The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-02-08

st. Paul-Trouble is brewing in
the state legislature, and the butt
of the brewing legislative prank seems
to be the department of administration
and finance, long since become. notori-
Gus as the Big Three.
| A handful of recalcitrant members
of the house, led by group from Hen
nepin county, have taken their cue
from the salty veterans of the senate,
and are reported to have ready for in
| PRODUCTION soon a bill removing the
Big Three from the state government,
and restoring the system to a posi-
tion of status quo.
An ominous forboding in the house
was heard when Representative Wal
ter Lundeen of Minneapolis introduced
bill to take away the authority of
the state railroad and warehouse com
mission in ordering separation of grade
| crossings; and again, when Represen-
tatives John Weeks, Henry Johnson,
S. A. Stockwell and Gerald T. Mullin
stoutly voiced their disapproval of the
political patronage system of W.
Norton and Speaker John A. Johnson
of the house in doing out SO day
jobs to relative and friends" of the
favored flock to the exclusion of worthy
applicants from the ranks of World
war veterans.
| Over in the senate the willy workers
who two years ago smarted under the
governors repeated reference to them
as 'the standpat group" are reported
to be moving in mysterious but sure
ways in the direction of something I'M
toward. Already the Big Three and
the governor are under fire in the SEN
ate finance committee.
The rural credits board, which is
believed to have long since served its
purpose, but which would be retained
Indefinitely under the wishes of The
administration, may be placed under
fire with the ultimate possibility of
| dissolution. Senator A. ]. Rockne has
demanded an accounting of the activi-
ties which he obviously intends to use
|
will have for it's purpose the abandon
! ing of the department
Then there is some stalwart talk in
both houses by the "revolters" of delv-
ing deeper into the matter of a state
office building that will domocile those
| departments of the government that
are now house in various nondescript
quarters located about the city of st.
Paul This promises to bring about
| some lusty debate that may develop
more annoyance for the administra-
tons apologists and more food for con-
| troversy for the wilful now sitting out
side the fold.
Both branches of the legislature go
| into the fourth week of the session. 1t
| is expected that the proposed Accent
tax recommendation will come out of
| committee this week for its first tussle
| with the solons. Then there is the
| long anticipated tonnage tax legisla-
| ton which has for it's purpose the re-
| ducing of the ad valorem assessment
| basis on iron ore properties from SO
per cent to 80 1-3 per cent. This
| will probably go to committee. The
| interim commission will hold open
house to hear the opponents of the ad
valoreum tax proposition present their
| side. This, together with the legisla-
ton affecting the beleaguered counties
| Of Lake of the Woods and Beltrami,
| will be among the most important
matter of the session. Along with the
gas tax proposal may come the sug-
| gestion Of plan to put into effect Gov
ernor Christianson's recommendation
for a refunding of county reimburse
met bonds for the state highway pro-
gram.
In inquiry into the amount of fees
paid architects by the state of Mime
sofa during the last two years was re-
quested in resolution presented to
| the state senate.
| First steps in the effort to override
the big Three's" cut of requests
asked by the Hastings insane asylum
were taken by Representative Louis
| Berg of West st. Paul, who introduced
two bills asking for appropriations for
a new main building and for repair
work at the institution, asking an APP
| preparation of $150,000.
| Children under IA years of age who
appear in theatrical productions with
| permission of city officials would be
forbidden to participate in such stage
work under the terms of a measure in.
| troduced in the Minnesota house of rep
resentatives. The names of 43 CO.
authors appear on the bill, which was
| sent to the committee on public well
fare.
Important Measures Presented.
Establishment of a psycho-pathic
hospital at the university, at cost of
$4,000, is proposed.
| The civil administration committee
of the house took up the problem of
paying taxes to school districts or
counties where the rural credit bureau
has foreclosed large amounts of land.
The attorney general has ruled such
an act would be unconstitutional, but
members of the committee argued the
ruling should be disregarded and the
4 matter threshed out. Other efforts to
meet the situation are planned, and will
come up probably as new bill.
Almost 100000 more state aid than
was recommended by the finance COM
mission is needed for the biennium,
/ Amendment of the state law regulat-
ing grade crossings, so as to give Min.
neapolis control at grade-separation
questions, is sought in a bill by Rep
resentatives Walter S. Lundeen, H. A.
Johnson, Calvin Deming, ]. A. Kodak