The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-03-13
SPONSORS new
| DEPARTMENT BILL
Representative SpindIer FavorS
Plan Differing From Interim
Committee Measure.

tativeS containing as it's chief feature
| a plan to set up a system of finan-
cial control that would be under the
joint supervision of all the constitu-
tionally elected officers, instead of
the governor alone.
Representative Henry Spindler of
Buffalo, a member of the house in
term committee which studied state
reorganization during the last two
years, is author of the new bill. Mr..
Spindler did not acquiesce to the in
term committees reorganization bill
which was introduced in both houses
Of the legislature some weeks ago.
Instead, he submitted at that time a
minority report enumerating his diff
ferences with the viewpoint of his
colleagues.
Differs In Financial Control Features.
In many respects, Mr.. Spindler's
bill accepts details of the plan pre-
pared by the majority of the interim
committee, but in the method of at
tanning financial control over state
funds Mr.. Spindler's measure reveals
sharp deviation from the majority
bill.
The majority bill establishes de-
partment or administration and
finance headed by three commission
ers appointed by the governor and
responsible directly and solely to him.
The commissioners are separately as
signed to duties of preparing the bud
nd af Of
state departments, purchasing all sup
plies and exercising supervision over
the personnel of the state govern
ment. The majority bill also creates
an executive council composed of five
of the elected officers-governor, at
torney general, auditor, secretary of
state and treasurer-which would per-
form the duties now vested in a num-
bre of ex-officio boards whose mem.
berships vary, but are composed large
ly of these officials.
Mr.. Spindler's bill does away with
separate department of administra-
ton and fiuance appointed by the gov
ernor and places the duties which the
majority bill assigns to this proposed
department under the supervision of
the executive council The governor
would be chairman of the executive
council.
Henceforth the Minnesota highway
department would be forced to adopt
policy of abandoning all new con-
struction and permit some of the i'm
proved roads on the 1000 mile trunk
highway system to deteriorate if the
legislature fails to adopt the refinanc-
ing program, if the proposed gasoline
tax is attacked in the courts and if
only slight reduction is made in the
motor vehicle tax schedule, according
to figures compiled by c. NJ. Babcock
state highway commissioner
These figures show that the entire
structure of improved highways is in
Jeopardy through proposals of some
legislators who are fighting the ref
nancing program. These legislators
propose to:
Reject the refinancing plan which
would refund S22,150,000 of the $685.
5000 county reimbursement bonds.
Enact cent gasoline tax, which,
however, probably would be attacked
in the courts and, il the history of
other states is repeated in Minnesota,
the funds available would be tied up
for two years.
Reduce the motor vehicle tax sched-
ule on the ground that automobile
owners in the state expected such a
reduction when they voted for the
gasoline tax amendment.
Figures compiled and in the hands
Of motor vehicles committees of the
two houses, show that to reduce the
minimum schedule on passenger cars
weighing less than 1000 pounds from
$12 to $40 and cars weighing more
than 1000 from SIS to $13 would mean
loss of $675,000 in revenue for the
state highway fund. Bills introduc-
ed in the legislature call for far
greater reductions, and some of them
disturb the "a per cent value basis.
Even the slightest reduction now con-
sidered, therefore, would prove dis
astrous in the absence of the ref
nancing plan and gasoline tax
which could be readily collectable.
Governor to Appoint Senator.
Minnesota's law defining method
of filing a vacancy in the office of
United States senator, which has been
on the statute books for IL years, is
about to be superseded by new law
which will remove all doubt about
whether the governor actually has the
authority to make an interim appoint
ment in an emergency. The senate
unanimously passed the new sena-
torial succession bill. The house al
ready has passed. it and now it goes
to Governor Christianson for his sig
nature. When the bill formally be-
comes law it will put an end to a
curious legal tangle over which there
has existed considerable difference Of
opinion.
Governor Theodore Christianson re-
turned bill to the legislature without
his approval, which would have ad-
mitted to the Minnesota Soldiers
Home any Civil war veteran of Min
nesota regiment. regardless of his
financial ca-acity. The governor held
/ the bill discriminatory.
With three dissenting votes, the SEN
ate passed the bill introduced by Sem
ator J.. d. Sullivan. st. Paul. revising
and strengthening the blue sky laws.
The measure procipitated sharp de-
bate when it came up on general or
ders, but 1t was passed without dis
cussion. The vote was 45 to 3.