The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-02-11
By GEORGE H. LOMMEN
Senator, 61st District


A sense of appreciation for good
newspaper literature, as well as
feeling of Difference for the senior
representative from the Hibbing dis
trict, renders the matter of reviewing |
the present legislative session quite
unessential, yet many things are hap |
pening in ST. Paul at the present time,
in which the people of northern st.
Louis county are particularly In
teresting themselves. To know and
determine these issues is citizens
duty as well as legislators. One
find. It hard to stifle impulsive parti-
san prejudices when he finds the COM
nunitv prosperity of his neighbors
!. ea,g"ed, but good news is that sort
o. correspondence which bears some
element interest for all people and
all factions. Consequently, some
slight reflection might be INDUCED in
concerning the activities of those men
who, either individually or by or
ganized effort, attempt to mould laws
for the regulation of the people of
the state.
Both houses of the law making
body are hum drumming along with
q large grist of unexplained state
wide bills, and many seeking the de-
velopment of local interests or the
correction of local problems. No man
is gaining for himself, these days,
any press publicity, and the large
staff of newspaper reporters at the
capitol can find little to write about
of pertinent Importance at this time.
So, while nearly every community
in the state is asking for an enabling
act of some sort or other to help 1T
in a constructive manner to bring to
its people higher standard of hv-
ing conditions and community happi-
ness, there is only one community in
he great conservative state of Min
nesota that is being unwisely and un-
righteously regulated, hindered, and
attacked. While other towns seek
constructive aid, those erstwhile hap
are being threatened, not by a pro-
gram of constructive effort, but by
the darts of destructive inclination.
Repainting in every much the same
manner the dismal picture of the ses-
sion of 1921, when the village and
school per capita limitation tax was
crammed down the threats of home
rule loving people on the Iron Ranges,
there came out of a clear sky, last
Friday morning, bill seeking to fur
ther destroy the principle of home
rule and self determination of the
people, by the people, and for the
people, which deprivation, by mere
incident, would save large taxpayers
many millions of dollars in township
taxes. The bill implies that all of
the voters in a township, meeting at
an annual township election, are not
worthy of the right to determine their
own needs and accomplishments,
merely because they are correlated in
some degree to the extravagant de-
mands of living in the mining from
tier towns. The bill would place
limitation upon a limitation which, if
explained thoroughly, would convince
a prudent person that every township
in the Range district will hereafter
be limited in. its right of levying
taxes. However, it must be the plan
to do with this bill as was done by
the proponents of the old per capita
law of six years ago, and to befog
and bewilder the terms of the limita-
ton as much as possible so that the
protracted legislation will follow to
the subsequent prejudice of the peo-
pie. That bitter fight will follow,
is quite apparent, for a large class
of the American people, it seems, are
not yet ready to substitute rule by
majority of tax wealth for the con-
stitutional majority rule by the ma
jority of adult voters. There is con-
siderable apprehension in the minds
of several legislators that if this bill
is compromised or passed, that there
will follow, at this session, an at
tempt to further reduce the expendi-
- es n schools, villages and cities.
Therefc.e, to this township bill, is
added tle happiness, prosperity,
success and accomplishment of all of
our schools and villages and our
cities.
Bond bills, too, as well directed and
lobbied as the power of lobbyists can
prepare, will add to the worries of
far-seeing citizens of the new Range
towns who believe in more freedom |
for growing communities, with conse- |
quent fewer limitations. Conspicu- |
Gus for being present in all of the |
bond bills, so far introduced, is a |
feature which would hereafter limit |
all cities and villages to twenty years |
within which to pay for the construc-
tion and operation of public-owned
heating, or power plants. |
Many citizens of the Range towns /
own shares of stock in private-owned |
heating, lighting or power companies,
whose bonds run as long as thirty
seven years, with the attending bur-
den of yearly payment of interest,
and this, too, puzzles those who would
look ahead and vision the need for
mature cautious judgment.
With these numerous local prob
lens to consider, the senators and
Representatives from st. Louis county
are not without their portion of an
noyance from the hordes of men and
women who constantly block your
entrance and exit at the house and
senate chambers, to give you the lat
est international slant on such mo-
mentous issues as evolution, vivi-
section, compulsory military training,
and the value of state licensed cos
A pre-opening theatre
cal press bulletin would usually adj
wise the public "from present in
dications, every seat for this grand
performance will be sold out in adj
vance," Applicable to the present ac-
tivities of the state legislature, it
might well be bulletined "That every
possible within and scruple of every
possible clique and faction in the
state Of Minnesota will be embodied
in some proposed law, and inflicted
upon the hard-working Legislators"