Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-03-12
Minnesota Legislature
Weekly Review by
HJALMAR PETERSEN
Representative From Pine County
(March 2 to Z, 1881
Representative From Pine Count.

opening of the session Monday Repre-
sentative j. r. Sweitzer of st. Paul,
introduced Lieutenant Governor James
H. Price of Virginia. who gave Is
minute talk, inviting representation
from Minnesota to the sesqui-centen-
NAL celebration at Yorktown in Oc-
tober of this year. Mr.. Price stated
that this celebration which will oc-
cupy four days and be big patriotic
event will commemorate the battle of
Yorktown and the 15Oth anniversary
of the surrender of CORVALLIS. York
town is but 20 minutes from James,
town, the first settlement of English
people on the American shores.
PrOgressives Have Good Day.
Following the short talk of the Vir-
ginia lieutenant governor the House
enjoyed the most holly contested
battle so far this session on the ques-
ton of development of state water
power resources. The bill calls for
a constitutional amendment to be
passed upon by the voters in the 1892
election and carries with it the au-
thority of future legislatures to bond
the state to the extent of $4,000, 900
should the amendment pass. The
Public Domain committee had voted
it down but minority report was
brought to the floor of the House and
this carried by vote of 70 to 55 after
three hours of battling, which means
hot no in hn
order of business, going to general
orders. If recommended to pass in
committee of the whole it will go on
to the calendar and there to receive
the final vote of the House. Inasmuch
as the minority report was accepted
by fair majority vote proponents are
hopeful that the bill will go along
down the line and receive a majority
vote of both the House and Senate on
final roll calls. Governor Floyd B.
Olson campaigned on this issue and
advocated it in his message to the
legislature.
StOckweIl Made Excellent Plea.
This initial victory on the big power
question is naturally very gratifying
to Representative S. A. Stockwell of
Minneapolis, the chief sponsor of the
bill, who has fought for it's enactment
since 1923. The silver-haired Henne-
pin county legislator is deep stud
ent Of the power question, sincere in
purpose, champion of the peoples
rights, citizen of the craftsmanship
hn lor, frrhf
speaking for nearly two hours. He
was assisted by Representative Emil
Youngdahl of Minneapolis, and others.
Strong Factor I'm Regulating Rates.
Mr.. Stockwell explained that if the
bill became law and the constitutional
pie it would give the state the privi-
lege to develop electric power, using
the current in state institutions, coun-
ties, municipalities, and on the farms.
Future legislatures can bond the state
not to exceed $5O,000,000 for the devel-
Opment of this power. 1t will do more
to regulate electric rates than all the
power commissions from now until
dooms day even if the state does not
go into the power business, just so
that it has the authority to do so,
said Mr.. Stockwell. The Hennepin
county legislator went on to explain
that Seattle, city of over one-third
of a million people, saved $12,000,0O0
in one year by operating its own power
plant and that the rates there aver
age 2.52 cents per K. H. He stated
that in 1925 he opposed the state farm
loan bill for there was competition in
that business but this matter is in a
field of national monopoly, adding this
question: Why should handful of
men-about 1O-control 500 of the
electric service in the United States?
He said it leads to slavery.
Power Trust Over-Capitalized.
Other statements made by Mr..
Stockwell were substantially as fol-
lows: The electric power and light
companies are over-capitalized and
big commissions go to brokers and
bankers. No interests in the United
States are deeper in politics than the
power trust Mr.. insult, one of the
power trust magnates, and his brother.
gave $125,O00 to the campaign of
Smith in Illinois. In 1929 the power
trust spent $2S,OOO,00O in their prop
uganda for promoting public relations.
They lobby in legislatures and other
governmental bodies. The people in
Ontario now have $34O,OOO,0OO invested
in their electric power and light bust
ness, and are proud of their record
and service. Enormous Over-capitali-
cation causes high rates of the private
companies trust, 500 being cap
ital charges.
Representative Stockwell called at
tention to the failure of the legisla-
ture of As to so years ago to stop the
lumber barons from reaping an enor-
nous harvest in Minnesota, and later
the ditch bonds added to the burdens
of the people. He admonished: eff
you want to duplicate this situation
you will vote with the trust today"