Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-10-29
State Capitol News
BY A. /. HARRIS

against a sales tax. Then he said
nobody wants a sales tax IF it can
possibly be escaped" Everybody knew
it was the position Of the Republican
party that it could not be escaped.
But, as the storm and fury gathered
around his head, he insisted he was
always misunderstood and that he
would not recommend sales tax to
the Legislature.
But the merchants and consumers
of this state have risen up in arms
against him and they are not satisfied
with his evasive answers. At no time
has Mr.. Nelson stated positively that
he will veto a sales tax bill If one
is submitted to him.
Mr.. Nelson's latest Che is becoming
quite contortionist) is that he could
administer the state government with
out a sales tax 'if''-and then he pro-
ceeds to give three Ifs" One OF the
Ifs" is stimulation and revival of
business under Republican policies.
This, he evidently believes, will bring
back special taxes, such as the gross
earnings tax on railroads, to where
they were before the depression, thus
making it possible to reduce the state
real estate levy.
But there is fly in the ointment,
and that is the fact that it was these
Republican policies under Hoover
which brought about the depression
and consequently the droppage in spe-
cial taxes In other words, he is try
ing to sell the people a gold brick.
Latest efforts of the Republicans to
blast the state highway department
because of the purchase of land on
Trunk Highway Sc near Columbia
Heights revealed that State Auditor
Stafford King had personally approved
the Land purchase.
The complaint was that the high
chased the land by condemnation pro-
ceedings. But the department saved
money by not going to court and Stat
ford King approved the deal. The
original amount asked for the prop
erty was $4,000 but the highway de-
partment negotiated until the figure
was reduced to $16,400. The highway
department had no authority to pur-
chase the Land without the state audi
tors approval. He approved!
A lot of loose statements are being
made these days about the finances
of the conservation department.
These statements are, of course, for
political purposes, and a certain
amount of latitude must be allowed.
Nevertheless, here are the cold, bald
facts:
cially than at any time in its history.
During the six years of Farmer-Labor
administration (Olson administration
funds diminished $374,427. To offset
this the department expended in per-
manent improvements such as land
acquisition for conservation purposes
S671,200. This remarkable showing
was accomplished despite dropping
off in revenue from hunting and fish
licenses of from 100000 to 100000
year; expenditure of 100000 in
stream pollution studies by the State
Board of Health; and diversion OF
$16S,626 in wolf bounties and $4,000
for forest fighting purposes.
Attorney General Harry H. Peterson
has been driving hard the fact that
the platform of the Republican party
says nothing about public utilities.
In a recent speech he pointed out
that st. Paul telephone users have
saved 100000 as a result of efforts
of his office. He added, Telephone
users in Minneapolis are entitled to
reduction of over $1,OO0,0OO a year
and other local communities are en-
titled to a similar reduction"
Gradually the union of progressive
forces in the nation becomes more
definite. United States Senator Hen
rik Shipstead, veteran Farmer-Labor-
lite, came out strongly for Roosevelt
and the Farmer-Labor party last
week.
''The present goal" he declared, ais
a liberal government controlled by all
the people," AS more and more lib
erals forget state and personal diff
ferences to unite for the election OF
President Roosevelt and the defeat OF
reaction, the power of the people to
control becomes apparent.
Senator Shipstead's statement that
analysis by the National Industrial
Relations Board that the last three
years of the Hoover administration
cost American wage earners 81 bill.
lion dollars in lost wages, American
businessmen AZ billion dollars in lost
dividends and rents, and American
corporations % billions more, amount
ing to a total of 100 billion dollars
for three years or 33 billion dollars
a year, is startling when compared