Grand Rapids herald-review. [volume], February 02, 1927, Image 6

About Grand Rapids herald-review. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Itasca County, Minn) 1896-current

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GRAND RAPIDS HERALD-REVIEW
Entered at Post Office, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, as Second
OFFICIAL PAPER OF VILLAGE OF GRAND RAPIDS
L. A. ROSSMAN Publisher and Managing Editor
The Herald-Review Circulation Is larger than that of any
other newspaper published in Itasca county.
THE ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND DEBT
Nearly every citizen of Itasca will be great
ly surprised to learn that the overdraft in the
county road and bridge funds totals about
$450,000.
The citizens of the county did not realize
that the amount was so large. We had gone on
the assumption that the overdraft was being
gradually reduced. Such was the case in the
second and fourth commissioner districts. In
the other three districts there were increases
whose existence were not generally known. The
overdrafts in the districts total about $250,000,
the balance is in the Marcell road fund.
For many years the road and bridge funds
have been overdrawn. An overdrawn account
is not an innovation in Itasca county and the
county commissioners are not entirely respons
ible for its existence. For many years the pub
lic has approved this method of doing business.
It has demanded expenditures in advance of
income and the public always gets what it wish
es. Each commissioner, for years past, has gone
into office facing a burden of debt created by
his predecessor. Today, however, the overdraft
in the road and bridge fund is much larger than
ever before.
But now a time has come when the problem
must be solved by constructive action of Itasca’s
citizens with the co-operation of the commis
sioners and the county’s lawmakers at St. Paul.
In fact, some action, on the part of the legis
lature, is doubtless necessary. The levy for
roads and bridges for 1927 and most of 1928
has already been expended. Attorneys tell us
that it is likely that not even a penny may be ex
pended in 1927 under the law. Such a condition
would present something akin to a real catas
trophe to the county highways.
I
After consideration of the whole problem,
local citizens have definitely expressed an opin
ion that the best solution of the subject lies in a
bond issue to retire this indebtedness.
>
The county could borrow money of the state
for tour to five per cent while its warrants bear
six. That would be a saving. This method
would also clear up the situation without legal
complications. It would be simple, immediate
and effective.
But in these days the public does not care
for bond issues, especially if such an issue does
not really correct the situation. If a bond issue
simply means that the slate is cleared so that
the process of large l expenditures may begin
over again, such a plan would meet with no
public approval.
But a bond issue could be safeguarded by
several things which might be listed for con
sideration as follows:
(1) The term of the issue should be short.
It should be retired in a few years, say five or
more annual payments, the payments and in
terest to be the first charge against the road
and bridge funds for the year.
(2) The law should next provide that no
warrants may be drawn in excess of the money
levied and to be actually collected during the
year. To overdraw the funds would be a vio
lation of law, a clear, direct, punishable viola
tion of law.
(3) The time check system, should be
changed. No time check should be issued unless
a duplicate is immediately placed on file at the
office of the county auditor. A time check
would not be valid unless issued directly by
the commissioner in whose district the work was
done and all checks must have the written ap
proval of the majority of the board before be
coming a positive obligation of the county.
(4) The division of funds among the dif
ferent districts should be unlawful, and each
commissioner should consider that he represents
his district only as one who is to help in the
administration of affairs of the whole county.
A bond issua without such prohibitions
should not be considered.
The meeting of citizens with commissioners
yesterday came to conclusions which embody
the features, in a general way, mentioned above.
The law proposed seems to meet with general
satisfaction. The restriction of the road and
bridge levy to five mills will certainly keep ex
penditures for new construction to a low point.
In fact, it will doubtless curtail new road con
struction for a period of years. However, the
five mills may be sufficient. If too low, the next
session of the legislature could modify it.
At least the meeting yesterday was marked
by genuine demands for economy. This is the
SIX
Class Mail Matter.
OFFICIAL PAPER OF ITASCA COUNTY
Subscription, $2.00 Per Pear.
Telephone. Husiness and Editorial Departments, ISP.
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Wednesday
exact reversal of the general public sentiment
which has prevailed and which has been at the
basis of the present condition. The commis
sioners will naturally, as the servants of the
public, carry out the public’s demands.
ALTERNATING SEASON FAILS
Sentiment for the buck law is constantly in
creasing.
The alternating season plan is being dis
carded. We noted that the Izaak Walton League
chapter at Hibbing went on record last week
for a six year closed season. Since Hibbing
sportsmen have been so enthusiastic in the past
for the alternating season, we assume that the
method, which they have seen tried, has not
been successful.
And the six year closed season would be as
bad. What is the use of closing the season for
six years and then opening it to a wholesale
and nearly complete slaughter of all the deer
that have been raised?
There is no effective method of protecting
the deer herd except by saving the breeding
stock.
The growing sentiment for the buck law is
illustrated from the following item in the Park
Rapids Enterprise:
The annual meeting - of the Community club de
veloped a very noticeable change in local sentiment
regarding the deer hunting law for this state. Two
years ago when members of the club took a ballot
on the “one buck law” there was not a vote recorded
favoring the measure. At the meeting Friday eve
ning the vote stood practically 50-50 on the propo
sition. The recent hunting season made it very
plain that the deer need greater protection than
they have had, and it may be the best plan to try
out in Minnesota the “buck law” that is being used
to build up the deer herds in other states.
A KINDLY, USEFUL MAN
We saw in the press the other day a very
vx ell deserved tribute to G. A. Merrill, who is
head of the state institution for children at
Owatonna.
For over 40 years, ever since it was started,
Mr. Merrill has been head of the home for de
pendent and neglected children. In that 40
years nearly 8,000 children have come to that
home. Some have remained but a short time.
Babies are in demand and at the home in Owa
tonna there are on file over 500 applications
from those who wish to adopt babies, girls pre
ferred. Older children are cared for in the
institution, given an education under very fa
vorable conditions and are sent out into the
world able to contend with the problems of life.
Some of the boys from the Owatonna school
have developed into leading men of the state
and nation.
We know of no one in Minnesota who is
more representative of the kindly spirit and
the useful life than Mr. Merrill.
MR. McADOO’S OPEN STAND
It was a pleasure to read William G. Mc-
Adoo’s definite stand on the prohibition ques
tion. In speaking before the Ohio State Bar
association last week Mr. McAdoo stated that
the present campaign to break down the pro
hibition laws was simply part of an extended
campaign for corruption of all kinds.
And, of course, it is a fact that the organized
liquor business has always played with the dis
reputable, not the law abiding elements.
Mr. McAdoo’s statement will not help the
democratic party. The republicans all enjoy it.
This stand means a wide open split with Gov
ernor Smith and Tammany on one end and
McAdoo and the western and southern demo
crats on the other.
Such pronouncements on the part of a man
who is a potential candidate for office may not
elect him to that office. Such statements are
not good for the democrats, but of great value
to the country.
HOLD THE TAX LAW OFF
We note that legislation under the forestry
amendment is proposed for the present session
of the state legislature. It was recommended
by the governor that an interim^ commission
study the whole question and report its findings
to the lawmakers in two years.
Itasca county is vitally interested; in this
question. Our chief interest is to see that what
is done is proper and fair.
The Herald Review believes that no one
knows enough about this problem to suggest
final legislation on this subject.
The citizens of this county should stand op
posed to any legislation until it is known, be
yond a reasonable doubt, that the proposed
legislation is correct. And even if the legisla
ture could make the proper laws in 60 days, the
public could not approve them in that time.
BETTER THAN WE THINK
We sometimes accuse the modern girl of
too much attention to her charms. The vanity
case and the lip stick are set up as new neces
sities, to show the vanity of the race and gen
eration.
But in our criticisms we have failed to con
sider women elsewhere. The savage women
deform themselves most cruelly. We recently
saw a picture of a South African maiden who
weighed less than a hundred pounds, but had
bedecked herself with over a hundred pounds
in jewelry and finery.
The more civilized people become the more
sensible they are.
MUST HAVE SOME MONEY
Local citizens should not forget that the
North Central School needs constructive atten
tion by the legislature.
The school needs enough money for main
tenance. The board of regents say that $lO,-
000 is enough. It isn’t. You cannot run an
agricultural school, a new one and growing one,
for the salary of a football coach at a university.
GRAND RAPIDS
TWENTY YEARS AGO |
From the Herald-Review of this |
date, 1907 ,
I— *
Mr. and Mrs. James Passard an
nounce the birth of a daughter last
Friday.
Andrew Hedquist, an aged settler
living near Deer lake, died Sunday
night from heart disease.
Virgil, the six year old son of W.
W. Fletcher, was run ovei} by a
sleigh and severely injured about the
body.
The meeting of the Woman’s club
at the home of Mrs. Gilbert on Tues
day saw the lectures of Miss Doran
on Japan concluded.
On Feb. 11, the ski tournament will
be held at Bovey, on the ski slide
of the Itasca Ski club. Many people
from here plan to attend.
Rev. John H. Randahi of St. Peter
is residing in this village for the
winter. We are informed it is his
intention to establish a colony on
land he purchased a few miles north
of the village.
Officers were installed at the Royal
Neighbor lodge meeting on Monday
evening. They are Mattie Stevens,
oracle; Lidia Tuel, vice oracle; Mar
garet McCormick, chancellor; Louise
Lothrop, recorder; Augusta Lof berg,
keeper; Edna Lofberg, marshal.
Advices from Crookston say that
George A. Ralph and party of engi
neers left for points in Clearwater
county, where they are resuming the
survey of swamp lands, stopped some
time ago for lack of funds. Parts of
Clearwater, Beltrami, Itasca and St.
Louis counties yet remain to be sur
veyed. It is hoped to have the work
completed by June.
Last Monday evening fire destroy
ed the large general store and two
warehouses owned by Ernest Flem
ing at Bena. While endeavoring to
save his books and some personal
property, Mr. Fleming was badly
burned through the explosion of a
can of gunpowder in the store. He
was brought to Grand Rapids by spe
cial train, and is in St. Benedict’s
hospital.
A debate is scheduled to be held
at the high school on Friday evening.
The subject is in regard to the gov
ernment ownership of railroads. The
speakers for the affirmative are Ed
ward Ramquist, Clarence Shannon
and Katherine Gilbert. Those on the
negative side are Norman Tully, Al
len Doran and William King. Gold,
silver and bronze medals will be given
the three best speakers.
The new mining town of Coleraine,
adjacent to Bovey, which is to be the
center of mining operations for the
Oliver Iron Mining company, is to
have a new school house which will
cost $60,000. It may sound some
what unusual that a town which has
not over a dozen buildings should
have so large a school house, but the
members of the school board in that
district are assured by mining com
pany officials that there will be so
great an increase in population with
in the next year that such a building
will be none too large.
TEMPERATURE READINGS. !
. i.
High Low
January 26 0 -51
January 27 21 —lO
January 28 33 14
January 29 31 11
January 30 31 -5
January 31 15 -6
February 1 21 —6
PROBATE OFFICE
IS BUSY PLACE
(Continued from Page 1)
from the increased number of files
and returns from certified copies, this
part of the work has increased not
less than forty per cent.
The cases in insanity and feeble
mindedness show an increase of 100
per cent. The cost of such hearings
in 1924 was $1,909.69, in 1926 the
expense was $2,056.38. In other
words there was twice as much work,
or 100 per cent more work done with
seven ner cent more cost.
In the matter of county aid an
enormous amount of work has been
done. In 1924 there was expended
for this purpose $22,845, in 1926,
$13,095.
Consider these figures and vertify
by consulting your county auditor’s
financial statement for these years:
1924 1926
County allowances_s22,B4s.oo $13,095.00
Insanities and fee-
ble-mindedness _ 1,099.69 *2,056.38
Dependencies and
delinquencies 486.20 **2,735.68
Totals $25,240.89 $17,887.06
Fees turned into
county $254.15
Refunds _ z 87.54
•Twice as many cases.
**Six times as many cases.
zsss of this to appear in 1927 state
ment.
Anywhere from two to six times as
much work has been done with a sav
ing of $7,353.83. Also, fees in the
•’mount of $254.15 as against SOOO
have been turned into the county,
also a refund of $87.54, making a
total saving of $7691.12.
“The funny thing about it is,” the
court did not set out to save this
money; it set out to deal fairly and
justly and honorably with all comers
and one of the results was the saving
of the money. But, the saving of
cold dollars and cents is not the great
est consideration. If the sum total of
character has not been lifted because
of “Mercy-seasoned” justice done;
unadulterated honesty strictly ad
hered to in all matters, big and little;
and honor and integrity maintained
at whatever cost, the work in the pro
bate and juvenile court can rightly be
termed a failure.
ELECTRIC
Treatments
EAR, NOSE AND THROAT
Medicine and Surgery
Laboratory Work
Dr. Jules F. Gendron
PHONES—Res. 203: Office 251.
HOURS—9-12 a.m.; 1-5, 7-8 p.m.
mcalpine building
GRAND RAPIDS, MINNESOTA
VIEW
Communication
It seems that a petition is being cir
culated in regard to certain proposed
changes in the salary of the county
attorney and probate judge of this
county. I find that several who have
signed this petition, have done so un
der a mistaken impression as to the
meaning of the petition. I believe,
therefore, that the full facts in the
case should be made clear to the pub
lic. In fairness to the present coun
ty attorney and probate judge, I
would say that this is written without
the knowledge, advice or consent of
either of them.
The salary of the probate judge of
this county was fixed by a law passed
in 1915 at SIOO for each million dol
lars of assessed valuation in the coun
ty. Under this law, C. B. Webster
received a salary of $2,900 per year.
In addition to this, he drew an extra
salary of $1,500 as clerk of the Poor
and Hospital commission.
During the last few years, the tax
able valuation of the county has been
shrinking rapidly. At present, it is
twenty-six million dollars, and will
probably go much lower. The salary
of the probate judge has shrunk to
$2,600, and will continue to decline
unless the law is changed.
Although the salary of the office
has been thus reduced, the number of
estates and other matters within the
jurisdiction of the probate court, has
rapidly increased. I know lam safe
in saying that since 1920, the work in
that office has more than doubled. It
will also be borne in mind that the
cost of living has increased about
two-thirds since 1915—when the
present law was passed.
I have nothing to say about the
present judge of probate, unless it be
to express my opinion that she has
filled the office creditably and con
scientiously. However, it is the
OFFICE and not the incumbent that I
am concerned with at present. There
is no more important office in the
county than that of the judge of pro
bate. All estates in the county, all
guardianship and insanity matters,
and juvenile delinquencies are dealt
with by that office. An ignorant, care
less or dishonest judge can cause an
enormous amount of delay, expense
and distress to widows, orphans and
others who are least able to look out
for their own interests. Since it is
impossible to secure a qualified per
son for an underpaid office, I believe
the salary of the judge of probate
should be at least that of the other
county officials, namely $3,000 a
year. The bill introduced injthe sen
ate by Senator Thwing proposes to fix
it at that amount.
As to the county attornev, the sal
ary in this county was established by
a law passed in 1915 at $3,000 per
year. As the work of that office has
increased, as has also the cost of liv
ing, the legislature in 1921 authorized
the county board to pay the county
attorney an additional SI,OOO per
year until his term of office expired.
During the preesnt year, the coun
ty board has not allowed the present
county attorney the SI,OOO author
ized by law, which it had allowed to
Mr. Stone. The salary’, therefore, of
the present county attorney is only
$3,000, instead of $4,000, as it has
been during the past years. The
proposed law would fix the salary at
$4,000 —the same amount as Mr.
Stone received—independent of the
action of the county board. If that
was a proper salary from 1921 to
1926—and there was no petition cir
culated against it then—it certainly is
proper now. There should be no dis
crimination against the present coun
ty attorney.
Something has been said about the
effect of these proposed bills ON
TAXES. In fact, people are being
asked to sign this petition on the
solemn assurance that it will, in some
mysterious way, affect their taxes.
The tax levied last year to cover ex
penses of the county, including school
districts, towns and villages, was
52,442,012.33. The road and bridge
THE VALUE OF A LIFETIME!
Beauty and Value
8-Piece Ail Walnut
A new Rockford make suite of undescribable beauty in design and
quality. Consisting of the 8 foot extension table and six chairs, one
being the host chair. Chair seats covered in finest quality blue leather.
KREMER FURNITURE & HARDWARE CO.
GRAND RAPIDS —^j^ NESOTA
warrants alone issued by the county
in 1926 amounts to $538,756.38. I
ask the reader to figure out for him
self how this petition and the things
it asks for, will make a difference »f
ONE CENT in his taxes. Rightly
viewed, the proposed bills are not
INCREASING salaries. They are
simply RESTORING the county at
torney’s salary’ to what it was in 1926
and prior years, and the salary’ of the
probate judge to substantially what it
was in 1924 and prior years.
There is a sane and sensible way
of reducing expenditures, and there
are many’ practical ways of accom
plishing this. They cannot be dis
cussed in an article of this size. But,
in conclusion, I will say that a reduc
tion in salaries of the probate judge
and county attorney of this county
will inevitably result in reducing the
caliber of the persons who will here
after fill those offices. And that will
be the most extravagant form of so
called economy this county has ever
attempted.
DAIRYMEN LIKED
EVENING SCHOOLS
been tested for tuberculosis, and all
given a clean bill of health.
Agricultural evening schools are
held for adult farmers on almost any
topic, such as dairying and poultry,
by the Smith-Hughes agricultural de
partments in the state. Not less than
ten farmers must sign up for a
course, while the classes are limited
to twenty. Expenses are met by funds
secured from the federal government,
the state, and the school district in
which the meetings are held. During
the past six years, a large number of
localities have been given the benefit
of such lessons, in different parts of
Itasca county.
| their former value.
i • i
। I
I B. L. LIEBERMAN CO. |
GRAND RAPIDS The Store of Quality MINNESOTA
Reduced
for
Clearance!
$ 176.00
February 2, 1927
HOWARD W. ANDERSON.
(Continued from Page 1}
MONUMENTS
delivered to all parts of the north
west. Write for free catalogue
and save 20 per cent.
GREENE-GRIGNON
GRANITE CO.
1816 W. Superior St., Duluth, Minn.
The Big Sale at
LIEBERMAN’S
will last all this week.
Everything in the store
goes at 10 per cent re
duction for cash and
many items sell for as
low as 50 per cent of
WINTER FROLIC AT
KEEWATIN SUNDAY
(Continued from Page 1)
men and a team of married men from
down town. The other is to be a com
edy game, w’ith players in masquerad’*
costumes. ,
Between the hockey games there
will be skating races and exhibitions
of fancy skating. Ski races are also
promised.
The Keewatin winter frolic is be
ing supported through the sale of
carnival buttons this week. No charge
is to be made for admission to any of
the events of Saturday evening or
Sunday.
‘FUNERAL EMBLEM’
SPECIALISTS
Moderate Prices.
Best Workmanship.
DULUTH FLOHAL COMPANY
Duluth. Minn.
Special value Casket Sprays, tied
with Chiffon Bow and Fancy Ferns,
92.50. 9XOO, 94.410. 95.00. OVDO,
SIO.OO. 91XOO, *15.410. 920.00.
FURNITURE
REPAIRING and
UPHOLSTERING
LIGHT JOBBING
I am prepared to serve the
people of Grand Rapids who
desire furniture repaired or up
holstered. The work will be
done at my residence on Fifth
street and Clough avenue.
Second-hand furniture bought
and sold.
Orders may be left at the
Johnsen Grocery or the Le
Sarge Store.
Harry Lyford
Grand Rapids Minnesota
Combined
Dining Suite
Regular
$234
Value!