The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-02-18
MAJOR BILL NEVER BEFORE
DRAFTED AND SUBMITTED
so EARLY IN THE LEG
ISLATURE.
COUNTY DIVISION BILL is ROAM
ING ABOUT THE CORRIDORS
SEEKING A FATHER TO
INTRODUCE 1T.
q BY R. w. HITCHCOCK
Representative. Goth District.

representative, OOIu DlSITlcC.
The first big appropriation bill of
the session was submitted to the
house by the house committee on ap-
preparations this week. 1t is the So
called Board of Control bill which ap-
propriates money for the support of
the Is state public institutions which
are under the direct supervision of
the state Board of Control.
The house appropriations committee
breaks legislative record with this
bill. Not for several decades, if ever
in the history of the state, has a ma
jor appropriation bill been drafted
and submitted to the legislature thus
early in the session. This record is the
more noteworthy by reason of the
fact that the budget estimates were
not submitted to the legislature until
this week, six weeks overdue.
Appropriations Held Down.
The bill as submitted to the house
by the appropriations committee cuts
the estimates of the Board of Control
more than one million dollars. Esti-
mates must pass through several
stages before they reach the point of
printed bill in possession of the
house or senate. The superintendent
of the various institutions first file
their estimates with the Board of
Control. These estimates were cut a
total of $1,754, 205 by the Board of
Control and the revised estimates
were then submitted to the state
budget commission. The budget COM
mission, or "Big Three" made an adj
ditional cut of $1,27S, 700. The house
appropriations committee has spent
three weeks on the bill and has ap-
proved the budget figures almost in
toto. A few minor additions were
made. The printed bill carries a total
of $8,464,55O or $464,121 more than
was appropriated for the same pur-
poses two years ago.
Building Requests Refused.
The principal savings made by the
house committee on appropriations
are in the requests for buildings.
Thirteen buildings were asked for by
the Board of Control but only four
were allowed, namely-a cottage at
Willmar State asylum to house ITO
inmates and to cost $4,000, a cot
tage at the Cambridge colony for
epileptics to house ITO and to cost
100000 and two additional build
ings at the st. Cloud State Re-
formatory to cost $4,000 and $4,000
respectively. Other buildings were
asked for at St. Peter, Faribault,
Owatonna, Sank Center, Shakopee,
Walker, Willmar and Cambridge.
Budget Arrives at Last.
The state budget recommendations,
due at the opening of the legislature,
were finally submitted this week, just
six weeks overdue. A good deal of
blame attached to the state budget
commission for this delay is probably
undeserved. The state budget COM
mission is undertaking this task for
the first time and much of the book
keeping of the state had to be re-
vised. 1t is charged also that depart
ment and university estimates were
very slow in arriving. 1t is hoped, and
much to be desired, that budget esti-
mates in the future will reach the leg
islature during the opening days of
the session.
Doubt Kills Many Bills.
In general upon any subject of i'm
portance members of the legislature
want to be convinced "bevond the
shadow of a doubt" They are quite
apt to follow the rule, "When in doubt
vote no." 1t was this feeling that
killed the small loan bill and the
party designation bill-too many
members were not entirely sure as to
the effect of these proposals. 1t is
this sentiment, too, that prevents the
passage of bank guaranty bill, that
makes the repeal of the Brooks Cole
man law as to street railways doubt
full and that threatens to defeat the
mining companies of Minnesota in
their attempt to limit township ex-
penditures on the Range.
Fun by the Way.
In a previous session of the legis-
lature certain member achieved
real reputation as a discourager of
legislation. He was in doubt nearly
all the time and he voted "no" on
practically every measure. Late in the
session the one lone bill that bore his
name came up for consideration. 1t
was a perfectly good bill, applying
only to the authors own county and
providing a minor reform much de-
sired by the people of that county.
No one opposed the bill but when the
roll was called hush fell over the
house and loud and clear from every
member came an emphatic "No." The
only member to vote eyes" was the
author himself and as the chorus of
noes Numbered in his ears he sat
daZed and puzzled over what was han