The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-03-31
LEGISLATIVE LETTER
Liberal" Policies

One liberal categorically and
vehemently declared few days ago
that he was mot in favor of tax rec
duction." He told the truth as to the
liberal policy in the present legisla-
ture. That policy is tax-more, spend
more policy. It is devoted to multiply
ing jobs for it's followers. In the name
of the public welfare it pushes forward
for new activities of government, for
every new government undertaking
means many new jobs. Its text is, Lay
on the Tax; its gospel is, Spend the
Money. 1t is willing to venture upon
the newest and most untried social and
economic experiments; if the prospect
can be made sufficiently pleasing to the
people, no matter how specious 1T may
be or how costly it may prove, your
liberal" embraces it avidly and loudly
proclaims the miracles he will work with
it. He cares not a whit for the dis
astrous wrecks of miracles strewn along
the pathway behind him. The con-
tinuation of the monstrously costly and
grossly political rural credit experiment,
the expansion of the spider webs of the
blue sky law, the multiplying of racing
and chasing agents of a useless bureau
of criminal apprehension, an unemploy-
ment insurance scheme never tried any
where in the world, an unrestricted in
come tax plan which incites govern
mental extravagance,-these,a and many
others, are liberal" policies of the
Legislature of 1888.
There Ought to be Law
Man has attempted to legislate about
everything on the face of the earth, in
the heavens above it, or in the waters
undo it, but it remained for Governor
Olson to suggest brand new subject
of legislation. The governor, like Presi-
dent Wilson, in his dealing with con-
gress, has shattered precedent in dealing
with the legislature. He has appeared
at legislative hearings and argued
vigorously and effectively. Last week
he appeared before house committee
on behalf of his proposal to take the
motor vehicle license department away
from Mike Holm and give it to Highway
Commissioner Elsberg. Mr.. Holm is
issuing licenses at cost of A cents
each, less tina many other state in the
Union, but Mr.. Elsberg will do it for
80 cents; the legislature can write the
80 cents right into the law. This pro-
posal to decree by law the cost of Ii
cense plates, under given set up which
must be met, seemed to the committee
like fixing by law the cost of raising
wheat, but the the governor stuck to
his guns and his law. The committee,
somewhat flajbbergasted, laid the matter
on the table and went out in the cor
ridor to think it over.
ndjamming
Governor Olson is not the only
shatterer of precedents in the legis-
lature of 1888. Farmer-Laborite Otto
Goetsch, liberal" from Mower county,
is some Shatterer of precedentS himself.
The needs of the university were up be-
fore the house committee on appropri-
atoms and DR.. Lotus D. Coffman,
chancellor of the university, was setting
forth those needs. DR.. Coffman is a
suave and entertaining talker; he urged
the necessity of uphofding educational
standards in times like these; he pic
tured the work of the university for
human help and progress; he was in
the full tide of rather thrilling des-
cription of the quite extraordinary ac-
complishmentS of University of Min
nesota professor who recently passed on
from his life of sacrifice and service in
this world to his reward in another
world Suddenly athwart this dramatic
recital rang the voice of Representative
Goetsch: "Mr Chairman, think we
should be getting something done; we
are just wasting time with this wind
jamming" Dr. Coffman is not easily
nonplussed, but his breath momentarily
was somewhat taken away. Chairman
Pfaender FASTENED to say that the COM
mittee desired and intended to give the
university all the time it wished, and
the chancellor of the university, with a
somewhat whimsical cast of counten-
ance, proceeded with his argument.
Representative Bert Kingsley of Hen
nepin later assured Liberal Goetsch that
Dean Coffey of the university agricul-
tllral school would, at later hearing,
talk farming for him.
What's in Name?
Representative H. l.. Wahlstrand, a
high school instructor from Willmar,