Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-09-24

dragged into the controversy land how
come you got in. Bill?) And now that
things are getting rather hot for both
you and Gustafson and you can't an
swer any of the questions put before
you, you are trying to write about
something else and asking a lot OF
foolish questions which are ridiculous
and libelous. Everybody knows that
the county boards proceedings are
published afer every meeting, and IL
there were any such transactions as
you indicate in your questions. the
public examiner would surely find 1t
and would call the county board on
the carpet same as they did in the
Gustafson case; so your questions are
very silly and unethical, and don't
need an answer. All anybody has to
do is look up the record. But for
your benefit l will explain.
Question No. 2: This l explained
several times before and same is Of
record as l stated it, so why deny
this?
Question No. 3: l will let the pub
lie decide for themselves.
Question No. 4: Every county Off
cial must file an annual report with
the county board of commissioners
showing the amount he has collected
as his salary and fees. Mr.. Mista's
office is salary and fee office and
his report showed that he collected in
his office for 1894, $3594.57, which
was considerably more than any other
county official received for that year
in Pine county. Andrew Edin, county
auditor, was the next highest and he
received S2516.63 for that year. Out
of that he had to pay for some extra
help, and his office requires more
work than any other office in Pine
county, so the county board was urged
to reduce Mistas salary from 5000 to
$500. which was yet more than any
other county official received in Pine
county. Mista went to court and re-
tanned his former salary.
Questions No. 5, 6 and Z: Pine
county managed the Old Age Assist
ance, or pension as you call it, just
as Mr.. Haycraft from the st. Paul
office directed the county board. The
state office even sent two men down
from their office to help us get start
ed right and at no time did the state
even mention holding up any money
for Pine county on the Old Age AS
sistance, so these three questions are
another piece of bigotry, and you, pro-
Tossing as a doctor should know bet
ter. l am not any different than any
other notary public in the county, so
why bring up the matter of charge.
Ask the other notaries why they
charge a fee.
Question No. g. Everybody knows
that the county board must advertise
for a competitive bid for any work
that costs more than $500. This was
done on all county road work in Pine
county and we had several bidders
every time we let any work. Just
because the same man was always
low, which the proceedings will show,
he was awarded the contract, thereby
the county saved a lot of money. (See
records in auditors office). What's
wrong with that? Pine county has a
record to build more roads for the
same money than any other county
in the state since the gas tax was
adopted and nobody made more boiler
for snow blowing and more roads than
you did. Bill So why act so silly?
Question No. 8: Applies to your own
writings very nicely.
Question No. 10: If there were any
Irregularities they must have been
yours and Gustafson's, as the county
board had to reject and cut down many
bills presented by you two. The coun-
ty board never had any trouble with
any other county official; only Gustaf-
son.
Question No. II: l would say that
you and Gustafson have P. T. Barnum
backed way off the world. AS far as
fooling the public is concerned, Bar
mum could not hold a candle for you
guys.
Question No. -: Answered in ques-
ton No. 8.
Question No. 13: Just because you
were not drawn on any jury does not
prove that our juries were not quail
fled men and women.
Question No. IA: Is SO silly that 1
don't know just what he means unless
he means by saying Its up to you
and me" that you pay the taxes, and
l will collect my bills from the coun-
ty if you elect county commissioners
that will be in my favor. Yes, elect
his cousin.
By this I've answered every one Of
your questions. Now you and Gustaf-
son answer mine and Gebhardt's in
our previous letters. You, as presi-
dent of the school board, should know
why Gustafson made so many trips to
Willow River school.
F. w. STEFAN.
Willow River, Mimi.