Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-11-04
State Capitol News
BY A. I. HARRIS

The move for greater efficiency
and economy in the state government
received new impetus last week with
a request by Governor Benson to
the state commission of administra-
ton and finance to survey the work.
ing of all state departments in order
to weed out overlapping and I'M
needed jobs.
These two steps are the first in
a plan to bring the greatest efficiency
and economy into all state depart
ments and their subdivisions" the
Governor said in making the request.
"In formulating the new code of
ethics, I have merely put into the
record the dictates of common sense
under which most of our state en-
ployes already carry on their work.
Likewise, we are trying to straighten
out situations whereby identical
work being done in different depart
ments is paid for at widely varied
rates. The setting of minimum and
maximum rates of pay for different
occupations will be one result of this
coordination of our governments
work"
In his letter to the commission,
Benson outlined a five-point pro-
gram as guide. Highlights of this
were: Definite outlines of the func-
tons of departments; description of
all personnel and classification of
their work; elimination of super
fluous jobs; and an inventory of
available equipment.
The Governors letter put special
emphasis on the fact that public
service is public trust, and it should
be our aim at all times to serve con-
scientiously and faithfully in the per-
Torrance of our duties, thereby mer-
iting the trust placed in us by the
public"
Secretary of Agriculture Henry A.
Wallace said during a recent trip
through this section of the country
that 1.-The middle-weStern farmer is
riding high on his own tractor and
can get along without government
gas" The comment was made after
reporters asked if corn loans would
follow the recently instituted loans
to cotton producers.
Unfortunately Mr.. Wallace's meas
ure of the gas tank was not accurate.
Farmers produced heavy corn crop
this year and the result has been a
constant drop in price. Naturally,
there has developed a strong demand
for reinauguration of the corn seal
ing program. In past years, except
those of the worst drouth, the fed
eral government has made loans on
corn sealed" in farm cribs, thus
preventing the price from dropping
below the loan figure.
In southern Minnesota, where most
of the states corn crop is grown, the
need is a vital one. Farmers can
see no reason why Uncle Sam, hav-
ing dipped down into his jeans to
aid southern cotton farmers, can
not do the same for northern til
lers of the soil.
Not that such a program is ter
rifically expensive. Farmers will sell
the crop at later day and pay their
loans. In the meantime they avoid
the necessity of dumping grain into
an over-burdened market Main diff
ference will be that farmers, instead
of spectators, get the advantage of
seasonal price upturns.
1t is only fair that Uncle Sam loan
the corn farmers some gas.
The farmer is cheating himself
according to DR.. Raphael Zon, di-
rector of the Lake States Forest Ex-
pertinent Station, if he doesn't make
the most of the Woodlots on his farm
Properly taken care of, they will
year in addition to serving as soil
conservators, windbreaks and shelter
to farm buildings.
If they are allowed to become
down-at-heel, as many are, farm
erS will be minus an important re-
source and soil aid. A study of the
whole problem will be made by an
interim commission based, probably,
on report issued by the Lake States
Forest Experiment station on 'The
Forest Situation in the Hardwood
and Prairie Districts of Minnesota. I"
Nearly half a million dollars in
crease in taxes on iron ore came into
the state treasury from October l,
1886, to July l, 1887, according to
a report from c. A. Halverson, state
treasurer. Receipts for this period
were S776,463, while for the same
period last year they were S342,815.
The largest single payment was made
by the Oliver Iron Mining Co. The
increase is accounted for by greatly
enlarged output of iron ore mined
this year as well as the boost in the
rate of taxation from to 10 per
cent.
Immediate reforms at the Still
water state prison Sin accord with
practices recognized as sound by
penologists and prison authorities al
most without exceptiOn" will follow