The Ely miner., 1925-02-27
THE LEGISLATURE
By r.. w. HITCHCOCK, Representative Goth Dist
f%F<<<<<<E<<<<<<<<<<<<<xx


to provide for high school edlca-
ton IN the ,unorganized territory" |
as the blg rural school district of |
l65 schools Is called. This bill per-
mits the county board of commits
sioners to levy, in their discretion,
a tax of not TO exceed one-half of
one mill, the funds so provided to
be placed IN a fund to build high
schools and maintain high schools In
the rural territory ana in any dis
trict in which the taxable valuation
Is not $4,000 per pupil in the
schools.
Like the eight-tenths of mill
law this bill proposes a tax upon
all the property of the county, but
unlike the eight-tenths mill law it
gives those who are taxed some
voice in the expenditure Of .he
funds raised. The rural districts
would prefer compulsory tax; Du-
luth and the ranges would prefer no
tax at all; the bill is a compromise,
economically sound and fair to sall
Under its provisions, if it becomes
law, any rural section of st. Louis
county that clearly needs a high
school will get it with ample funds
for maintenance.
Larger units of taxation for
school purposes constitute a prin-
ciple that Is not at first sight pleas
ing to the bigger taxpayer His are
the pains of immediate payment.
But equal opportunity for an edaca-
ton must prevail if the bigger tax
payer, along with everybody else,
is to be safe in this land of the free.
Members of the st. Louis county
delegation who subscribe to the sup
port of this bill do so with the Wig
orous declaration that the county
board of commissioners of St. Louis
county can and should save from
other sources all that this bill, should
it become law, will cost st. Louis
county.
Here are some of the things
which the Legislature of 1925 has
already accomplished-although no
laws upon any of the matters in
volved have actually been enacted.
One of the five big appropriation
bills of the session has been drafted
and second will be ready within
ten days.
A concrete proposal for a solution
OF the road problem has been made.
1T is the inevitable compromise and
involves refunding of county bond
issues for roads instead of new
state bond; retention of the present
motor vehicle tax with little change.
Public opinion in the legislature and
throughout the state appears to fav-
or the above solution at least to
the extent of its essential features.
The fight between the railroad in
terests and the motor bus companies
has apparently precipitated this
sentiment-that neither should have
what it is asking for: So the COM
mittees in house and senate are
busy drafting a compromise bill of
their own which shall meet the pub
lie demand for continuation of
bus service together with adequate
regulation and fair taxation.
The plan for a reorganization of
the state government has taken def
mite shape in the minds of the men,
bers of the legislature. Every board
and every official. whose position or
salary is affected, has an excellent
reason why no change should be
made and is urging it with yigor
and conviction. The substantial bene-
fits to be gained by the state are
more and more clearly shown, but |
the ultimate fate of this proposal.
with politics pulling one way and
craftsmanship the other, is still un-
certain.
These are the major issues of the |
session. The determination of many |
minor issues is already well Under |
way. Not special order" Ga def
mite time for the consideration and
passage or rejection of a bilD has
yet been fixed, but the special or
ders' will soon make their appear
ance and when they do the newt
able jam of legislation will begin.
Can't Keep the Blue Book Down.
The Blue Book. which usually ap-
pears near the closing days of the |
legislature, surprised the members |
by making its bow to them in bid |
session last week. Each member |
gets a leather bound copy with his
name nicely printed on it in gold |
letters. With a fine show of in |
difference he opens the volume at
once and turns with as much haste
as a decent show of dignity will per-
nit to the back of the book where
his picture and a record of his
achievements is set forth for all the
state to see and read. The House,
two years ago, passed a bill to cut
down the size of the Blue Book.
to omit the pictures of the men,
bers and to condense it generally
But here it is again this year as big
and handsome and bursting with all
kinds of information about Mime
sofa as it has been since the mind
of man runneth not to the con-
trary.
The bill of two years ago mad
vertently omitted the Declaration of
Independence as one of the docu-
ments of state which the Blue
Book should contain. This afforded
the opportunity for splendid out
bursts of patriotic oratory. This
year the Blue Book contains the
Declaration--and about everything
under the sun that has ever hap
pened politically in Minnesota.
Veterans Still With Us.
The present House of Representa-
tives of the Minnesota legislature
marks the passing of many who
have heen prominent in IerisIation