Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-04-16
Minnesota Legislature
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bill becomes a law which, of course,
will soon be known. Pine county
being large county and feeling that
we were hardly getting square deal
as compared with so many of the
smaller and ofttimeS weather. cOun-
ties of the state, | was naturally anX-
ious to see this bill pass the House
and took an active part in supporting
it. The bill was sponsored by Repre-
sentative John B. Hompe of Ottertail
county. He and the writer spoke for
it while Representative Albert Dahl
meier of Pipestone county, spoke in
opposition. The bill carried by the
scant margin of &C to 81. 1t requires
&C votes to carry any bill in the House
so there was not single vote to
spare on this measure.
The Conservation Program.
Conservationists of Minnesota who
are much interested in keeping the
natural resources of the state in it's
natural form for both the present and
future generations were naturally
elated when this measure finally
passed the House after much debating
and some amending Tuesday. The
bill as presented to the House by the
committee of Public Domain through
its chairman, Representative George
D. Reed, of Hibbing, provided for a
one man commission. This was
amended to be a five-man commission
and they in turn to appoint the head
commissioner. The five-man plan is
i'm accordance with the wishes of Gov
ernor Floyd B. Olson; that plan being
presented in his inaugural address
and had the backing of the Izaak Wal
ton League, wOmen's organizations
and leading conservationists of the
state. 1t is a recognized fact that the
natural resources should be saved
from private explorations. The low
ers of nature, sportsmen interested in
hunting and fishing, thousands of indi-
viduals and groups wishing to keep
our forests and streams intact for
future generations are all interested
in this legislation. The final roll
call on the bill after amendment was
80 to 43 for it's adoption.
In speaking on the bill Representa-
tive S. A. Stockwell of Minneapolis,
stated that it is one of the most i'm
portant measures before the legisla-
ture this session and that we must
look to the future on conservation.
He said that fifty years ago northern
the denuding of this forest was one
of the worst crimes committed in the
state. 1t was terrible waste of tim
ber Some remark was made about
the wisdom of our forefathers." Mr..
Stockwell stated that very little wis
dom was shown in permitting the de-
nuding of the states forest. He also said
that lake levels is a matter of major
Importance and that our water levels
have fallen nine feet in Minnesota
during the past twenty years.
Safety for Workers, Public.
The bill which would give greater
protection to railroad workers and the
public travelling on trains caused con-
siderable discussion. On final roll
call however it carried with a goot;
safe margin. The bill calls for CIV
ing more power to the Railroad and
Warehouse Commission in the matter
of ordering safety appliances, deter
mining length of trains and other
matters for the protection of the work
ers and the public. Some members
feared that this would cause addi-
tional expense to the railroads and be
passed on in higher freight rates.
Proponents of the measure however
showed that this would not be true
and that safety appliances had come
about practically only through the
initiative of the railroad workers.
During the course of the discussion,
Representative Stockwell said that the
valuation of American railroads is be-
tween nineteen and twenty billions
of dollars and that they are over
capitalized to the extent of between
seven and eight billions of dollars.
The h-Cummings law which pro-
vides that railroad rates are set by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
bases it's rates on $40 earnings on
the entire capital stock. With an over
capitalization of eight billions of dol
lars, at only $50 it makes an added
burden of four hundred million dollars
annually levied on agriculture and
industry. The Hennepin county leg