The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-12-09
STATE CAPITOL CHATTER

somewhat similar, this depite the fact
that the senators held over the recent
| election and that the so-called con-
servativeS organized the senate two
priving Lieut. Gov. Henry Arens of the
customary Cbut not necessarily legaD
right to name the standing committees
and had these named by committee on
committees.
There will be three changes in men,
berShip of the senate, however, due to
the death of three senators since the
last session.
All three of the deceased senators
lined up two years ago with the con-
servatives. The successors to two of
these, RoSenmeier and Todd, have not
yet lined up with either faction, as far
as I can learn, while the successor to
the late Sen. Duemke, Minneapolis, will
be chosen at a special election about
the middle of December.
Meantime, Sen. Charley Orr, st. Paul.
who called last Fridays senatorial eau
cus-which was held behind closed
doors asserts that the conservatives
have enough votes pledged to assume
control.
This is denied by two of the liberal
leaders, Sen. Emil Regnier, Marshall,
and Sen. George Lommen, Eveleth, both
Farmer-Laborites. The latter claim
that the liberals will be in control, that
! two or three senators participating in
the conservative caucus have already
switched" and that others will follow
suit.
Since the conservative senatorial eau
Gus was held in secret, with newspaper
men barred, nobody except those
present knows exactly how many SEN
ators were present in person or by
proxy Liberal leaders, who claim they
checked carefully as the senators
gathered, insist there were less than 80
present. 1t requires "a to control the
senate.
Despite the counterclaims of the lib
erals, Sen. Orr insists that the same
group, including progressives, which
controlled in 1881, will again control.
Somebody isn't telling the truth, and
we may have to await the opening of
the session to find out which side will
be boss in the senate as well as in the
house.
Well, maybe, that's the best way,
after all, but it will result in some
costly delay In getting the business of
the session under way and is bound
to initiate against carrying out plans
for 60-day instead of a 90-day ses-
sion in the interest of economy.
Personally, refuse to take the situ-
alton too seriously, especially in view
of my belief that there is no serious in
tention on part of so-called conserva-
| tive legislatrs to block Gov. OlSon's pro-
gram for legislation or his policies of
administration.
In fact, it might work out more salts
factorily all around if one of the
branches of the legislature were liberal
controlled, the other conservative con-
trolled This would be another case of
divided responsibility" In a measure,
but not likely to prevent proper laws
from being enacted or bad measures
from being killed.
The responsibility could easily be
fixed on that branch which might be
guilty"
After all, our Minnesota legislators
are all good Americans and good citi-
zens and they have the best interests
of the people at heart, regardless of
their individual political affiliations,
There are none of them as bad as
they are sometimes painted by the OPP
position, so let's not lose any sleep over
the present tangled situation.
Such situations usually work out
fairly well, at least.