The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-01-19

legislator finds himself facing the
problem of being in three or four
different places at the same NOM
ent. With appropriations, educa-
ton, highways and crime proven
ton all meeting immediately after
the session" the writer, keenly in
terested in all four, often finds
himself in a position where ne must
make serious sacrifices. Each i'm.
portant committee has large num-
Der of measures to consider, many
hearings must be held and long
discussions must take place, but
so numerous are the conflicts of
committee meeting that each COM
mittee can hardly meet more than
two or three times week and
then two or three times week
and then many members must sac
rifice other important committee
meetings to attend. As the legis-
lature grows older, the length of
each days session, in senate and
house, increases, still further en-
croaching upon the time of the
committees.
Speeches Are Few.
1t is an entirely erroneous con-
clusion that speechmaking is the
principal business of member of
the legislature. His time is most
ly taken up with examining bills,
discovering their defects and de-
Gliding upon their merits. As the
session lengthens discussion on the
floor of each chamber increases,
but set speeches" are not frequent
explanation of bills and answers
to questions are far more import
ant than oratory.
| To Representative Barnes of
West Duluth fell the honor of the
first consideration given bill on
the floor of the house and the first
real speech of the session. The
first bill to be considered by the
committee of the whole in the
house this session was Mr.. Barnes
bill TO permit married women in
filing for Office to use their hus-
bands surnames. There was no
opposition apparently, but Mr..
Barnes made considerable speech
nevertheless and was quite general
ly applauded as he finished.
! In the committee of the whole,
the Speaker or the Lieutenant Gov
ernor do not preside. but call some
member of the chamber to the
chair instead. Carl Iverson of
Grant, the opposition candidate for
Speaker was so honored on the
first occasion this year and he pre-
sided easily and ably. Only two
bills were under consideration, how
ever, and his period of authority
with the gavel was brief.
5 Rural Credits Stirs Interest.
Probably the greatest interest
thus far manifested in any pro-
posed law has to do with the rural
credits bill A committee of ten
/ one from each congressional dis
trict, met in December and drafted
the bill which is modelled somewhat
on the South Dakota rural credits
act. Several meetings of the mar
ketS and marketing committee have
been held for the consideration OF
this bill and each meeting has been
crowded The bill proposes to
make the state lender of money
to farmers. Some have estimated
that such loans may exceed $780,.
100000. This fact alone clearly
shows that the proposed act il
fraught with pitfalls and dangers
TO the state and demands that the
most extreme care should be USED
in determining the details of the
act. The contest of 1872, for 8
! commission or a single commission
er to administer the new state high
! way law is on again in connection
with the rural credits bill. Shall
| single man commissioner handle
the job? Shall we create another
state commission of which we al
ready have too many? Shall VIZ
load the work on the shoulders of {
committee of state officers? How
shall the loans be limited? VIII,
shall be entitled to get them? Ovel
these and many other features the
battle RACES nows in committee anC
will later make no small din OF
the floor of both houses.
Children are Expensive.
i Of the appropriations of the 1921
legislature nearly one half, or about
100000 were for public educa
ton in Minnesota. This is ar
}, amount almost equal to all the ex
penses of state government in 1917
This year the legislature will bt
asked for $22,000,0O0. The stat,
now pays only about ID per cent Of
the cost of the common schools oil
Minnesota. Consider how these fig
ures, already perfectly appalling t.
Ted Christensen, chairman Of
the appropriations committee, viii
mount if we adopt the suggestion
of Professor Swift who wants tn.
state to pay IS per cent. Profes
sor Swift has fine scheme ant
some very able arguments for it
but we feel quite sure that hi:
plan is much too swift for the Leg
islature of 1923.
i Children are apparently getting
more expensive every moment II
1900 the total cost of maintaining
the public schools in Minnesota wa!
something more than $4,000, 900
but in 1922 it had mounted to the
| enormous total of more than $56,
100000 or about one-haif of al
expenses of state and local subdivi
sions Of government.
Other Eye-fulI. Matters.
There is the bill of Nolan, Bern
ard and others to control loans il
which the rate of interest il in ex
cess Of 10 per cent-the so-callec
loan-shark bill. Queer, isn't it, tha
We have to pass law to forbid the
! doing of an illegal thing? There
is the Nimocks bill to permit {
speed of 35 miles per hour or
state highways and to shear loca
courts of their power to fine the
speeder, giving that authority tc
the state highway department, 8
provision which seems to be due fol
rough handling. The capital pun
ishment bill is in and already there
is deal of suffering over it
Three bills to tax royalties On iron
ore are contending for .'progres
sive" honors.. Miss Myrtle Cain
wants to Danish Klu Klux Klans.
men by law from the borders OF
Minnesota forever and forever. The
Farmer-Labor party, alias the Non.
partisan League, shouts as one man
Cor kho -