Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-02-28
INVESTIGATING
GOES RIGHT ON
DiSgrunt1ed Contra tor
Hints at Fund SOlicita-
ton for Party.
New Bill Would Raise In
come Tax in the Higher
Brackets.
BY Hjalmar Petersen, Lieutenant Gov
ernor of Minnesota.

BY Hjalmar Petersen, Lieutenant Gov
ernor of Minnesota
Week of Feb. II to Feb. 23)
The Senate committee which took
upon itself the task of investigating
just about everything connected with
the state government trOtted out a
surprise witness Tuesday night.
This witness, Donald G. Clark, gen.
eral manager of a stone quarrying
Carl R. Erickson, state commissioner
of purchases, had told him that he
must contribute $4,000 ito the
party he implied the
F'armer-Labor party-in order to get
a $245,0OO sub-contract for stone in
the construction of the state office
building near the capital
Quickly came the answer of adj
ministration officials to this charge
drawn forth by the conservative dom
mated investigating committee, which
is headed by Senator James A. Carley.
Plainview.
Governor Olson Replies.
Governor Olson, who at various
times has termed the investigation a
fishing expedition" remarked that
the purchasing commissioner had
nothing to do with the contracts for
the state office building.
Commissioner Erickson pointed out
that the committee, supposed at the
moment to be investigating relief.
called in a surprise witness to attack
him without giving him a chance to
be heard at the same time or to be
represented by counsel.
ut obviously was very necessary"
said Mr.. Erickson, "fOr the Senate
committee to do something dramatic
and desperate to revive public inter-
est in their political investigation, so
they brought in a disgruntled contrac-
tor to furnish tale which is not only
weird, fantastic and preposterous on
it's face but a deliberate falsehood,
which can be proved by positive evil
dence. This man kept his sensational
story to himself for three and a half
years, for no reason whatever, and
now decides to come obligingly to the
rescue of those looking for dirt.
Erickson Cites Records.
Here is what the Senate commit
tee could have ascertained by an ex-
| animation of the minutes of the State
| Building commissions: On Dec. IA,
| 1881, long before the time Mr.. Clark
claims, to have had his meeting with
me, C. H. Johnson architect for the
| building, recommended that the sub
contract for granite be awarded to
the Cold Springs Granite company, on
the basis of the use of pearl pink
granite, the kind which could only
have been furnished by that company.
"On Dec. %, 1881, the minutes Of
the building commission show that
Mr.. Clark appeared before that body
and said he could save the state con-
siderable money If granite manufac-
tured by his company were used. Mr..
Magee, the contractor, also told the
commission that If the Clark COM
pany granite were used the state
could save $4,000 by credit he would
give the state. Isn't it rather strange
that this same figure was used by
Mr.. Clark as the amount which he
says was to go to the party, but be-
fore the commission he said it was
to go to the state.
Contract Already Made.
1.-THE minutes of the same meeting
contain a statement from Mr.. Web
Der Of the Cold Springs Granite COM
pany to the effect that his company
had already entered into a contract
with Mr. Magee and had started to
carry out the terms Of that contract
1.-THE minutes Of the same date show
that the commission, in a motion
made by A. J. Peterson and seconded
by Henry Rines, both Christianson ap-
pointees, and carried unanimously, the
suggestion to save the state $4,000
by changing the specifications to en-
able the Clark company to get the
contract was turned down."
Central Bank Bill.
A bill which would carry out one
Of the proposals put forth by Cover
nor Olson in his inaugural address
has been introduced in the Senate by
three liberal members, Senators VIC
tor A. Lawson Of Willmar, Nels Peder-
sen Of Milan, and Fred Foslien OF
Garfield It asks the creation Of a
central bank, to be known as THE
Minnesota Bank"
The state and all its political sub
divisions would be compelled to de-
post their funds in this institution
II would have a capital stock Of 3d.
100000 divided into 10000 shares
10000 of which would be held by the
state.
Each state bank. savings bank and
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