The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-04-01

nobody noticed. Swift work at the
desk again set the roll call in motion
and cut of all chances for debate.
Farmers and labor men forgot their
love for home. rule and enthusiastic
ally voted for the bill. It got only
68 votes, only two more than nee
essary-nevertheless it now goes to
the senate for final action.
Working Under Pressure
Evening sessions began this week
and morning sessions viii also be
added next week. As usual at this
time of year, the Legislature has sud-
denly realized that the doing of the
work before it, can no longer be put
of. We shall now pay with over
time for the many week end trips to
the home town and the consequent
slowing up of work at the beginning
and end of each week.
The legislatures could undoubtedly
conclude its biennial sessions in so
Gays instead of 80 days if all the
members stay in ST. Paul and attend
to business. Instead they avail them
selves of every week end and every
holiday to run home and attend TO
their w affairs. 1t is largely this
practice which accounts for the com
gestion of Legislation during the
closing three weeks of every session.
The Status of Appropriations
The rules require that five separ-
ate appropriation bills shall be pre-
Jared and introduced in each house
CT the legislature "at least twenty
days prior to the adjournment
thereof" This rule has not been lived
up % for many sessions; in fact. it
has happened that appropriation bills
have been introduced during the last
two or three days of the session and
often they are not passed until the
kgal hour for the adjournment of
the session has expired.
This year appropriation measures
r a little farther advanced than
usual. One appropriation bill was
passed by the house more than a
month ago; two We're acted on by the
-enate this week. The preparation
Q the others is nearly complete.
Actions on all of these bills except
claims viii probably be had next
week. The nature of an appropria-
ton bill is such that agreement be-
tween the senate. and house is never
1. ached except after a conference
and these conference meetings are
almost invariably held in the closing
hours of the session.
Five Separate Bills
Five separate appropriation bills
r required at each session of the
legislature. One a~ppropriates money
for the support of institutions under
the management of the Board of
Control. There are eighteen of these
institutions including the asyIums.
training srhOols, state prison, etc.
A second bill provides for the depart
rents of government such as the
state auditor, the courts, treasurer.
secretary of state, etc! A third bill
cares for various .semi-stateu activ-
tiles such as parks, fish hateheries.
etc. The educational bill provides
funds for the support of the state
university, the state teachers col
leges and for assistance to the public
schools of the state, popularity known
as ."state school aid" The fifth bin
pays all CLAIMS allowed by the legis-
lature against the state. The state
can not be sued at law; so that the
only way a citizen can reeover
money rightfully due him from the
state is through the enactment of the
legislature
The Largest of these appropriation
ILLS is always the educational bill
ard the smallest is the claims bill.
The educational bill, as drawn thus
far by the senate finance committee.
appropriates more than $24,e9o, 900.
Earning Power
In considering the amount of
money appropriated by the legisla-
ture Tor the maintenance of the state
government and for the carrying on
CT all of its activities, it should not
be forgotten that there is income as
VIZ as oHtgo in the ease of 7ery
many of these activities. Several
illions are appropriated every BIZ
ennium to maintain the state depart
i.ents Practically every one Of these
departments, however, make money
that IS, they bring into the state
treasury more than the cost of their
operation. Apparently they cost US
n.ilhons; actually they pay a profit 10
the state.
The university Is always a subject
OF attack because of its expenses.
The state IS now paying about
S4,0Oe,00 for the support Of the
diversity. but the total income of
the university, intending that paid by
the state, is about So, eco, coo.
Attacks on Range Towns
More opposition to the spending
OF public funds by the iron range
towns has been manifest In the pre-
sent legislature than for many ses-
sions. House File .206 which pro-
vldes an additional limit for several
range townships seems certain to
become a law, having already, passed
the house by a three to one vote.
House File 567, an innocent looking
measure that for q long time at