The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-04-30

Hibbing Daily Tribune and Mem
Der of the Legislature.
What are the high lights Of the
Legislature Of 1881, the forty-sev-
enth since the organization Of Min
nesota as state? The answer is
that there are none. It has been
much like its fellows that have
gone before it.
Now and then great issues, po-
litical, social or economic, which
have been slowly forming in peo-
pies minds, come to a head, their
solution is enacted into law, and
certain important changes in the
manner Of our living together as in
tregal parts of society and govern
ment are written down in the black
and white Of the statutes Of the
state. Such occasions are rare. The
usual procedure Of legislatures. is
the adjustment Of minor matters Of
our daily life and the gradual de-
velopment Of policies Of state gov
eminent. Most laws enacted by
most legislatures are merely remed-
ial and are of local or limited i'm
portance; a few, like the highway
bond act and the organization of a
new department Of conservation,
noteworthy enactments Of 1881, are
really nothing more than forward
steps in policies heretofore inaug-
turated. Every legislature in the
history Of a state cannot be an out
standing legislature, any more than
every day in a mans life can be a
red-letter day. The Legislature of
1881 has done lot Of necessary
work. and that is about the most
that can be said for most legisla-
lures.
| Politics of the Session
Minnesota's peculiar method Of
choosing its legislatures upon a
non partizan basis, together with
the disintergrating effects Of the
primary election systems, has blot
ted out the ordinary lines Of party
cleavage in legislatures. A small
farmer-labor group strenuously en-
| deavors to maintain it's political
identity, but as for the rest Of the
members nobody knows whether
they are republicans, democrats or
what-nots. Nevertheless there is a
distinct division, pronounced al
tho somewhat irregular and shift
ing line Of demarcation between
conservatives or regulars" on the
one hand and radicals or liberals
on the other. Altho not so called,
there is in fact in every Minnesota
legislature, a party Of the right and
a party Of the left.
| Minnesota is an extremely liberal
state and it's legislatures have uni
formly reflected this sentiment. It
was the extreme progressiveness of
a republican legislature that made
John A. johnson, democrat, famous.
OF late years the farmer-labor party
has been the party of the Left in
Minnesota. 1t has had minor polit-
ical successes, and, in the election
Of a farmer-labor governor last
fall, one major success, but altho
it captured the chief executive of
the state, it made no progress what
ever in the legislature. Many con-
tend that it is personality rather
than party which accounts for
Floyd Olson. The people elected
him, but at the same time return
ed the party Of the Right to en-
phatic rcontrol of the legislature.
A change in the political complex
ion Of the chief executive has add
ed some spice to the Legislature Of
1891, but otherwise it has gone
along about as usual. Floyd Oh
sons political experience up to
January 1, 1881 was outside the field
of state government and that has
made difference in leader ship.
The known fact that nobody was
sitting on the lid in the southeast
corner of the Capitol has had some
tendency to loosen the purse strings
of the state. yet the Legislature Of
1881 has made q fairly good record
for econbmy.
Stressful economic conditions
have compelled it to be careful.
New High Water Mark
Appropriations of the Legislature
Of 1881 reach new highwater
mark for Minnesota. The total is
somewhat in excess of $45,000, 900
or some two and a half millions
greater than ever before. In adj
dition to the direct appropriations,
it has authorized the issuance of
certif1cations Of indebtedness to \
limited amount which will some
what increase the tax burden for
the next few years. This increase
of expense together with falling
off in tax receipts threatens to in
crease the state tax rate between
two and three mills the largest
single increase for many years.
The committee Of the senate
which authorizes grants of state
funds is called the finance" COM
n.ittee, but the same committee in
the house, is called the .appropria-
tions" committee, and thereby
hangs an interesting tale Forty
two years, ago one John B. Hompe
was a member Of the house. He is
a member today, too. This eighty
five year old Civil War veteran is
an honored and powerful member
of the legislature today and he had
a powerful thumb in the legislative
pie forty-two years ago.
Back in those days Mr.. Hompe
was something Of q leader in the
farmers alliance movement. His
support was highly valued by Col
onel Graves, Of Duluth who wanted
to be speaker. At that time the
money committee Of the house was
called the finance" committee,
just as it is in the senate today. Col,
Graves promised the craftsmanship
to Mr.. Hompe. After Graves was
elected speaker, he found that he
had made, other promises, also, and
in order to keep his promises he
found it advisable to split the A.
ance committee into two sections.
One section was called the eff
nance" committee and the other the
&C. =