Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-12-21
OLSON ASKS
SPECIAL RELIEF
Says State Should Aid Fed
era1 Government in Help
ing Own Needy.
Liquor Bills are Being Ar
gued and Heard in the
Committees.

OOH1mlltoeS.
BY Rep. Hjalmar Petersen of Pine
County. Chairman, House Tax
Committee.
Governor Floyd B. Olson appeared
before the Special Relief committee
of the house of which Andrew Fin
stuen of Kenyon, is chairman. on
Thursday afternoon, and outlined the
direct and public works relief needs
of the state of Minnesota-the part
nership between the federal govern
ment and the state in the matter.
The meeting was held in the House
chamber and was attended by repre-
sentatives and senators alike, as well
as many private citizens.
Governor Olson stated that there
is at present $4,000 families in the
state receiving direct relief of which
81 900 families are given relief, wholly
or in part, by the federal government
through the Federal Emergency Re-
lief. Multiplied by Az it means 1885,
900 individuals-adu and children
or roughly speaking 100000 people
in the state who are receiving direct
relief He stated there are no eX-
act figures on unemployment but that
10000 individuals have registered
with public employment agencies this
year. Public relief was at the peak
last March, declined during the sum-
mer, but increased again last fall.
Work for Many.
The federal Civil Works program
of $4OO, 100000, of which Minnesota
recently received between S7,OOO,OOO
and $S,O0O,000, is part of the federal
Public Works program and is allo-
Gated on the basis of population and
needs of the various states-75Io as
to population and $3.50 as to needs.
The quota for Minnesota was to give
work for several weeks to 55,515 men
and women. Another later ALLEGATION
provided work for 1000 individuals
in the drought areas and later $4,000
more persons were given work. Like
ly there will be more of the Civil
Works program authorized by the fed
eral government.
Thus far the state of Minnesota has
not contributed much direct relief,
said the governor. Formerly the Ex-
ecutive Council which comprises all
the state elective officers but Rail-
road and Warehouse commissioners
a body of five-could eXpend 100000
annually if a calamity arose, such as
flood or drought.
The amount was increased in the
1893 regular session to S750,O00 and
the law was also amended so as to
provide for restitution and disability.
The Executive Council, said the gov
ernor, has allotted S750,000 for relief
in 25 Minnesota counties in the
drought area this year. Not quite all
of this has been spent as yet. The
Executive Council also appropriated
$4,000 for education of youth in CO.
operation with state educational in
situations and another S225,000 was
contributed to eX-service men who
were disabled or in need.
State Must Help.
The governor anticipates that the
federal government may spend ST.
100000 in Minnesota during 1884 but
the state must show it's willingness and
also give a helping hand. So far the
federal government has contributed
over 100000 for direct relief in
Minnesota-far more than spent by
the state, in fact about the same as
spent by the state, counties, cities and
smaller subdivisions. The chief ex-
ecutive estimated that the state would
have to spend about $450,000 in buy
ing sites for lake and river diver
sions, flood control and the like.
The state can do as the federal
government-delegat power to the
governor as was delegated to the
president-power to act between ses-
sions of the Legislature-butt this plan
was not advocated by the chief execu-
tive. He asked that the power re-
main in the hands of the Executive
Council which includes the governor,
secretary of state, state treasurer,
state auditor and attorney general.
Public Relief Funds.
Governor Olson proposes, in a pub
lie relief bill, that the Executive
Council be empowered to use $1,000
900 if necessary to help the destitute
and unemployed. He does not pro-
pose an outright building program
but Improvements Incidental to pub |
lie purpose, that of promoting and
protecting the public. The State
Board of Control is designated as the |
Public Welfare Board of the state.
A tax on beer and intoxicating Ii !
quors was suggested as part of pro-
gram to raise necessary funds.
II the relief bill is passed and made |
law, then the Executive Council can |