The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-01-30

ter off financially. The fascination
of seeing the wheels go round, low.
ever, is very respectable pulling
power. If it were not for that, in
fact, the state might have to adver.
tise for members of the legislature
and advance the bonus price to boot
She's an Engaging Miss.
Many, very many, great men have
their political beginnings as pages
in legislative halls. Doubtless many
of the statesmen of the feminine
gender of the future will make their
political debuts in the same way.
At the 1923 Session of the Mime
sofa Legislature the first girl page
made her appearance. What has be-
come of this young lady we do not
know; perhaps she is grooming her
self for Congress. Her place, how
ever, is not occupied this session by
mere uninteresting male, but by a
very charming girl page, Miss Win
nifred Whitney of Mapleton. Hap
! py indeed is the honorable member
who can catch her eye and get
her to run his errand.
He's Making Good.
You never can tell how many
lights man is hiding under a
bushel. Men and Women have the
habit of developing the most un-
expected abilities when they find
themselves face to face with the
necessity for action. Not only is
necessity the mother of invention
but of whole brood of very splen-
did accomplishments. For two terms
John A. Johnson served in the
house, voting regularly but seldom
otherwise raising his voice in the
house chamber. Few members made
so little noise, but today this quiet,
good natured man, occupies the try
ing position of Speaker of the
House and is making a very good
job of it. He did well from the
start and is growing much better
every day. By the time the real
turmoil begins, a month or so hence,
he will be well seasoned presiding
officer, promising quickness, firm
ness and decision. The east we
can say for him is that we hope
he likes his job as well as we ike
him in it.
Strenuous Days in the Making.
An attempt last week on the
part of the house to warn the
people of the state that they can
not secure a reduction in the mot
or vehicle tax at this time, and
probably not at all thus year, and
that they should therefor pay the
tax promptly and avoid the in
levitable penalties-this praise wor-
thy attempt eveloped the fact
that the matter of gasoline tax
and possible reduction in the
present motor vehicle tax is far
from simple matter and certain
to arouse the liveliest differences of
opinion. Here are some of the
views that the discussion brought
out: That the proposed gasoline
tax is unconstitutional; that it will
be impossible to levy gas tax be-
fore Jan. /, 1925; that any at
tempt to levy gas tax and reduce
the motor vehicle tax this year may
result in so gripping the highway
department that it cannot even
maintain the state roads, let alone
provide for any new construction.
1t is admitted that very general
demand exists for a gas tax and
for reduction in the present
license tax on automobiles, but thus
far only confusion of opinion ex-
lists as to when, how and the de-
gree to which this may be accom-
plished.
1t is quite apparent, however,
that if there is any material reduc-
ton in the present motor vehicle
tax and he state continues to re-
fuse to bond for road purposes,
construction of paved roads or
even graveled roads, must practical
ly cease in Minnesota. Half of the
present revenues are required to
pay interest and principal of bonds
already issued by the counties for
new construction in the past four
years. With as small portion of
our state roads permanently inn