Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-01-04
DISPENSARY
BILL IS LOST
Receives Fifty of the Nee
essary Sixty-six Votes
in House.
Senate Passes a Liquor Con-
troll Bill. Relief Bill Yet
Unpassed.
BY Representative Hjalmar Petersen
of Pine County, Chairman House
Tax Committee.

BY Representative Hjalmar Petersen
of Pine County, Chairman House
Tax Committee.
(Week of December 25-3O)
The Legislature is still discussing
liquor control bills and adjourned. over
the weekend to meet again right after
the New Year-Tuesday evening.
There are nearly as many ideas as to
how high-powered beer and strong
liquor should be manufactured. dis
tributed and sold as there are mem
bers of the Legislature. Lawmakers
from the larger cities, smaller cities.
villages and from the farms are not
agreed on any one plan as yet.
With that in view Governor Floyd
B. Olson sent a message to the Legis-
lature Friday asking that recess be
taken over New Years so that men,
bers might get little rest from their
long hours of toll The House session
Wednesday and Thursday lasted until
midnight. In this message the COVER
nor emphasized the Importance of the
pending legislation before the law
making body and said that while
there may be some criticism on the
part of the public for slowness, the
measures must of necessity be
threshed out thoroughly and given
serious consideration. The task be-
fore the lawmakers should not be hur-
riedly completed and as for presumed
hardness on the part of the Legisla-
ture those on the outside may be even
more responsible for that with the
many requests coming in for enact
ment of other legislation than public
relief, liquor control. and tax changes.
The Judgment of the lawmakers must
be calm and deliberate. said the gov
ernor.
State Dispensary Proposal Lost.
The state dispensary bill on liquor
control which was argued for three
days in the House lost with so af-
frmative votes shortly, after midnight
early Thursday morning. The votes
required for passage of a bill are &c
in the House and "a in the Senate.
One of the main features of the dis
pensary bill, which was upheld by
those who are strong for promoting
temperance, was the proposition that
it permitted no on sale or sale by the
glass. 1t was argued by proponents
that now when the country has been
legally dry for IA years the state
should not go too far in the other di-
rection. With 3.2I beer and good hard
liquor sold in original packages at a
nominal price, it was thought bv pro-
ponents of the bill, that that should
he enough at least for the time being,
or until proven inadequate. Changes
could be made in the next regular
session of the Legislature or any ses-
sion thereafter. 1t was argued that
with hard liquor for sale in original
packages by the bottle no citizen need
be a lawbreaker or a sneak to secure
such drinks as he desired.
The Senate has passed liquor con-
trcl bill which permits besides the
off sale of hard liquor; also the on
sale in hotels, restaurants and clubs.
After arguing the bill on the flor of
the House Thursday and Friday this
measure also passed that body, but
with many amendments, one of which
included the establishment of munich
pal dispensaries by action of the local
governing BODY in cities of the fourth
class and villages and boroughs, if
that. is preferred to private off and
on sale. The Senate did not concur
in the amendments and therefore
conference committee of five men,
bers from each house was appointed to
iron out the differences and bring
forth the conference report when the
Legislature convenes again after New
Years.
Beer, Liquor Tax Approved in House.
The beer and liquor tax bill which
is to produce the revenue for public
relief has PASSED the House. 1t pro-
vides for a ST tax per barrel on beer
containing not more than 1920 alco-
hol. On stronger beer the tax will be
So per barrel. On all light wines up
will be 10c per gallon; wines from
14To to 21%, zoe per gallon; wines
from 21% to 2496, 4Oc per gallon;
wines containing more than 24% of
alcohol, 6Oc per gallon; sparkling
wines containing alcohol, Coo per gal
Ion; artificial sparkling wines contain
ing alcohol, 40c per gallon; and on all
other liquors, liqueurs and cordials,
the tax will be Coo per gallon.
While most of such taxes are passed
on to the consumer it is argued that
the beer tax can and will be absorbed
by the brewers with the present price
of SIS per barrel to the retailers, for
they must compete with brewers in