St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-09-04
|Stassen Lists
Proposals for
1913 Legislature
Maps Out Program to Meet Critical
War Problems and Outlines
Financial Gains of Past
Four Years
(By Stassen Publicity Service)

Jul CoA0
(By Stassen Publicity Service)
Summarizing the improvements
made in the state government dur
ing the past four years, Governor
Harold E. Stassen in an address
this week outlined a program for
the coming session of the legisla-
ture which he said will be neces-
sary to consolidate these gains and
meet the problems growing out OF
the war.
Highlighted in the Governors
address, along with social and well
fare advances, was summary Of
financial gains, which, he said, have
resulted from four years of Re-
publican administration. Support
ing his statements with certified
copies of reports from the offices
of State Auditor Stafford King and
State Treasurer Julius Schmahl,
Governor Stassen said improve
ments had been made as follows:
Total state spending has been re-
duced from $108,629,S in 1888
fiscal year, under previous admins
tration, to SOL, O07,458 in 1910
fiscal year, first full fiscal year I'M
der present administration, a re-
duction of some $7,600,000, and
down to $1OO,76O,84 for 1941 fiscal
year, making reduction of nearly
$8,0OO,O00 compared with 1888.
State debt has been cut down
100000 since January, 1889.
Number of persons employed by
state departments has been reduced
from 1878 on July LIST, 1888, to
1882 on July LIST, 1912.
School trust funds have been in
creased $23,OOO,OOO.
The deficit of $8,500,000 that ex-
listed in the general revenue fund
on December 81, 1888, has been
eliminated and a surplus of $3,000,-
900 accumulated. In addition, the
state has a balance in the income
tax school fund of 100000 and
cash reserve of $5,0OO,OO in the
highway fund, making cash re-
serves of $12,O 100000 in all.
Outlining his program for the
legislature, Governor Stassen pro-
posed that:
1. Five million dollars of pres
ent SURPRISES be set aside to help
men in the armed forces get started
when they return after the war.
2. Action be taken to reduce the
state tax on real estate, with the
idea of eliminating it entirely in a
few years.
3. A reserve fund for postwar
construction be set aside in the
highway department and plans de-
veloped now for a postwar works
program of extended highways
throughout the state to help meet
need for work in readjustment
period after the war.
4. That conservation projects,
erection Of teachers college build
ings and possibly a few airports
be authorized for postwar read
justment period.
5. Non-war spending be reduced.
6. Legislation be passed grant
ing special authority to meet criti-
cal need for farm help that may
develop next year.
7. Legislation be enacted for a
strong civilian defense program to
continue and enlarge present pro-
gram, which rests on emergency
powers that expire when legisla-
ture meets.
8. That the legislature pass
emergency measures requested by
War Department and War Produc-
ton Board to meet problems grow
ing out of war.
9. Action be taken to make
needed improvements in state bust
ness manager system, civil service
for state employees, state labor re-
lations act and welfare acts with
out destroying fundamental prin-
| cinloS