The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-12-05
Minnesota NelUs and
Comment
BY r. w. HITCHCOCK

ance and ruthlesSly doing TO their
death innocent persons, IS healthful
sign of times In swiftly outlawing the
union from which the strikes and their
disorders emaaated. the Federation has
no little heartened Minnesota. Labor'S
sincere desire to set its house in order
wins not only the plaudits of the people
and the grateful appreciation OF en-
blowers. but it will incline the peoples
representatives TO lend an even more
friendly ear TO labor's needs and de-
mands.
The people of Minnesota are much
mystified over the recent flare-up IN
the Department of Education involving
DR.. Rockwell commissioner OF educa-
ton. Frank Finch, director of vocation
al training for disabled persons, and
Thomas Minehan, who is apparently
Finch's assistant. No enlightenment
is Forthcoming from the Department
of Education.
This is that division of the Depart
ment of Education from which the
State Board of Education last winter
summarily dismissed, at DR.. Rockwell'S
behest, Oscar Sullivan, famous the ma
| ton over for his work in vocation edu-
cation and rehabilitation. This is the
division, also, which the Legislature last
winter transferred to the University
| that il might be free from political
control, but which transfer was defeat
i ed by veto of the governor.
| According to the Minnesota Associa-
ton for Crippled Children, DR.. Rock
well, who is credited with having in
formed his staff that no physically
handicapped person should be allowed
to compete with an able-bodied person
for job has abolished the special re-
placement service for the handicapped
a service highly valued by all physical
Iy handicapped persons in the state
Dr. Rockwell has also completely
changed the personnel of the division
of vocation training for disabled per-
sons. Among the new appointees are
Frank Finch who for two years was an
instructor the University high school
I Thomas Minehan who had been on the
University staff a short time in part
time capacity, and Laura Marles, form
erly secretary to Howard Y. Williams
4 According to public statements BY
Dan I. York, president, and Miss Jear
J c. Pierce, secretary, of the Minnesota
Association for Crippled Children, the
recent row in the division of vocational
training for disabled persons is due Il
the fact that Mr.. Minehan is the only
member of the new staff who has "a
real interest in the cripple" and hi
could no longer endure the absurd
orders that were given him and the
utter hamstringing of the service"
!. When the legislature of 1885 attemp.
ted TO limit the number of highway
patrolmen to 100 it did not reckon or
the resourcefulness OF Chief Arnoldy
who has somewhat increased that mum.
Der by the addition Of honorary mem
, bers' of the patrol. One OF the hon
Iorary members of the highway patro
is said TO be Friend Charlie Ward o.
, Brown & Bigelow, who, rrnor says, i
the proud and happy possessor of &
, captains badge. At the meeting o.
the Minnesota State Automobile Asso.
ciation at st. Cloud in early Octobe1
E. Ray Cory, president of the associa.
ton, was presented with an officer
badge as an honorary member of TIT
patrol; and perhaps there are others
Il The homestead exemption Law
lightens the burden for homestead own
erS, but shifts the burden on to bust
ness property in way that is st2gger
ing to the growth of the towns ant
, cities" This is not the statement o
a 'reactionary politician" but of tina
! militantly radical statesman, Senate
Fay Cravens, publisher of the Milac,
Times.
oil The homestead exemption law wa
. hailed as major relief to the poo
man, but it IS questionable whether
] like SO much ballyhooed political medi
cine, it is not doing him more injur
!, than good. When homesteadS were ex
e empted in Minneapolis the tax rate wa
e promptly forced up from II mills t
e 80 mills, and more than one-half of tn
: promised benefit was lost A similar in
4 crease in the tax rate inevitably &C
{ CURED elsewhere, both in town an
S country. The hoped-for benefit wa
n thereby to large extent defeated; alst
e as cited by Senator Cravens, Farmer
e Labor leader, an additional burden wa
S piled on all property which has tende
to discourage and restrict industry an
consequently to prevent employment
: It is close question whether the poo
/ man would not be better of without
: his highly touted homestead exemption
r The homestead exemption act wa
: placed on the statute books of Mime
: sofa in 1888 after its praises had bee
extravagantly sung in the campaign Q
1882. After two years of trial, result
? were so unsatisfactory that no sustain
ed or serious effort was made to ex