Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-02-14
DR0UTH BILL
May HIT SNAC
COnServatiVe-PaSsed Meas
ure May Cause Trouble in
Relief Situation.
University Regent Tangle
May be Used as Test
Case in Court.
BY Hjalmar Petersen, Lieutenant Gov
ernOr of Minnesota.

ernor Of Minnesota.
week of Feb. to Feb. 81
The election of eight members Of
the board of regents of the Univer-
sity of Minnesota and new tangles in
the effort to raise necessary relief
funds for destitute farmers in this
state held the chief interest in the
legislative panorama of the week.
On the one hand, there was the con-
flict between the conservative con-
trolled Legislature and Governor Or
son on the University board of regents.
Despite the fact that the Legislature
elected eight members there is ques-
tion of whether these will all be con-
tinued in office. Governor Olson con-
tends that under the law of 1868 the
governor is empowered to appoint the
regents. and has indicated that he is
prepared to make his own selections
and carry the case to the Supreme
court in the belief that his action
will be upheld there.
Relief Bill Snagged.
On the other side of the picture
we have the $1,OOO.OOO drouth relief
bill snagged at several points. The
latest, and possibly the most danger
Gus obstacle, is, the ruling of Harry
Hopkins, federal relief administrator
indicating that if this S1,OOO,OOO ap-
preparation is made in the manner i'm
which it has been brought forth by
the conservative majority in the Leg
islature it will reduce federal relief
contributions to Minnesota by an
equal amount.
Mr.. Hopkins ruling was given in a
telegram to L. P. Zimmerman, act
ing state emergency relief admin
istrator, who interpreted it to mean
that such relief funds appropriated
by the Legislature would be deducted
from the amount allotted to Mime
sofa by the Federal Emergency Relief
administration for this purpose. This
would make the maximum federal
drouth aid to farmer $25 month,
minus what he receives from the
state.
Governor Olson and liberal mem
bers Of the Legislature contend that
this situation would not have arisen
had the Legislature passed the Sill
100000 relief bill originally advocated
by the liberals. The conservative ma
jority forced a separation of the
81, 100000 drouth relief appropriation
from the rest of the bill
House BalkS Changes.
The move to speed the drouth bill
struck another snag when the House
refused to concur in amendments
made by the Senate.
The Senate amendments included a
provision eliminating the State Emer-
gency Relief adm inistration as the
agency for allocating the emergency
appropriation for livestock feed. The
Senate plan would have the state
executive council acquire the feed
and set up the machinery for its dis
tribution. The Senate also amended
the bill to provide that the funds
should be spread all over the state
where needed instead Of distributing
the larger part to certain drouth
areas.
A further Senate amendment was
that the funds should be raised from
the general tax revenues rather than
from levies on future liquor taxes.
Governor Olson remarked that this
latter provision seemed to be at a
variance with the frequent express
sions Of conservative senators in favor
Of reducing the tax burden on prop
erty owners.
Conference committees OF both
houses were selected to try to adjust
the differences over the bill.
Battle on Regent Vote.
The election OF the University board
Of regents brought forth some fervent
oratory in the nomination speeches
from the floor for various candidates.
1t also resulted in a sharp clash be-
tween liberal and conservative mem
bers over matter Of procedure.
Names Of eight nominees were sub
mitted to the joint meeting Of the
House and Senate by conservative
controlled nominating committee rep
resenting both houses
(Continued on Page 81