Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-04-05
State Capitol News
By A. /. HARRIS

fered losses in the Carlton fire OF
Oct. IL. 1918. will be recompensed
to the extent of approximately $780,
100000 by the federal government
Governor Olson at Washington re-
Gently personally called on the Pres
ident and gained his sympathy. The
President instructed the attorney
general to take action. For a num-
Der of years the victims of this forest
disaster have been attempting to col
lect claims under the contention that
the fire was started by a railroad
locomotive then under the supervision
of the federal government.
There hasn't been a state bank
closed in Minnesota since April, 1888
according to Elmer Benson, state
commissioner of banks. Mr. Benson
recently asserted that our state banks
have never in their history been as
sound as they are today. The. Fed
eral Deposit Insurance is largely re-
sponsible for that condition, in Mr..
BensOn's opinion.
Inclusion of wild life studies in the
Emergency Conservation Work camps
as requested by E. V. willard, conser-
walton commissioner, if granted will
be a great step in the direction of a
scientific wild life management pro-
gram for this state. With accurate
data available, such a program could
easily be formulated. We cannot 20
on endlessly slaughtering our birds
and wild life generally, not knowing
where the danger point of extinction
lies, and expect to preserve these
things of nature for posterity.
Section 2O21 of Mason's Minnesota
statutes is corporate excess tax
law which requires corporations to
pay an ad valorsm tax of 40 per cent
at the regular mill rate on the diff
ference between the total value of
their capitol stock and the value of
their real and personal property on
which they pay tax in the state.
For approximately 20 years this law
has been virtually ignored. County
assessors and auditors in at least two
of the large counties have been told
to forget it." The State Tax Com
mission in 1910 and again in 1880
reported inability to reach the prom
erty referred to. In 1913 the corpor-
ate excess was recorded at $17,212,583
and in 1882 it shrunk to S59,2SO. The
investigator employed by the Tax
Commission to study tax lodging has
succeeded thus far in listing $14,00O,-
600 in corporate excess, with none of
the large corporations having filed
returns. 1t is estimated that ap-
prOximately $85,000,00O will be listed
before this phase of the Investigator s
work is completed.
The information given the Farmer
Labor convention by Governor Olson
that S36,00O,OOO is needed to meet re-
lief needs in this state between now
and next February is food for thought
for those who opposed his $4,000. 600
relief bill. 50
With all but one county, Lac Qui
Parle, out of the 13 INFESTED for
tubercular cattle, signed up for CWA
assistance, making the state 100 per
cent accredited, Minnesota is we'll on
the way toward maintaining her east
ern dairy market. This market has
been seriously threatened the past
year with increased emphasis being
paid to states having herds free of
tuberculosis. With 13 counties unable
or unwilling to take advantage of the
state area law, Minnesota was only
partially accredited and therefore
stood to lose her favorable position
in the dairy world. With the aid of
CWA funds and under the direction
Of the livestock sanitary board, these
counties, with the exception of Lac
Qui Parle, which has not signed, are
having the testing done at a cost of
only 500 each, this sum being used
to defray local clerical and printing
expenses.
Among various proposals for de-
creasing public expenditures is that
many miles of local roads in the state
might be eliminated by careful plan
ming without serious loss to the pub
lie. Whether or not this proposal is
practical will be shown by the results
of special county survey now being
carried on by the State Highway De-
partment, the citizens interim high
way committee and the U. S. Bureau
of Public Roads. Studies are being
made in all counties of the state
showing on maps all existing roads
and the location of mail routes,
creameries, churches, cemeteries,
stores, public forests and parks. air
ports and similar establishments re-
quiring transportation facilitie S.
When completed, these maps will
show every county whether it has a
surplus of roads in relation to public
needs and whether some of the ex-
listing roads could be abandoned.