The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-03-17
LEGISLATIVE LETTER

long drawn out discussion was the
birth pains of new economic policy
made necessary by the tremendous
changes that recent years have wrought
in transportation and transportation
problems.
Doctors Disagree
Hearings on the unemployment in
surance proposal have made the path
OF that bill seem less rosy than it did
when the bill was first offered by IS
authors in the senate and SO authors in
the house, more than a majority in each
case. In each house some of these
authors have fallen away and the bill
no longer commands a majority of
sponsors in either senate or house
Strenuous opposition to the scheme
has appeared throughout the state
Perhaps the most telling argument
urged is that the enforcement of such
law at this time would result, tenn
porarily at least, in increased unem-
ployment. Employers have endeavored
to care for their employees as far as
possible and at considerable sacrifice;
they urge that the imposition of a tax
of 40 mills upon their pay rolls at this
time will force them to lay off additional
employees.
The proponents of unemployment in
surance are not agreed among them
selves. Their differences cover a wide
range-from rigorous restrictions to an
| out and out dole. Such differences are
| inevitable for the whole scheme Is a
colossal experiment; there is almost nc
background of experience. Unemploy-
ment insurance has been attempted, II
is true, in Europe, but the Minnesota
proposal is utterly unlike anything that
exists in Europe 1t is a bold adj
venture into a wholly UNEMPLOYED
country.
Relationships
The banking crisis has resulted in
legislative excursions in Minnesota into
the realm of dictatorship. Three bank
ing bills, prepared at a consultation Of
bankers with Governor Olson and
members of the legislature resulted in
the enactment in a single day of laws
comforting upon the governor and the
commissioner of banks the powers Of
the dictator. Under these emergency
measures, the commissioner of bank:
has the authority to make rules ano
regulations for the opening and closing
of all banks in the state, and he may
make one rule for one bank and 9
different rule for another bank. He i.
invested with powers, which, were hs
evilly disposed, would make it possible
to ruin any bank upon which he NIGH
cast baleful eye. But the purpose il
good, not evil; the legislature deliber.
ately voted great powers, hoping anc
believing that they will be greatly used
Almost on the heels of the act
creating one dictator, the legislature
set up second dictator, when, under
the swift compulSion of emergency il
gave blank grant of powers to the
states commissioner of insurance.
| Investigations
1t always makes a difference whose
OK is gored Two years ago the liberal
minority in the house. launched in.
veStigations of the rural credit burea,
and the highway department The,
were probing the enemy and they
probed loudly and joyously. This year
with friends sitting firmly in office, tht
farmer-labor majority in the house i:
not enthusiastic about Investigations
Shush is the word and step softly wher
you foot it. In the senate, it is diff.
ferent. There the conservative majority
delights in thruSting sharp sticks int
the highway department and the rura
credit bureau, and now it ha.
sharpened a new stick for the con.
servation department
The senate highway investigation ha:
developed one sensation after another
and has added point and color to thu
supreme courts vigorous indictment O
certain highway regulations as al
Invitation to collision"
The rural credit investigation by tn,
senate has developed conditions which
ought to give the people of MinneSots
far greater concern. Under both re-
publican and farmer-labor control thi!
experiment has been badly managed
The waste has been appalling, but tn,
vesting in an executive board of un
controlled power to plunge the people
of the state into debt is still more
appalling. The annual loss of the rura
credit bureau appears, from facts dis
closed at the investigation, to be abou
So, 100000 a year; in addition there i
the loss of some 100000 in taxes OF
foreclosed farms. The legislature doe.
not vote funds for the rural credi
bureau; it adds employees and increase;
salaries at will; it hires and fires at it
own pleasure; it borrows and spends a:
it pleases; the people have nothing II
say; theirs only to pay.
The conservation department is new
Outside of its lamentable quarrelint
the significant fact about it is that i
shows every indication of an intention
to spread over all the terrain OF Min
nesota High hopes were entertained
of it when it was created; one thing Il
now certain about tit is going b
grow like green bay tree.