring to insult and Chas. E.
Mitchell, he called them and others
of the same caliber "a gang of high
binders and racketeers." Continuing,
he said that if the truth were known,
the people would be up demanding
the passage of the bill for the consti-
tutional amendment.
Bonding on Going Concerns.
Questioned by Reps. Weeks and
Brophey, opposed to the bill, Mr.
Stockwell stated that survey shows
three dams can be built on the Mis-
sissippi river, south of Hastings, and
another three dams north of the Twin
Weeks maintains that fifty million
dollars would not put Minnesota into
the power and light business like On
tario, where about three hundred mil
lion dollars lis now invested. Mr..
StockweH argues that the three hun
dred million dollars was not all in
vested the first year and that there is
a wide difference between bonding for
improvements which do not return a
profit and that of bonding for going
concerns that Immediately pay their
way. Profits from such undertakings
can be and are used to make extern
sions of service as time goes on. On
in building up their system and as
for the success of municipality owned
plants, citizens in this state need not
leave Minnesota to see such examples.
Arguments on the Stockwell water
power bill were not completed, as the
bill was laid, over when the time ar
rived for the special order on truck
bills. Following the truck bills, the
special order on chain store taxes will
also come up before final arguments
and vote is taken on the Stockwell
water power bill.
A bill which passed the House, y
to 80, will withdraw from sale, all
state lands containing deposits of
peat.
A change in the election laws, as
proposed by the writer, passed the
House Monday. State, congressional
and legislative candidates must file
forty days before the primary election
but candidates for county offices have
had the privilege of waiting up till
only twenty days before the primary.