The Ely miner., 1935-03-22
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IOr 1883 duLOHODilc ACcASc lees was
extended to Minnesota motorists as
the legislature sought an agreement
between the two houses over the rates
for the next two years. The applica-
ton deadline, previously extended
from Feb. Is to March Is, was pro-
longed another 80 days by both the
house and senate. Meanwhile, the
house motor vehicles committee met
to consider compromises in differ
ences between the higher rates es-
tablished by the house license bill
and the 1888 and 1894 rates in the
senate bill. The house measures
seeks s1,3OO,OO0 additional annual in
come for the highway department.
The $4,000, 600 seed loan bill, as
amended to insure its constitutional
ity, was repassed by the house, and
Governor Olson has indicated that he
now will sign it. The measure pro-
vides for applications for seed loans
to township boards. subject to review
by county boards, and limits each loan
to a maximum. of $500. Repayment
may be made in cash or in crops af-
ter the harvest. II repayment is made
in crops, the basis would be one and
one-half bushels for each busheI Of
seed furnished, or one and one-haH
pounds for each pound loaned. The
counties would raise seed loan moneys
through the issuance Of bonds, and in
event county suffers a loss it would
be reimbursed by the state from the
general seed loan appropriation.
The $4,000, ,0o0 general emergency
relief bill was repassed by the house
for the third time with corrective
amendments to assure its constitu-
tionality. 1t was approved by a vote
of 10 to and returned to the senate
for final passage. The measure in its
original form was not signed by Gov
ernor Olson because of technical Fro
visions which were held unconstitu-
tional. As passed this time, the meas
ure meets those objections by a pro-
vision for disbursement Of the ap-
preparation from a special emergency
relief fund. This will make available
an annual $4,000, 900 state fund for
the next two years for general relief
throughout the state.
The first move to tighten the tax
load on real estate was taken when
the house tax committee approved a
three-year limitation on taxes levied
for general purposes by cities, cou2-
ties and other minor government sub
divisions. The basis of the bill is
to make taxes levied by cities and
counties against real estate to con-
form to the amount of money they
viii receive from replacement taxes
passed by this legislature. It estab-
fishes a maximum levy based on the
average for the past five years but
anticipates that this maximum will
be pared down by the amount of the
replacement.
Standing alone, the measure would
give small relief TO the individual
property-owner. In Minneapolis IL
would hardly cut three mills from the
existing tax rate. But in conjunction
with the requirements proposed. it
would effect a, considerable saving
since all of the requirements receiv-
ed would have to be sliced from the
property tax. AS reported out by the
house committee, the bill sets up
flexible system for control Of taxes
It recognizes the fixed levies, such
as those for bonds and interest, pen
sion and retirement fund levies. spe-
cial assessments and emergency pub
| lie relief. Since levies have to be
made for these purposes regardless
OF the desire to cut taexs, the bill ex-
empts them from the limitation. In
other words, after these matters have
been provided for in any years set up.
the limitation can be applied to the
remainder Of the proposed expendi-
lures.
For these expenditures, regarded as
discretionary IN the eyes of the gov
erning body-such as police and fire
protection, schools, street lighting,
parks and Fairgrounds. water and
similar activities-there would be es-
tablished under this bill a maximum
levy based on the average Of the
levies for the past five years Under
no circumstances could the rates for
these purposes go above that figure.
To assure immediate effect, however.
the committee, provided that for the
taxes collected in 1886, the rate can
be but 95 per cent of the maximum:
for 1887 and 1888. the rate could be
but 80 per cent of that figure.
The house municipal affairs COM
mittee discussed the bill introduced
by Representative S. A. Stockwel,
Minneapolis, which would authorize
municipalities in Minnesota to oper-
ate, construct lease and acquire pub
lie owned public utilities.
Frank Yetka of Carlton, former Sec
retary of the state conservation COM
mission. now becomes state Insurance
commissioner, succeeding Garfield W.
Brown. Yetka was approved by the
senate insurance committee.
A new old age pension bill. which
would have state and federal govern
ment contribute three-fourths and
counties one-fourth of pensions paid.
was introduced in the legislature by
Senators B. G. Novak. st. Paul; ". P
Wolfe, Minneapolis, and George Lom-
men, Eveleth- It increases pensions
from $50 to s45 a month
In a statement regarding the en-
actment of the weighing and grading
law in North Dakota, c. B. CrandaIl.
president of the Central Cooperative
Livestock Shipping Association,