The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1929-01-31
Minnesota Legislature Passes
Resolution to Open Every
Session With Music
TAX CHANGES URGED
"Big Three" Slashes Univer.
sity's Financial Program
Tax Recommendations
By Martin w. Odland

DOuy; now therefore, be 1T
Resolved, by the Minnesota
house of representatives that we
request our chaplain, DR.. Frank
Doran, to select few well-known
patriotic and devotional songs and
have them printed, so that each
member may have a copy; and be
it
Further resolved, that such
songs, when adopted, be used as
the occasion may arise at the OPP
ening of the session."
When the Minnesota house of
representatives adopted the above
resolution, Tuesday, January 22nd,
it performed its first notable act
of the present session and created
an inspiring precedent for the
more dignified, more solemn, but
perhaps more prosaic and worldly
minded senate. The author of the
historic resolution is Representa-
tive o. H.. Dahl, Of Lyle.
So there will be both prayer and
song, as well as oratory, in the
capitol this winter, and if the laws
enacted under such benign influ-
ences are not good laws, helpful,
uplifting and progressive, the peo-
pie of Minnesota will have reason
to be keenly disappointed.
Neither branch of the legislature
adjourned over the weekend on
Thursday. Each body held a short
session, Friday and then left for
Fort Smelling, in response to an in
vitation from the commandant and
other officers.
AS yet, the reporters who are
covering this session of the legisla-
ture can't devote much space to
what has been done but must re-
sort to speculation and predictions
as to what will take place later, in
their efforts to make copy for their
papers.
THE BUDGET AND THE UNI
VERSITY
The biennial budget of the Big
Three made its appearance in
printed form few days ago, one
copy being placed on every law
makers desk. It's formidable
document, almost as huge as Web
ster's unabridged, and I'm inclined
to believe that the lawmakers are
no more apt to go through it from
cover to cover than they are to
read Webster's immortal work.
In a letter accompanying the
budget, Commissioner A. j. Peter
son informs the lawmakers that be-
cause proper care of the states un-
fortunates was the first considera-
ton of the Big Three in drafting
the. new budget they propose to
hold down educational expenditures
as much as possible. Hence the Uni
versity's request for 100000 per
year for new buildings during the
next decade is disallowed. "There
is no immediate necessity for au-
thorization of another comprehen-
sive building program" says the
letter in question.
But that isn't all. AS the Uni
versity has been able to divert a
part of its maintenance appropria-
ton to permanent improvements,
while granting salary increases to
professors since the 1927 session of
the legislature, the Big Three pro-
pose to slash another $350,000 per
year from it's request.
TAX COMMISSIONS RECON-
lMENDATIONS
The State Tax Commission has
presented its report to the legisla-
ture and makes several important
recommendations, chief among
which is that iron ore be assessed
at 33 1-3 per cent of it's true value
instead of SO per cent as now. The.
companies are staggering under
two super-taxes, according to the
Tax Commission, and one of them
must be removed or the mining in
dustry will be crippled. The to-
tai taxes paid by the mining COM
panies in the five year period cid
ing December 81, 1927, made the
vast sum of $112,389,350.
Other recommendations by the
Tax Commission are as follows:
A county assessor law, abolish
ing local assessors.
Repeal of the 500 exemption on
personal property.
Submissio of an income tax
amendment to the voters.
Action to secure amendment of
the federal law relating to taxation
of national banks, as urged by the
governor end the interim commit
tee on bank taxation.
That the true consideration
should be stated in all warranty
dee.l1. CT furnished to taxing Of
ficials.
That mutual rural telephone
lines should be taxed on a specific
amount for each telephone, reliev-
ing them from making earning re-
ports.
That county boards should be
to furnish assessment
maps to assessors.
That assessors in municipalities of
over 1000 should be permitted to
begin real estate valuation work
before May 1.
That reports on public indebt-
edness as provided in the 1927 law
should be required only once in
two years.
How many of these recommends
tions will be carried into effect by
the legislature | don't presume to.