Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-02-07
SERVICE OR HEAT?

Senate investigations are frequently
cases in which a political party shoots
up its lightning rods to be polished
up for the next political campaign.
The investigation disease has ap-
propriately been called 'inveStigatis."
If there is a sincere desire on the
part of senators to investigate any
and all departments that need 1t, or
rather to make an inquiry into their
inner workings and to see that they
are rendering proper service to the
public, then that is a different thing.
If it looks like there are any shady
deals being carried on by any public
official, let that come out in the open.
Let the air be cleared and Let honesty
rule, but .'investigatis" is different
thing.
The resolution for the Senate in
vestigatiOn of various state depart
ments was introduced by Senator
James A. Carley of Wabasha county.
The Committee on Committees from
the conservatively organized Senate
picked an investigating committee Of
eleven members, eight Of whom are
conservatives. Upon introduction OF
the investigation resolution a minor
ity member amended it to include the
investigation of three departments OF
state which had been, or are under
Republican rule. OF course, the ma
jority offered no resistance. Appar-
emily they would not care if twenty
five departments or individuals were
named in the investigation resolution.
So long as they have the big majority
OF the committee they can pick the
departments under which they desire
to put heat.
Liberals on the floor of the Senate
justly complained against the make
up of the investigating committee.
Eight conservatives against three lib
erals was not to their liking. 1t was
lot on the kasis of representation in
the Senate. The Senate membership,
as win be- recalled, lined up 43 con-
servatives and "a liberals in the
organization the first day of the ses-
sion.
And even worse than the eight to
three membership ON the investigat-
ing committee was the fact that the
conservatives had six attorneys to one
for the liberals utterly unfair. Sem
ate members from Hennepin county
also had something to complain about.
They were dissatisfied for having no
Hennepin county member on the in
vestigating committee. That. COM
bined with the complaint from the
Farmer-LabOrites sent the committee
report back to the Committee on Com
mittees for another day.
Farmer-Laborites had asked that
the investigating committee be Sc
lected in this manner: The Commit
tee on Committees to name seven. and
the president Of the Senate to choose
four The majority in the House did
not agree to the Lawson amendment
which would have given the power
to the lieutenant governor to select
four members on the investigating
committee. Considering that utterly
unfair. the senator from Kandiyohi
county. Victor f. Lawson, who had
originally been selected by the Com
mittee on Committees as one Of the
three liberals to serve on this investi-
eating group. refused to serve.
The final result was that a senator
from Hennepin county was placed on
the investigating committee and the
liberals getting no more than three
members. Out Of the three only one
is an out and out FarmerLaborite;
he is Senator William L. Dietz. from
LeSueur county, new member and
a farmer. The other liberal men,
bers are Senator Richard N. Gardner
OF Todd county. and Senator Patrick
Farnand of St Louis county. The
latter two gentlemen are not members
of the Farmer-Labor Association but
were elected with Farmer-Labor sup
port.
Time will tell what the investigat
ing committee will uncover. but judg'
ing from the conservatives strong op
position to proportionate Farmer
Labor representation on the commit
tee it appears that it will be more Of
a political investigation than any
thing else.
Investigations have taken place be
fore. They come and go. History ha'
shown that when one political part,
tries to show up another politica