The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-08-04
BY
GOV. OLSON
Closed Meeting is Held at Vir.
ginia Regarding the Mine
Tax Situation.

rOlfOWlllS d IueeGlIlS UelllIlQ ClOSeO
doors, the public and the press being
excluded, Governor Floyd B. Olson is
said to have issued a statement in re-
gard to the meeting attended by
Village, city, town and school officials
and leaders of the Farmer-Labor party
on the range"
In a letter from Jos. j. Kotze of
Eveleth, chairman of the Eveleth
F'armer-Labor Club, we learn that
Senator Lommen was chairman of the
meeting and that at least one repre-
sentative from each of the communities
present advised the governor that their
communities would fight to finish
against any attempt of the mining
companies to withhold payment of their
taxes. Mr.. Kotze also stated that every
speaker who presented the case of his
community reported, either directly or
upon questioning by the chairman,
that public sentiment in their COM
munity was almost unanimously against
any compromise with the mining COM
panies."
At the conclusion of the meeting
the following typed statement was given
out as having been made by Governor
Olson during the session in expressing
his official attitude in the matter:
In so far as this conference which
is being held here today with repre-
sentatives from the range townships,
municipalities, school districts. town.
ships, etc., I desire to ask if there is
anyone here today that feels that the
mining companies merit reduction in
taxes, please raise your hands if any of
you feel that the mining companies
merit any reduction whatsoever. see
that no one raised their hands.
From what have gathered of the
statements made here this afternoon,
none of the range communities have
raised their expenditures for this year
over last year to any appreciate
degree, the fact being if increased at
all, it is because of the necessity for
public relief, and the increase in public
relief has been neceSSitateds on account
OF the unemployment existing among
those primarily employed by the mining
companies, naturally this unemploy-
ment has brought about this economic
condition. Another thing, or in any
event most of the people on the relief
lists, so to speak, are people ordinarily
employed by the mining companies
Il would like to have a comparative
statement from all communities, towns
or municipalities represented here to-
day, submitted to me through your
chairman, of all expenditures or pro-
posed expenditures for the year 1888,
as compared with previous years, say
for a flve-year period; also a statement
of the bonded indebtedness of these
various communities for the past five
years.
i do not ask this because I doubt
any Of the statements made here today
in any case, simply desiring this, that
in case anyone makes statement to
the contrary. I will be fortified as to
the actual figures, in case 1 am called
upon TO argue this matter with anyone.
"AS take it the matter of a COM
promise is local matter, and I am
simply representative of the state,
without any right to enter into a
purely local situation. However, 1 give
you full assurance that in the matter
OF protecting the people of this district
I will urge and do everything possible
to have this section of the state re-
ceive full consideration at the hands
OF the state investment board. of which
I am chairman. OF course, I have only
one vote.
When I say that the matter of a
compromise is a local matter, I want
1t distinctly understood that no one
is to imply from that statement that
1 am in any way suggesting or ap-
proving compromise. Let me say to
you very plainly that so far as the
state of Minnesota is concerned. and
have right to speak for the state.
there will be no compromise, absolutely
none. They will pay their taxes. 100
cents on the dollar.
If the mining companies do not paw
their taxes in October, of course, it win