The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-02-22
LEGISLATIVE LETTER

ly more efficient as clerks of the COM
mitteeS than any male person ever was
in the history of the state. They are
the eyes and ears, the fingers and the
feet of the money committees. They
do not owe their positions to political
favor; they command those positions
with outstanding capabilities. When
one of the state departments, in which
she was employed, attempted to keep
Miss Friedel from us at this session,
it resulted in near-riot on the part
of members of the committee. The
members often wonder, the chairman
sometimes guess, but Miss Reber and
Miss Friedel always know.
What They Shoot At.
The aim of the finance and appro-
priations committees of the legislature
is two fold-to see that the state and
its institutions are adequately MAIN
tanned and to get that done at the
least possible expense to the taxpayer.
They shall care for the fatherless
and the afflicted for the wards of the
state are in their charge; let them see
to it that schools and the means of
education are forever encouraged; they
shall weigh well and ponder the al
most infinite number of undertakings
that are proposed for the public well
fare; the government is upon their
shoulders and they must maintain it,
But they shall never forget that they
are spending the money of Others
and that the people groan under
heavy burden of taxes. From that
cause which is not clearly established
let them steadfastly Withhold their
hands. Many things are good and
much is to be desired, but let them
count well the cost and consider how
hardly it is come at. Others may see
visions and others may dream dreams,
but to be hardboiled shall be &C
counted virtue unto them.
Helping Hands.
In their study of the needs of the
state the finance and appropriations
committees get plenty of help-from
those who want the money. Letters
pour in from clubs and societies, from
the humble voter and from those who
sit in high places, all urging the spend
ing of money, but who writes us to
watch our step? The corridors are
full of lobbyists promoting schemes
that will sooner or later involve large
expenditures on the part of the state,
but who ever saw anybody lobbying
for the taxpayer? Delegations descend
upon us and plead for this and that,
but who raises his voice for the man
who pays?
Few indeed are they who would
stay the state from spending, but mir
,, acleS sometimes happen in these lat
ter days, and yesterday came a letter
from the Sage of Madison, the Hon.
j. F. Jacobson, sterling statesman
OF the old school, once chairman of
commencing our efforts and urging
care and economy in the disposal
of the peoples money. Such helping
hands are rarely held out to us and
we are glad to grasp this one firmly
and to rely upon it.
Hearings.
Most of the meetings of the finance
and appropriations committee consist
OF hearings it, the appearance
OF persons or delegations urging the
appropriations of funds for specific
purposes. The house approximations
committee at the last session of the
legislature held u meetings at which
more than thousand persons appear
ed on behalf of various appropria-
lions ana at which good many score
persons pleaded for the funds desired
Those who appear to ask for appro-
priations bring the committees much
valuable information. Thru these
hearings the workings of the states
machinery is disclosed, an insight in
given to the needs of state institutions.
the problems of the people and means
OF solving them are reveled. To sit
as member of these committees may
not be liberal education, as the
phrase runs, but it is enormously re-
vealing and instructive Those who ap-
pear before the committee are often
experts in their line. The facts they
brings to the committee are of great
value and their enthusiasm is often
inspiring even If they do not succeed
in cashing in on it.
One does not sit long on the COM
mlttee, however, before he notes
peculiar circumstance. Of those who
appear urging new and special appro-
prlationS all without exception are
convinced beyond peradventure of a
doubt that the project they are urging
Is the most important that will be
brought to the attention of the COM
mittee at this session of the legislature.
They fatty and emphatically say so.
We have no doubt they believe it-but
we OF the committee do not. We can't
seem to reconcile ourselves to the fact
That with so many vital needs. eyerv
one OF them is more important than