Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-01-22
Minnesota Legislature
Weekly Review by
HJALMAR PETERSEN
Representative From Pine County
(January IL to II, 1881

iSlature brought on several lively de-
bates. One debate was that concern
ing the Youngdahl resolution which
read as follows: Resolved that the
speaker and the Rules committee of
this House are hereby directed not
to appoint any person to salaricd
position as an employe of this House
who is related by blood or marriage TO
any member of this House." Many
arguments were presented on both
sides. The business of the Minnesota
legislature should, of course, always
have been conducted in such man.
ner that resolution of this character
would be out of place, but the hir-
ing of relatives by members of the
legislature has been Overdone. A rel
alive of legislator should be as elig-
as any other but when the practice
has been overdone it brings about
such resolutions. The resolution was
perhaps too drastic and sweeping and
therefore did not carry. The vote was
70 to 55 for indefinite postponement
which means the killing of the meas
ure. The writer voted to uphold the
resolution
While the Youngdahl resolution diu
not carry, it will undoubtedly have
it's effect on members of the legisla-
ture for nepotism is not conducive to
good government:
The Unemployed.
A few days later the matter of hir-
ing House employees, about 10 in
number, came up again for discussion.
Representative Frank T. Starkey from
Ramsey county, introduced a resolu-
ton to the effect that only the needy
unemployed who have dependents
should be eligible for such positions.
This resolution, as the one by Rep
resentative Emil S. Youngdahl, was
drastic. 1t lost by a vote of 101 to
%, but as in the case of the Young
dahl resolution it will likely have a
good effect
In these days of unemployment it
was thought that clerical positions,
z 81
committee clerks and the like should
be given to heads of families or others
who have dependents. While the en-
ployment of 10 such people would not
solve very much in the unemployment
situation as far as the state is con-
cerned, it was argued that it would
be setting an example by the mem
bers of the House who are elected to
represent their constituents and who
should be leaders.
The House galleries were crowded
when these debates took place and it
was necessary for Speaker Swenson
to call for order several times.
Income Tax is Big Issue.
Some state income tax bills have
already been introduced and these
proposals are the cause of much dis
cussion amongst members of both
houses. From all appearances state
income tax bill will be passed at this
session of the legislature though not
without real fight for there is con-
siderable opposition in the larger
cities where the bulk of the tax will
naturally be paid. Income tax pro-
pOnents argue that the tax on real
estate and personal property is alto
gether too high and in some cases
confiscatory and that other methods
of taxation must be worked out. Some
writer's opposing the state income tax
argue that ability to pay should not
be the sole factor. 1t might be asked:
where has that ever been in vogue?
In 1928 there were 511 persons in
the United States who had each a net
income of $1,000,00O or more. Quite
a group out of that 511 had an income
of over 100000 each. The average
federal income tax paid by those re-
ceiving net income of a million dol
lars or more was 5000 or practi-
cally 1870. That would not indicate
that ability to pay is the sole factor
in collecting taxes. A $50 tax or
even a 500 tax would not have in
jured a single one of those federal
income taxpayers. The old saying is
that it is "only three generations from
shirt sleeves to wealth" 1t is human
nature to keep that which we have ac-
quired and the public is only foolish
if it does not collect more taxes from
those who are well able to pay it.
Twenty other states in the union
have state income taxes and Mime
sofa is tagging on this proposition.
The People Have Spoken.
Over in the Senate chamber the
fight between Lieutenant Governor
Henry Arens and the senators appar-
emily is still on and the senators took
it upon themselves through the rules
committee to make committee assign
! ments. The mandate from the peo-
pie when Governor Floyd B. Olson and
Lieutenant Governor Arens were chos-
en- on last November to head the
state government is apparently not
taken SO very seriously in the Senate.
Some newspapers have argued that
there was also mandate from the
Do