The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-05-08
APPROPRIATIONS
TOTAL $42,4OO,OOO
Forty-Sixth Legislature Piles up
Biggest Appropriations in
States History.
BY Martin w. Odland.

st. Paul, Mimi, April 27-After
having piled up the biggest appro-
prlatlon 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 agree
ment between the governor and the
senate majority in their controversy
over the appropriation to the Univer-
sity and the school aid fund had pre-
vented the necessity for an extra SEES
sion-yes, and after many other in
teresting things too numerous to
mention had taken place at the
capitol-the forty-sixth session of
the Minnesota legislature came to
and end, Thursday noon, April Is,
1929.
The appropriation total is about
$42,4O0,000, which is almost S2,OOO,-
600 more than was appropriated by
the legislature in 1927. But the in
crease was inevitable. For several
years the legislature and the governor
have pursued-a niggardly policy to-
ward the states penal and charitable
institutions, with the result that those
institutions are now overcrowded,
necessitating large allowance for
new buildings. And all other state
institutions and state activities are
constantly expanding, which means
more money. Whatever else may be
charged against this legislature, it
cannot be justly said that it was ex-
travagant-except as to it's own pay
roll. Over twice as much as was
necessary was paid out for help.
The two branches had more than 23O
employees, as compared with 1913
members. The legislature is no big
ger now than it was in 1913; there
are no more doors in the two cham
bers; no more floors to sweep, no
more cuspidors to clean; yet the num-
Der of employees at this session was
almost thrice that of 1913 and they
were paid much higher salaries. The
chief cause Of this unnecessary in
crease is the practice which has devel-
oped among senators and representa-
tives of appointing relatives to posi-
lions. This nefarious practice ought
to be stopped, and the people of the
state ought to put it up to every can
didate for the legislature to declare
his stand with respect to it. Repre-
sentative S. A. Stockwell, the fearless
idealist of Minneapolis, rendered a
real service when be brought this
matter 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 gov
ernor accomplish the following: {,
An increase in the gasoline tax
from two to three cents per gallon.
The refundment of $13,576,311 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.
adopted at the last election.
The creation of the Red Lake Game
Preserve of over a million acres in
counties of Koochiching, Lake of the
Woods and Beltrami, to save those
counties from bankruptcy through the
assumption, in return for this land,
of some $2,5000,000 in overdue drain
age warrants.
The reduction of the per capita tax
in municipalities, for the purpose of
curbing extravaganza in the Range
towns, at the expense of the mining
companies.
The increasing of the salaries of