Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-01-26
TAX
BILL NOW UP
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Exchanging State, Federal Lands.

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Exchanging State, Federal Lands.
| In the discussion on the proposed
amendment to the constitution to au-
thorize exchange of state lands for
| federal lands considerable oratory
was brought about in the House. Rep
| Wright of Hennepin county, argued
| about the cost of placing constitu-
tional amendments before the voters,
and seemed to assume that the cost
of each constitutional amendment for
publication and printing of the bal
lot was about $4,000. Facts and
figures gathered by Rep. Stockwell,
also of Hennepin county, and sponsor
of the bill for the amendment,
showed the cost for publishing and
printing to be about $4,000. The bill
passed the House by big majority
vote, members generally asserting
that this is constitutional amend
ment that should be approved by the
voters so as to provide for the ex-
change of lands and the elimination
of lands that are unfit for agricul-
tural purposes for such uses, thus
promoting the conservation program
and placing isolated farmers on more
suitable soil for agriculture. 1t is
also for the purpose of making more
compact federal and state forest re-
serves in the state. This constitu-
tional amendment has been before the
voters twice, but, as other amend
ments, still needs more publicity and
understanding of it's merits to put it
over. 1t will appear on the ballot of
1884.
A resolution which had for its pur-
pose that of hurrying up the business
of the House, reducing salaries and
one thing and another, came up for
debate one day. Rep. Hitchcock, con-
sentative of Hibbing, in the course of
discussion went so far as to say that
every House member is either for or
against spending and maintaining
salaries by his vote on this resolu-
tion." Others argued that this dilly
dallying of passing resolutions
amongst the members themselves is
waste of time and superfluous, so
Mr.. Hitchcock was practically laughed
out of court. The members are here
to work and it must be said for the
lawmakers as a whole that they are
working earnestly and diligently.
The vote registered by the electorate
on November Sth should suffice with
out legislators passing resolutions be-
tween themselves.
For Lowering Assessment on Horses.
Chairman Pfaender of the Appro-
priations committee, who comes from
New Ulm, announced on the floor of
the House that his committee has
adopted the policy to disallow any
crop damage claims-the losses
caused through protected animals.
Many such bills have been introduced
but no action taken on them.
A bill before the Tax committee
which would reclassify the assessed
value on horses and mules used for
farm purposes was recommended out
of committee and approved by the
Committee of the Whole on the House
floor. If it becomes law horses and
mules will be assessed at 1919 of full
and true value, the same as farm
machinery.
Ten bills have been introduced
dealing with real estate taxes, waiv-
ing penalty and interest for certain
years, changing time, of real estate
tax payments, permitting quarterly
payments instead of semi-annual, and
five was appointed by the chairman
to study all 10 bills and bring out
report to the entire Tax committee.
The same action was taken on four
bills pertaining to personal property
taxes.
The "Keen Legal Mind"
The Election contest between La
Bissoniere and Hilton of st. Paul,
which was brought before the Legis-
lature, created regular field day on
Wednesday. LaBissoniere was elected
with a majority vote on Nov. 8th but
Mr.. Hilton asked for a recount. La
Bissoniere had been given his certi-
ficate of election and was therefore
seated in the Legislature and had
voted the same as any other member
since the opening day. Arguments
waxed hot; the American fairness,
sanctity of the American ballot, con-
stitutional rights, and many other
high-sounding phrases were aired in
the legal battle which was principally
between the attorneys. The recount
had, weeks after the election, showed
a slight majority vote for Hilton but
court house records had in the mean
time been moved from one court
house to another. Finally the House
settled down and by vote of 81 to
So decided to accept the report of
the judges and clerks of election as
we'll as that of the canvassing board.
w. I. Norton, conservative leader Of