Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-01-05

!Ov AMERICAN, ASKOv, MINI
recently received from the former
Budget Commissioner, and conse-
quently I have determined that the
best procedure would be to transmit
the former Budget Commissioner
budget to you for such information
that it may contain, but with a spe-
cific statement that I do not concur
in its recommendations.
Will Spend Less.
I also wish to present at this time
the detectives toward which we are
working in our consideration of the
budget and tax program. On the
basis of securing civil service and the
consolidation of state bureaus, we are
determined that in this next biennium
we shall spend less money than in
the two years that have gone by.
We are further determined that at
the conclusion of the next two years,
| Stdtc SIldl1 lldVC q III
debtedness than it now has, and fin
ally, Notwithstanding, the acute finan-
cial condition that we inherit, we shall
not have a sales tax, and we shall
seek to avoid any increase in real
estate taxes. The complete details
of our recommended budget and tax
program, as have stated before
will be outlined in subsequent mes
sage to you.
These four matters of civil service
consolidation and simplification OF
the government, labor relations leg
islation, and our financial problems
are the major considerations before
you. They are the measures upon
which the people of the state have
clearly expressed their wishes. There
are numerous other matters that are
of Importance and will be considered
by you. Some of them may well
be the subject of special communica-
tons from the governors office to
you from time to time.
| Against Loan Sharks.
WISH dL ILLS llIIlC W ESPECIALLY
mention legislation to curb the small
loan sharks, who are daily preying
upon small wage-earners of our prin-
cipal cities, and as they ply their
vicious tactics are leaving in their
wake a toll of suffering and despair
and want and desperation such as nc
other single activity has done. There
will be presented to you, supported
by the Federation of Labor and many
civic organizations, legislation to curb
the activities of these leeches who
were recently exposed in the city OF
Minneapolis, by the action of the
County Attorneys office of that city
to be collecting from four hundred
to thousand percent interest. Leg
islation which has been successful in
most of the other states of the Union
in curbing and regulating this activ-
ity and in making it possible for small
wage-earners who are confronted
with emergency needs for money, tc
secure small loans at reasonable rates
of interest, should be passed by this
session of the legislature.
! There are certain general principles
that I urge that you do not lose sight
of at any time during this session
of the legislature. The first is the
fact that agriculture is the very basic
industry in Minnesota. The farmers
of the state have suffered and are
suffering from their lack of parity
The low prices of agricultural pro-
ducts presents an acute condition
The high taxes on their real estate
and the high cost of interest on their
mortgages and indebtedness, and the
very vital place that agriculture plays
in the future of the state, makes this
entire problem one of major concern
for us. Although this is a problem
of national scope and Of necessity
requires national action, it is a sit
uation which you should never lose
sight of in the consideration of any
legislative proposal that affects agri-
culture. Likewise, you should recog-
nize the responsibility of Minnesota as
one of the outstanding agricultural
states of the nation to take position
of leadership in cooperation with its
farmers and in urging national &C.
ton to meet their problems.
Would Better Lot for All.
i It must also be a principle that
we adequately meet the needs OF
those men and women who through
no fault of their own are in need OF
public assistance. More jobs for ou1
unemployed should be the watchword
of our administration. Even since
November 9th the attitude of con-
fidence and of encouragement on the
part of business has resulted in num-
erous announcements of extensions
of plants and new activities and more
jobs within the state. BY your &C.
tons and the manner in which you
carry them on, you can help mater
tally in increasing and continuing
this confidence and this development
to build up Minnesota and create more
and more jobs for our people.
Our administration will also enter
into an extensive program for youth
The fact that thousands and thou