Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-03-12
Minnesota Legislature
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nation and it must be removed, proph-
esying the power question will be the
dominant issue in the next presi-
Dental campaign.
Fears Big Expenditures.
Representative George w. Reed of
Hibbing, chairman of the Public Do
main committee, where the bill had
been turned down, spoke against it,
dwelling principally on the danger of
spending so much public money. He
said it would not be just an eXpendi-
ture OF $5O,OO0,O00 but it would likely
run up to $3.50, 100000 or even more
Others retaliated by saying that pri-
vate companies started in a small way
and that it was not necessary for the
state of Minnesota to own all the
power business within its borders
right away. Mr.. Reed who admitted
that he had not made a study of the
power question such as Mr.. StOckWell
has, was supported in his arguments
by Representative o. K. Dahle of
Spring Grove, and Others.
Legislation similar to the power bill
which has now won an initial victory
in the Minnesota legislature, was
strongly endorsed by Phillip LaFol-
lette i'm his fight for the governorship
of Wisconsin last fall and has already
passed both Houses in the Wisconsin
assembly, the lower House passing it
with only five dissenting votes. Gov
ernor Pinchot of Pennsylvania, and
Governor Meier of Oregon, strongly
advocate the same program, but the
victories are hard fought for the cleo
trio interests are powerful factors in
our government, both state and ma
tional.
Hibbing Gets Airing.
On Wednesday the House was
treated to another furious battle-the
argument concerning local disputes
on the Iron Range. 1t was rather
amusing at times to members residing
in other parts of the state because on
this bill, members of the legislature
from the Iron Range country, were in
disagreement.
Representative E. P. Scallon of
Crosby, the very able orator and de-
batter, scored another victory on this
day. The dispute apparently was be-
tween property owners in what is
known as old Hibbing and the iron
mining companies, Mr.. Scallon again
coming to the defense of the mining
companies. About ten years ago, the
greater portion of the village of Hib-
bling was moved south about two
miles, vacating property under which
were rich iron ore deposits About
one-fourth of the village was left, this
being referred to as old Hibbing and
occupies two forties. The population
is about $500 in the old town. 1t is
practically surrounded by open pit
mines and is somewhat isolated, there
being no roads to the north. Pro-
ponents of the bill, Representatives
r. w. Hitchcock and George D. Reed
of Hibbing, argued that property val
ues have decreased greatly in old Hib-
bling as result of its isolation and
the mines being so near. Many build
ings are vacant, and the legislature
was asked to enact law whereby the
citizens of Hibbing could vote on the
matter of reimbursing property owners
for their losses when vacating the
Tots. Proponents of the bill argued
that this would cost in the neighbor-
hood of S5,OOO,0OO and that the cost
would be assessed on all the property
of the village of Hihbing, which has
population of between $4,000 and
10000. Opponents of the bill argued
that $50 of the taxes of Hibbing are
paid by the mining companies and it
would be unfair to ask them to as
sumo this additional burden of ex-
pense. Mr.. Scallon estimated the cost
of vacating old Hibbing to be approx