Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-11-01

another accomplishment of the Olson
Farmer-Labor administration. AS
sessments made on May 1, 1884, on
farms and homes of a full and true
value of less than $4,000 for real
estate taxation purposes, were reduced
approximately 20 per cent, and that
reduction will be felt in the next real
estate taxes to be paid. That was
further carrying out one of the car
dinal principles of the Farmer-Labor
party, that of making for the security
of the home and the promotion of
home ownership. The state or nation
is no stronger than the home life.
Other accomplishments of the adj
ministration include the chain store
tax, making it less difficult for the
local independent observation-disclosures
more interested in the community, To-
cal community builders-to compete
with the larger chain combines that
are out principally to get the money
from the community. The reduction
of the $40 minimum motor vehicle
tax to minimum of SIS was help
to the farmer and worker who own
inexpensive cars. And this was done
in spite of the fact that 400 miles OF
Minnesota roads were added to the
trunk road system, so that now there
is total of 1920 miles of trunk
roads in the state, constructed and
maintained through auto and gasoline
taxes.
Municipal owned light and power
plants which could formerly sell cur
rent only to residents of the munich
patty may now extend their lines and
serve farmers and other municipali-
ties within a radius of 25 miles under
a law passed by the last Legislature.
Naturally that law was fought by the
Power Trust.
Many other coed bills made into law
in the 1888 session could be men
toned. but one other outstanding ac-
ccmplishment was that of the $4,000
COO relief bill. 1t was fought bitterly
by the reactionary forces-the Old
Guard Republican leadership of the
Senate especially. But having good
picture of the situation, having ascer-
tanned the needs of the state and
knowing that one of every six persons
i'm the state were either receiving or in
need of direct or indirect relief, the
governor knew that something had to
be done Not having the aid and CO.
operation of the daily newspapers. the
governor carried his plea to the peo-
pie over the radio. through the col
umns of the Farmer-Labor Leader and
the few rural weeklies that were
friendly to the administration, with
the result that the power of the old
reactionary leadership of the Senate
was broken down and the bill made
into law. The revenue is derived
from other sources than general prop
erty taxes, a tax having been placed
on beer, wine, and liquor This tax
was fought bitterly, especially by the
brewery interests. The state having
shown a desire to fulfill its own obli-
cations to it's people as well as it
could, Governor Olson was able to
secure more federal relief aid than
any other governor in the Northwest.
His personal friendship with the great
humanitarian president, Franklin d.
Roosevelt, and his business ability,
also had their favorable effect. He
knew what his state and its people
needed and could present his case.
And so the state administration has
a record of accomplishments in behalf
of the people. Actions speak louder
than words.