The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-09-21
POLITICAL NOTES
BY r. w. Hitchcock
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comes down to some individual rival
lawyer they are not SO enthusiastic.
Harry Rasmussen, publisher of the
Austin Herald, tells a story on Martin
Nelson that is exceptional in this re-
gard. ION" Martin Nelson is perhaps
not the proper word; but let it stand.
He represented Mr.. Rasmussen in a
certain transaction. The other party
to the transaction asked certain
Southern Minnesota lawyer to represent
him in the matter. who's Rassmus-
sens Attorney" said the lawyer.
why" replied the client, 81 under
stand he's engaged a fellow by the
name of Martin Nelson" Martin
Nelson" said the lawyer, why, you
don't need lawyer. Martin Nelson
will attend to your interests just as
faithfully as he will to RaSmussen's."
This quite exceptional little incident
illustrates not only the standing Of
Martin A. Nelson in his own profess
sion but it shows also what the home
folks who know him intimately think
of him.
Attempts of partizans of the Olson
administration to excuse or palliate
the extravaganza and excuses of the
administration, indicate that they have
small opinion of the intelligence of
the people. Instances:
The Farmer-Labor Leader, in an ar
ticle published August 18th, and con-
densed, it says, from a pamphlet pub
lished by the Educational Bureau of
the Farmer-Labor association, says
that Minnesota state taxes have been
reduced 100000 in the last five
years." and later in the article it refers
TO 'the farmer-labor 100000 reduc-
ton in total taxes" 1t is true that
there has been reduction of almost
100000 in appropriations, but this
was accomplished in the 1888 legislature
against the violent and protracted OPP
position of farmer-labor members of
the legislature. Taking credit for the
thing which you opposed with might
and main may be good politics." but
it is also rankly dishonest. Not only
did the farmer-labor party strenuously
oppose the tax reductions effected by
the legislature, but in every depart
ment in which the executive had con-
troll it materially increased expenses.
It's good when the Spendthrift boasts
of his economy.
Representative Fay Cravens in his
Milaca Times appears to be indignant
that some folks are trying 'to make
out that the governor, or his party, are
spending a Lot of the taxpayers
Mr.. Cravens says: ''The Gov
ernor cannot appropriate single
dollar of the taxpayers money. He
cannot spend single dollar of the
states money in any manner unless
authorized to do so by an act of the
Mr.. Cravens seems to for
get the rural credit bureau, the high
way department, the drivers license
department, the game and fish and
others in which the departments have
a free hand in spending their receipts.
It is in these departments that the eX-
penses have occurred. 1t is in these
that swollen payrolls oc-
cur. 1t is in these departments that
extravaganza has run riot in the Olson
administration. The legislature has
been economical, it is true, but the
Olson administration has been the
exact reverse.
Any taxpayer who examines the pay
rolls of the game and fish department
under the Olson administration will be
interested. Also appalled,!
When the Olson administration came
in the game and fish department had
a surplus in the neighborhood of $780,
600. Now it has none. What became
of it? One place it went is revealed
by these figures: In 1880 the game
and fish account had 173 employees.
In 1881 it had 1856; the Olson admins
tration had not got going yet. In 1882
it had 221, and in 1888 the same
number; the spending machine was
working smoothly. But in 1884 the adj
actually reformed; the
number of employees dropped to 184.
What caused this sudden spasm of
economy? 1t was the surplus; the sur
plus had vanished. 1t had vanished so
far that they had to stage a special
big game season in order to replenish
the game and fish exchequer.
One swift peek will likely satisfy the
taxpayer in the case of the highway
department. After that he can retire
and nurse his headache. The total
payroll of the highway department in
creased from 2227 in May 1890 to 1855
in May 1884.
MANY ELY PATIENTS