Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-01-11
LIQUOR, RELIEF
BILLS PASSED
Were Main Points of Cover
nor Olson'S Legislative
Program.
Senate Prevents Passage of
Some Important Tax
Measures.
of Pine County, Chairman, House
Tax Committee.
Week of January 2-6)

of Pine County, Chairman, House
Tax Committee.
week of January 2-6)
The main points in the proposed
legislative program of Governor Floyd
B. Olson have been enacted into law
by the special session of the Mime
sofa Legislature which convened on
Dec. and closed its books on Jan. 6.
In the closing days of the session.
the liquor control bill became law
and the liquor commissioner has al
ready been appointed by the governor
that person being David r. Arundel
OF Minneapolis. The liquor GEAR"
took office Saturday, Immediately aft
er Governor Olson had signed the
liquor control bill. The new law pro-
vides for both ON and off sales, local
option and county option to be opera
tive in May of 1885.
The final fight in the closing hours
of the special session was on the
bill providing for taxes on wines,
whiskey and beer, designed to net
estimated revenues of S4,000,O00 an
dispute on the tax of wines and whis-
key. ranging from 1Oc to 6Oc per gal
lon, but the big fight was on the tax
of beer.
Beer Tax Causes Final Fight.
As the House first passed the bill
the tax would be 81 per barrel on
beer containing not over 1920 alco-
hol and SO per barrel on stronger
beer. The Senate amended this so
as to eliminate any tax on 1920 beer
but left the SO tax on high-powered
beer. The House having previously
staged a fight against elimination of
the 81 tax on 1920 beer refused to
concur in the Senate amendment and
so a Conference committee of five
members from each body was chosen
to iron out the difficulty. Senator
Pattison of st. Cloud, was chairman
of the Senate conferees and the writ
er chairman of the House conferees.
After a two-hour battle, with some
members threatening to quit. includ-
ing also a conference with the gov
ernor, nine of the ten conferees signed
a report, making it straight 81 tax
per barrel on all beers, light or
strong. &.
The House accepted the proposals
of the Conference committee which
besides the tax problem included also
minor amendments; but on the floor
of the Senate the Conference report
was rejected by close vote. The
Conference committee was sent back
for further deliberations. In the sec
ond conference, the first proposal on
the part of the Senate conferees was
75c tax on light beer and S1.50 on
stronger beer. The House cOnfereeS
after some argument proposed 81
tax on light beers and So on the
stronger liquid. This was accepted
port signed by nine of the ten men,
beers, Senator Nordlin of st. Paul, be-
ing the only director.
Tax Of 81 and 50 Adopted.
This second report of the Confer
ence committee proposing 81 tax
per barrel on beer containing not
more than 1920 alcohol and a So tax
on stronger beer was accepted almost
unanimously on both House and Sen
ate floors right away, later signed
by the governor, and became law.
The effect of the strong brewer lobby
was squelched on this measure. AS
stated by a prominent senator, that
last legislative night will cost the
brewers over $2,O00.000, in taxes dur
ing 1884.
Adjournment took place at GAO Sat
urday morning. Then after few
hours sleep, the Senate and. House
met again to pass few resolutions
and bid one another good-bye-final
adjournment being taken shortly
after noon on Saturday.
Other Important Laws.
Other bills that became law in
clude:
Act compelling brewers to age beer
at least 60 days in watts or by scien-
tific process equivalent, fought hard
for by Rep. Maybeth H. Paige Of
Minneapolis.
Five million dollar relief program
for both direct and work relief with
special provision for veterans of all
wars. Senator Child of Minneapolis,
and Rep. Finstuen of Kenyon, are
given much credit for this law.
Authority for city councils of Min
neapolis and st. Paul to fix new boun-
DIARIES for sale of liquor.
Three acts designed to replenish
depleted firemen's relief funds in first
class cities through surcharge on fire
premiums.
Legalizing investments of savings
banks, trust companies, and insur-