The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-06-06
ION This
!: Occasion
Just few thoughts by the Editor
on things Material and Immaterial.

Minnesota has SiXty-Seven senators
Minnesota has the largest upper body
of any of the forty Eight American
legislatures. The next senate in size is
that of Montana which has fifty-fve
The average for the states of the
Union is thirty-Seven. In 1860 Min
nesota started with twenty-one sena-
tors and each apportionment has in
creased the number. The senate in
creased in size as the easiest way to
care for population growth without
taking members away from older Sec
tions of the state that had stopped
growing. The House, with 131 members
is thirteenth in size among the states
though Minnesota is just an average
state in population. Five of the states
which exceed Minnesota are in New
England where they cling to the old
plan of town representation. Follow
ing the census now being tabulated,
it will be the duty of the Minnesota
legislature to reapportion its legisla-
tive districts No members should be
added as the legislature is large
enough Should any more members
be added, it will be up to the state
to build an addition to or another
CdplIOl III Which, W dCCOLllOOdtC tiiC
House and Senate members.
$3.50
Under this new apportionment, the
Vermilion range should have an as
sured member. AS the district is at
present constituted, we in this end of
the district are assured of nothing but
a fight in both the primaries and the
general election with the western
larger cities of the district. This is
inevitable and why not9 Every town
or city should stick to its candidates.
In consequence of larger voting ability
these larger towns and cities will DOM
mate. The Vermilion end Of the legis-
lative district has always been on the
short end of the shoestringed district
insofar as political emoluments are
concerned. When we were part OF
the district which included West Dull
nth, it was the same. Now we are
with Virginia and Eveleth at one end.
The result remains the same. We get
what the Mesaba towns don't want.
Considering the filings made for the
Senate and House in the Sixty First,
the Mesaba end is not modest in want
ing things.
The Miner has made it point to
interview the candidates as to their
attitude on having the reapportion-
ment so arranged that the Vermilion
end of the district be assured MEM
Der. If the district can be so ar
ranged, well and good. If this is not
constitutional, we should have dis
trict of our own and thus assure us
of home rule and an opportunity to
work out our own destiny in the law
making body of the state.
$3.50
Each of the candidates seen, volun-
teered the opinion that the Vermilion
range is entitled to representation IN
the legislature and each has promised
If elected, to to do everything in his
power to bring about change. The
two members and the senator elected
will have their work cut out for them
In bringing this about. They will be
three out of 1876, and all will be as a
unit in protecting themselves in their
official positions with little thought
for Ely and Tower or its people out
side of campaign years. Then we have
the natural antipathy against anything
eminating in st. Louis county. We
I'D here are considered industrial hire
lings wearing the collar of the mining
companies and these organizations,
Notwithstanding the fact that they
furnish the state with about IS per
cent of its ready cash, should be fayed
to the bone This is the biennial
talking point of the down state poll
ticians who use the argument promis-
cously in garnering votes for their
resnectiye meal tickets
ssss
But. There is always but. This
tendency to trample on the weak in
voting power is not confined to the
south state counties. Some of the same
spirit prevails in our own county. II
representation were based on taxation
and not votes, the ranges would have
about five men on the board OF county
commissioners while Duluth would
have two. The ranges pay rs per cent
of the taxes of the county and have
three men on the board. Duluth pays
IS per cent and has four men on the
board. Why? Because they have
more votes.
We will go still farther. The last
tax statement issued by the State
Auditor showed that ST. Louis, Ram
sew and Hennepin counties paid more
money into the state treasury than TIT
other eighty-four counties combined
Under the basis of taxation and re.
presentation, these three countie:
should have about three-fourths OF al
the representatives in the state cap.
itol. Naturally, someone will JUMP
right up on their hind feet and say
we are nuts. Maybe we are, but thlni
1t over.