The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-03-27


that in that determination
alone would rest the success or fail
ure of their propositions. Within
the past week, however, a new OBJ
stacle to be contended with has pre-
sented itself, and, throwing con-
sternation into the hearts of all
the legislators the Governors veto
now stands as dark shadow threat
ening the passage of grist of
worthy legislation.
st. Louis County was the first to
feel the power of the executive
club out of several hundred local
salary increase bills offered in an
attempt to aqualize county and
state salaries to bring them TO
uniform scale in order that the
present office holders might be
given decent salary. St. Louis
County's bill raising the salary of
the Judge of Probate to a level
with the Judges of the Hennepin
and Ramsey courts, was the first to
attain favorable passage and to
come before the Governor, based
upon the number of cases handled
and the work involved in the office.
of Probate a decent salary equal to
that of the other two large counties.
1t was fair bill, one in line with
expediency and fair play. 1t was
backed by the entire membership
of the Bar Association of the
county; it had the endorsement of
all the interests in the county. Not
one of the fourteen legislators in
the county had received protest
concerning this proposed increase.
The bill was sponsored in the SEN
ate by all five of our Senators and
in the House, the bill was handled
by the writer hereof. Last Tues
day evening, the Governor called
the writer, as the only member of
the county delegation, to his office,
seeking information concerning the
details of the Judges work. No
threat was made by the Executive
that this Bill would meet his OBJ
lection. An hour was spent in pre-
senting data and voicing sentiment
and the writer asked that Senator
Adams and some of the conserv-
alive author of the bill in the
Senate be given an opportunity to
add further information, but the
suggestion was not accepted. Like
a shot, came the absolute veto by
the Governor early the next morn
ing, delivered on the theory that
the bill you'd be agreeable if the
matter of increasing the salary was
left to the county board rather
than the state legislature. Need
less to say this act has invoked a
storm of protest from all factions
and all parties, and from it, one
thing is certain, that the Governors
program of reorganization is not
gaining strngth by reason of this
attitude. None of the members
can reconcile themselves to the
to be, not in the interests of economy
to open the door to each county of
the state to permit county boards
to establish salaries. because with
out regard for classification of
counties of similar size and wealth,
there would be vide divergence in
the amount of salaries paid through
out the state. In other words the
principal of economy has been held
to be, that seven members of the
county board in one county are
better fitted to determine the sal
airy of a state officer presiding in
the individual county than fourteen
members of the legislature in direct
touch with the situation in every
other county in the state would
have. What the result of this will
be, no one knows, but it can be
said impartially that this attitude
of the Executive is not helping his
prestige in the halls of legislation.
We have other bills this week of
local importance to different sections
of the state. which have been vetoed
because of the Executives opinion
that the law would be unconstitu-
tional. Some are now wondering
if the reorganization plan of the
Governor is intended also to abolish
the Supreme Court of the state,
which alone is vested with the judi
cial power of passing upon the con-
stitutionality of the peoples laws.
Little Interest in Tonnage Tax.
A faint attempt, without any act
i've work in connection Herewith
was made this past week to increase
the tonnage tax rate from SIX to
ten per cent. The situation never
looked dangerous for the propon-
ents of the bill did nothing to put
their measure over. There was a
brief furry of oratory upon the
floor of the House; the usual preju-
dice was offered in evidence and
the usual plea for the protection of
our greatest industry was offered
II Id
to respond and dedicated roll
call on the proposition by vote
of more than two to one. The
members rejected the increase and
every one from our section hopes
that with this question again out of
tie way that a speeding up of the
industrial life of our communities
will be the result.
Tuesday the Tax Committee will
hold its final hearing upon what is
known as the Indiana Plan Tax Bill I;
the most drastic, vicious and auto
cratic proposition submitted to a
legislative body in this state. Much
sentiment exists in favor of this
law, but on the whole, the situation
is not alarming. However, because
of the far reaching terms of the
bill which would place the complete
control of our destinies and pros
perity in the hands of the Tax
Commission, no stone cen be left
unturned in attempting to defeat
the bill as completely and quickly
as possible. 1t is very evident that
if the law ever does pass, that it
will always remain as a part of our
statutes to be made popular at the
expense of the schools and cities
of the iron ranges and the pride
that the Tax Commission will take