Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-06-04

all the issues CnaC Will come up
during the campaign. But, do want
to submit certain pertinent inquiries.
Three months ago, at Mankato, the
governor magnanimously announced
that he would not be a candidate
for fourth term. Now he cuts
twenty months off the third term.
Unless he chooses not to run, the
voters will slice off the other four
months.
The governor has told the people
that it is essential to their welfare
that he be reelected governor for
term of four months to supervise
the 1913 Legislature. Under our
constitution, the Legislature makes
the laws. The governor has only the
power to recommend laws and to
veto them. Obviously, when Mr..
Stassen told the people that he was
the one indispensable man, who must
be in the governors chair while the
Legislature is in session, he meant
that he must be there to put through
certain laws and to kill other laws.
1t is proper and fitting to address
the governor direct inquiries as to
what laws he intends to approve and
what laws he intends to oppose.
1 want to ask him several ques-
tons:
l. Does the governor propose to
continue alliance with the same in
terests that worked with him to
purge the Republican national COM
mitteeman?
2. Does he intend, during the leg
iSlative session, to continue to use
the public service of Minnesota as
political fodder to be bartered away
for his own political advantage, as
he did, when he offered to appoint
the Republican national committee
man as director of the State Rural
Credit department if he would re-
sign? Does he intend to use his
power of appointment to public Of
flee as political spoils, as he did, when
he offered to appoint the Republican
county chairman of Hennepin county
member of the Board of Grain
Appeals if he would promise not
to seek reelection?
3. Will he continue to ignore the
necessity for legislation to give the
men and women in our armed serv-
ices the right to vote without cost
to them?
4. Will he oppose amendment of
the pernicious So per cent interest
law which compels our poorer peo-
pie to pay more interest in a month
on the amount of money they are
compelled to borrow, than the State
of Minnesota pays on the same
amount in year?
5. Does he intend to oppose re-
peal of the unfair homestead lien
law which puts lien on the homes
of persons whose necessities have
compelled them to accept the aid
provided by law?
6. Does the governor intend to
explain how it happened that for
1941 when 64,000,0O0 tons of iron ore
were mined in Minnesota the state
collects in occupational taxes $780,
when 100000 tons were mined?
In other words when the ore pro-
duction went up 100000 tons the
state tax revenue went down
$6OO,OO0
Because of the extraordinary de-
mands made on our citizens during
wartime state and local tax bur-
dens must be lightened wherever
possible. I recommend a lower tax
on passenger automobiles common
surate with the curtailed use of cars.
Such reduction of the license
fee will not affect the proportionate
amount of aid received by counties
and townships from the tax on gaso-
line. The gasoline tax must be
maintained so that, more and more,
all highway costs will be borne by
highway users instead of through
general property taxes.
The restrictions on tires has linn
tied the use of passenger cars. Gas
oline has already been rationed in
here. Orders reducing driving speeds
are already in effect.
All of us are glad to join in MAX
ing these sacrifices in order to help
win the war.
The result of these conditions and
restrictions is that there will be less
driving and at slower speeds and
hence less wear and tear on the
highways. The cost of maintaining
highways can, therefore, be reduced.
New construction involving the use
of steel and other war materials
must be drastically curtailed.
These savings in expenditures
should be passed on to automobile
owners. They will have less use