The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-09-28
POLITICAL NOTES
BY r. w. Hitchcock
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In statement given out to the press
by the highway department in June of
this year, and given wide circulation
throughout the state, it was shown that
unless the legislature Immediately
raised the motor vehicle license rates,
there would be no money available for
construction in 1885.
The statement estimated total re-
ceipts of the highway department ior
1895 at $12,0O0,000. Of this 100000
would be required for maintenance,
bonds and interest. OF the balance,
said the department, 100000 must be
used for the motor vehicle department.
current expenses and partial payment
on past expenses, while $1,500,000 must
be allotted for engineering and adj
miniStration expense, and 100000 for
right of way expense. This leaves just
exactly nothing for construction.
If there is to be no construction why
is it necessary to spend $1,500,000 for
engineering and administration ex-
pense? A still greater puzzle is why,
with no construction, 100000 IS
needed for right of way expenses.
Payrolls for the construction division
of the state highway department for
August 1894 were $42,389 compared TO
STATIC for August 1880, although the
amount of construction in 1880 was
more than double that of 1884. Per-
haps there is some explanation for
these curious conditions but the state
administration seems reluctant to give
it.
Great minds run in the same
channels, and Floyd Bjerstjerne Olson
is much like Augustus Caesar in one
respect. "It was the practice of Aug
ustus Caesar" says William E. Borah
when preparing to take over some new
block of power, to deliver a eulogy on
the virtues of the republic and an
nounce his deep solicitude for. the
liberties and happiness of the people
How faithfully this fine precedent mas
been emulated in the modern world by
dictators and bureaucratS alike!''
It is charged that the Big Three is
evading the provision of law which
requires calling for bids for the pur-
chase of supplies for the state by
breaking up the purchases in small lots
and distributing the business to fav-
orites and friends of the administration
This charge would seem to be borne
out by orders issued by the Big Three
to the Jacobson Fixture Exchange of
Minneapolis for various supplies. These
orders are consecutively numbered
Order No. 27747 for six desks amounting
to $4,000; order 27748 is for pedestal
desks at $82 each, and amounts to $574;
order 27749 for desks and chairs is for
$46770; order 47750 covers chairs, bas-
kets, tables to the amount of $444!40;
order 45771, desks tables and chairs,
$498.6O; order 47752 desks and tables
$1,000; order 47753 cuSpidors, counters,
tables, $438.35. All supplies were for
the Liquor Control Commission and
were paid for on July II, 1884, by war
rant No. 849149-A, amounting to
$3,194.O5.
The supplies included brass cuspidors
at $2.75 each, walnut waste baskets at
500 each, arm chairs at $2240 each,
tables at various prices up to $91.4 40, ETC..
Wonder if the Jacobson Fixture Ex-
change was grateful for this nice piece
of business handed it without the
necessity of submitting bids in COM
petition with others to the extent of
contributing to the farmer-labor war
chesta
The Nelson keynote speech was a
severe arraignment of the Olson adj
miniStration and critical analysis and
condemnation of the farmer-labor plat
form, but the governor says it was
nothing much but "mud-slinging. -
Perhaps the governor is peeved &C.
cause Mr. Nelson never once mentioned
him by name
The Virginia Daily Enterprise rene
dies this omission. 1t calls the COVER
nor by name and under the head of
He Can't Take It." chides him for his
irritability. 1t says: '"The governorship
of Minnesota is vested with vast
responsibility. He, upon whom it rests,
must give an accounting of his steward
ship to the people. He must submit to
criticism and not cry about it." Con-
tinuing the Enterprise caustically says:
when A. c. Townley revolted and ac-
cused the governor of not appointing
farmer-laborites to Office, the governor
began to whine that the republicans
were scandal mongering and that they
had hired Townley for that purpose.
Christ-and-me-c rucified he cried at the
Renville County Fair. At Marshall he
replied to Martin Nelson and his reply
was that Nelson's speech was full of
personal abuse. And Nelson had not
even named him in the speech. The
republicans have put Nelson up to
throwing stones at me- he blubbers.
IF Nelson wants to start mud-slinging
I can't stop him. he walls. Christ-and
me -crucified., he screams The COVER