Evening star., 1935-01-20

Wy C1CCGlNc VI dppOlllGlVG dIIIlcI
of their monthly salaries with tn,
war chest, mainly to finance the
This publication began as a month
ly, but recently became a weekly, with
the editors hopefully looking forward
to the time when it may become a
daily to further circumvent the ad-
vantage of the opposition press, which
comprises all but one or two State
dailies.
So the Governors enemies are loud
ly demanding legislative support Of
q remedial measure making the cur
rent custom a criminal offenSe SINH
lar to the provisions of the Federal
law under which Former Gov. Will
liam Lander of North Dakota was
convicted and subsequently ousted
from Office.
Protest Use of Tax Money.
Those protesting against the Far
mer-Labor levy estimated that the
sum thus collected annually ranges
from 100000 to S500000, and they
profess great shock at the taxpayers
money thus being used indirectly to
foster the third party cause.
Much political capital probably will
be made of the point which is ex-
pected to be brought before the Sem
ate and House, both newly organized
by anti-administration forces. Pro-
ponents of the measure obviously hope
to push the proposal through both
branches and cause the maximum
embarrassment to Gov. Olson, who
has defended the assessment as moth
ing more than that levied by his Re-
publican predecessors.
The latest outburst of the Gov
ernor's enemies was prompted by the
activity of the official third party
collector in the State Railroad and
Warehouse Commission office, now
dominated by the Farmer-Laborites,
through defeat Of the veteran Repub-
lican, Christian Lauritsch, by Charles
Mum, former Speaker Of the House,
at the last election.
Col. Frank W. Matson, remaining
Republican member of the commits
sion. said he would protest vigorously
against compelling departmental en-
ployes, many of whom are G. o. P.
holdovers, to contribute to the Farmer
Labor campaign fund.
IT am unalterably opposed to d-
Verting per cent of the State en-
ployes' salaries for the financing OF a
political party, organization or ma
chine" he said. 1T is the peoples
money that is paid to State employees
as salaries and the people assume that
those who receive this money will use
it to support themselves and their
families. Such a practice is unethical
and contrary to the best traditions OF
democracy"
Friction Is Expected.
Meanwhile, the conservative ma
dorities in the Senate and House are
cementing plans to fight the Gov
ernor's cooperative commonwealth
proposal and the boldness Of their
methods is certain to produce friction
aplenty.
The severity with which the anti
administration Senate majority dealt
WIFI Tie LII SdAAA1o-
tion detail is indicated by disclosure
that tradition and courtesy were
swept aside. Not content with de-
priving Hjalmer Petersen, Farmer
Labor Lieutenant Governor, OF the
right to name the Senate committees,
the Senate conservatives even barred
the presiding officer from naming
four pages, a privilege extended his
third party predecessor who was SIM
ilarly shackled as concerns Senate
organization.
This was accepted as personal
affront by Lieut.. Gov. Petersen who,
already had announced the recipients
of his scant appointive power, re-
sulting in publication of the disap-
pointed pages names.
Gov. Olson, in accordance with
previously announced plans, thus
far has adopted a conciliatory atti-
tude toward the conservative domi-
mated legislative branches for the
professed purpose Of convincing the
hostile lawmakers Of the merit of his
radical State-ownership proposals.
Investigations to Begin.
But the olive branch probably will
be withdrawn shortly when the
proposed series Of anti-administration-
sponsored investigations begin, with
several State departments, controlled
by the Governors henchmen, as the
target of inquisitive solons.
One noteworthy development in the
fecently-c convened Legislature was
the enthusiastic conservative rush to
climb on the band wagon and cham
pion the cause of the forgotten man,
this time the drought distressed
farmer and the harassed taxpayer.
This, of course. was designed to show
that the help should be temporary
and should center around plans other
than the Governors cooperative
commonwealth concoction, which
would be q permanent set-up.
Stanch conservatives already have
offered bills to continue the so per
cent reduction In motor vehicle
license fees, authorize maximum OF
e2. 600, 900 in seed loans to farmers
and scale down the obligations OF
farms obtained under the State rural
credit agency now in the process OF
liquidation.
Administration forces, usually the
spearhead in such drives, countereo
weakly with a resolution memorial
iz;nr Congress to liberaliZe regulations
al