The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-02-03
LEGISLATIVE LETTER

4ll6 WTdllSllllS VI laws USSdIl Ill
earnest in the Minnesota legislature
last week. In the senate two farmer
labor factions, each aspiring to be the
Governors spokesman, moved with some
acrimony for position. Senator George
H. Lommen of st. Louis, neat and
have the ear of Lieutenant Governor
Solberg, but Senator Charles A. Hausler
Of Ramsey, just as neat, just as natty,
and mean Singer of language on
occasion, is chairman of the civil adj
ministration committee which honor
carries with it, it is supposed, the minor
ity leadership. Neither of the senators
have suffered sartorially as yet, but
their hair and their tempers have been
somewhat ruffled. Also, last week, the
senate put on debate on nepotism
that did not add luSter to the legend
of senatorial courtesy.
The urge of law-making was ac-
lively vocal in the house last week also.
When it comes to wrangling laws the
house is a more consistent performer
than the senate. One Of its favorite
ways is to fuss for hours over what the
bill will be to the farmer. Representa-
tive Mark Nolan of st. Louis, with his
bill to change the primary from June
to September, gave the house an early
opportunity last week in the first COM
nittee of the whole Of the session. The
farmers have beaten this bill in other
Legislatures and they set out to do it
again. The discussion as to when the
farmer can best take time off from his
chores to do his campaigning ragged for
an hour or more, but when the COM
mittee arose Mr.. Nolan got his bill re-
ported favorably. Next day, on the
calendar, the battling farmers fought
even more fiercely and beat the bin, "a
to SO.
Horses and Guns
Governor Olson in his inaugural mes
sage did not see prosperity around the
corner, but revolution. A house men,
Der was heard to declare two years ago
that he believed in revolution and this
year one of them, new member, has
given it out that We've got the horses
and the guns and we're ready"
A Bullying Budget
The biennial budget of the state, the
legislative bible of the members of the
money committees of the legislature,
was submitted TO the finance COM
mittee of the senate and the appro-
priations committee of the house last
week.
1t is big and busting. Almost as
airy, and of the same shape, it is a
ponderous tome. Members of the
money committees of the house and
senate thumbed its 1919 pages in awe
and trepidation. Its huge bulk, with
closely typed pages, crammed with
figures, made it a formidable and a
fearsome thing.
But as the members gingerly turned
the pages and cast shrinking eye over
the maze of figures, interest suddenly
grew, for here was surprise, with a
verse, "a Poets Prayer" Faster now
they turned the pages to see what they
could find, and before their aStoniShed
eyes appeared not only column on
column and page on page of figures,
but bits of philosophy, a quotation
from Poor Richards Almanac, and, best
of all, pictures, pictures artistica1ly
taken and perfectly printed.
The quarters of the appropriations
and finance committees buzzed with
excitement and members rushed in
from the corridors to have a look.
The budgets of the past have been
bulky and somewhat formidable but
this one has them all beat for size.
Some of its pages are printed but most
of them are mimeographed The volume
is bound in buckram. It represents the
work of the budget commissioner, Mrs.
Jean Witch, over a period of two
years. She put into it enthusiasm,
technical knowledge and untiring labor.
She achieved most unusual budget,
fairly understandable, and highly valu-
able.
Out on His Ear
The farmer-labor control of the house
is functioning smoothly and remorse-
lessly. Roy Hilton of Ramsey County,
elected by the people by a majority
of 81 votes was denied seat in the
house, after brief meeting of the cleo
tions committee and an afternoons
debate in the house, on the ground that
the seals of two election boxes had been