The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1929-05-02
Law MAKERSCOST
STATE REAL MONEY
Recent Session of Minnesota
Legislature ApprOpriates
$42,OOO,0O0
SOME ITEMS VETOED
More Employees Than There
Were Members Provide
for New Building
BY Martin w. odland

st. Paul, Mimi, April 27--After
having piled up the biggest ap-
preparation total in the history of
the Minnesota legislature; after
the two houses had fused and
fumed and wrangled over problems
which. have been apples of discord
all winter and spring; after an
eleventh-hour agreement between
the governor and the senate ma
jority in their controversy over the
appropriation to the University and
the school aid fund had prevented
the necessity for an extra session
yes and after many other inter-
esting things too numerous to
mention had taken place at the
capitol-the forty-sixth session of
the Minnesota legislature came to
an end, Thursday noon, April 25,
1929.
The appropriation total is about
$42,400,0OO, which is almost $1,000
900 more than was appropriated by
the legislature of 1927. But the
increase was inevitable For sew
eral years the legislature and the
governor have pursued a niggard-
ly policy toward the states penal
and charitable institutions, with
the result that those institutions
are now overcrowded, necessitating
a large allowance for new build
fngs. And all other state institu-
lions and state activities are con-
stantly expanding, which means
more money. Whatever else may
be charged against this legislature,
it cannot be justly said that it was
extravagant- except as to it's own
payroll. Over twice as much as
was necessary was paid out for
help. The two branches had more
than 230 employees, as compared
with 1913 members. The legislature
is no bigger now than it was in
1913; there are no more doors in
the two chambers; no more floors
to sweep, no more cuspidors to
clean; yet the number of employ
ees at this session was almost
thrice that of 1918 and they were
paid much higher salaries. The
chief cause of this unnecessary in
crease is the practice which has
developed among senators and
representatives of appointing rel
atives to positions. This nefarious
practice ought to be stopped, and
the people of the state ought to
put it up to every candidate for the
legislature to declare his stand
with respect to it. Representative
S. A. Stockwell, the fearless ideal
list, of Minneapolis, rendered a real
service when he brought this mat
ter to the attention of the state by
his anti-neptoism resolution late in
January.
The most important bills passed
by the legislature and signed by
the governor accomplish the fol-
lowing:
An increase in the gasoline tax
from two to three cents per gallon.
The refundment of $13,576,31 in
highway bonds, originally issued
by counties and taken over by the
state.
The creation of a highway patrol
force of thirty-five.
The diversion of one-third of the
gasoline tax to county aid roads, as
authorized by Amendment No. 1,
adopted at the last election
The creation of the Red Lake
Game Preserve of over a million
acres in the counties of Koochich-
ing, Lake of the Woods and Bel
trami, to save those counties from
bankruptcy through the assump-
ton, in return for this land, of
some S2,500,0O0 in overdue drainage
warrants.
The reduction of the percapita
tax in municipalities, for the pur-
pose of curbing extravaganza in
the Range towns, at the expense of
the mining companies.
The increasing of the salaries of
the supreme court justifies- to the
extent of $500 per year.
Resubmitting to the voters at the
next election of the proposed
amendment doing away with the
double liability of stockholders in
corporations.
Providing for zones in cities and
villages.
Providing for old age pensions,
to be ratified by the voters Of each
county.
Providing for a $1,5OOO0O state
office building, in which to house
all departments, boards, commits
sions and bureaus that are now
housed in the old capitol and in
privately owned office buildings in
st. Paul
Authorizing 100000 per year for
new buildings at the State Univer-
sity during the next ten years.
Authorizing state employees re-
tirement fund, to be made UP of a
tax levied on the employees bene-
fitted.
Authorizing the expansion of the
state prison machinery plant.
Prohibiting the practice of "am-
bulance chasing" by making it IL
legal for non-lawyers to solicit
business for lawyers.
Providing for new teachers
certificate law.
Consolidating the department of
agriculture and the dairy and food
commission.
Abolishing two state boards of
visitors.
Abolishing two state boards OF
visitors.
Abolishing the state massage
board and placing masseurs under
the state medical board.