Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-10-03
Petersen Keynotes;
Exposes Misrule
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Exposes Misrule
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36,219 miles investigating the cases
in this limited area.
Mileage Spree.
In addition to that, the report shows
S2,249.82 travel expense paid to the
Division of Social Welfare, State Re-
lief Agency. At five cents mile,
this sum would pay for 44,896 miles
of travel. That makes grand total
of 81,115 miles, which is more than
three times around the world. And,
remember, the tornado covered an
area only 20 miles long and 500 feet
wide. Let the governor explain that
one! And let the chips fall where
they may.
County Commissioner Sanderson,
whose damage, the appraiser informs
me, was set at $500, received S.
341.87. He filed for reelection, but
withdrew from the race.
Let the governor also tell the story
about the new Max Stenglein home
built with tornado funds.
Ray Chase says that l know no.
thing about this Anoka matter. True,
1 have had no $4,000 investigating
fund to play politics with, but, we do
know that the distribution of these
funds constitutes a major scandal,
and that the blame lies with "the
states big three who administered
the fund.-. The words, ''the states
big three who administered the fund.-
are taken from the Anoka Herald
published by Mrs. Roe Chase.
Sightseeing Governor.
If the governor had spent less time
in New York and Winnipeg, and
travelling from coast to coast, major
scandals might not have developed
quite so early in his administration
The governor says the state is Sl8,-
100000 better off than when he took
office. He has submitted no proof
No official report showing the finan-
cial condition of the state for the
! fiscal years 1889 and 1910 has been
issued, although the 1889 law re-
quires that such reports be prepared
quarterly and annually and be avail
able to the public. The governor just
talks and expects us to believe him
l doubt the governors statements
and 1 am going to tell you why.
The governor claims that a cut OF
fully 25 per cent has been made in the
number of state employees. This
statement is falSe
Negligible Cut.
Leaving out the highway depart
ment for the moment, there were 12,-
349 employees on the state payroll in
July of 1888. In July, 1889, under
Stassen, 1888; and in July, 1910
1924, showing very little change ir
the number of employees.
If we include the highway depart
ment, the reduction is II per CEN
less than the governor claims.
During Farmer-Labor administra.
tons, effort was made, due to the
unemployment situation, to give work
to more people. The employment
was staggered in the highway depart.
ment. In other words, the work wa:
divided amongst more individuals
The maintenance and some construc-
ton work was done through day la
Dor.
Formerly one person worked hall
a month, and another person the
other half, thus giving work to two
The present administration employs
one individual throughout the month
which cuts the personnel in half
There are many heads of families
with few acres of land who are hap.
py to have some additional income
aside from their little farm, which
means much to them. Therefore, re-
ducing the employment rolls in the
manner done is nothing to boast about
Contractors do Hiring.
Besides, the construction work is
now nearly all done through con-
tracts, and the contractors, not the
state, hire the men. Nevertheless
the state pays the bill.
Another reason for reduction in
highway employment is that less i'm
provement has been made on Mime
sofa roads. For example, in 1898
As miles of roads were paved. Ir
1889, only 81 miles. In 1888, total
of 760 miles were covered with BIZ
luminous sealcoating. In 1899, only
SO miles. There was also less new
grading and re-graveling in 1899 as
compared with 1888.
If the governor is as inaccurate ir
his financial statements as he is about
the percentage of reduction of en-
ployes, you voters can draw YOU
own conclusions.
Personnel Climbs.
Of course the governor can show
a reduction of employees in certain
departments, but, if he does, ther
La L. all