Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-12-12
WEEK
OF SESSION
Governor OlSon'S Message
Offers Method of Easing
Burden of Aged.
Social Security Legislation
Occupies Principal Part
of Time.
BY HJALMAR PETERSEN,
Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
Week of Dec. 9 to n

Week of Dec 2 to y
The special session of the State
Legislature, called by Governor Olson
to enact social security legislation
in conformity with the federal law,
convened Monday, December 2, at
noon.
AS in the last regular session, indie
pendents took control of both Houses.
Speaker George w. Johnson was re-
elected by vote of 81 to Al over
Representative Harold Barker of Ell
bow Lake. The independents steer
ing committee perfected the Senate
organization under the precedent es-
tablished in the regular session of
1881.
The vote to re-elect Johnson showed
gain in support of the speaker Of
five votes over his vote at the regular
session. Three Johnson supp rters
were absent, as were three members
who voted for Barker last winter The
johnson faction, however, laid claim
to at least one of the other absentees
and to having an SS-vote control. II
this proves to be fact, the ma GRITTY
group in the House would have the
necessary two-thirds vote to override
a veto by Governor Olson if they
hewed to the line.
A resolution adopted in the Senate
provides that all legislation to receive
consideration must first be given the
right of way by the Committee on
Rules. Similar action was taken in
the House.
Clear Cut Message.
Tuesday noon, the Senate and
House members met in joint session
in the House Chamber to listen to
Governor Olson's message. Extracts
fOm the Governors message, in which
he urged social security laws and
presented his tax program to meet the
costs of such legislation. voice the
sentiment of the rank and file of the
in the state.
The governors recommendation Of
submission of constitutional amend
ment empowering the state to pay
pension of a certain amount per month
based only upon the applicant for PEN
sion attaining certain age, reflects
the suggestion of the State Central
committee of the Farmer-Labor Asso-
as we'll as the action of the
delegates at the recent Conference for
Progressive Social Legislation. With
over $4,000 persons over the age Of 65
irin ;of L.
leaves no doubt in the minds of those
socially inclined that pensions should
be statewide, not only in theory but
in practice.
Governor Olson's recommendation
that the administration of old age
pension laws be placed exclusively
under the control of the state and the
cost be borne entirely by the state,
except for such contributions as are
made available from the federal gov
eminent, would wipe out the Unequal
tiles under the existing compulsory
pension law.
Urges Tax That Re.distributes.
Anticipating liberalization OF pres
ent standards by the LEGISLATURE, the
governor said:
"A decent old age pension system
in Minnesota, the costs Of which are
borne by the state. would cost the
state between eight million and ten
million per year, with an additional
contribution by the federal govern
ment Of between five million and six
million. The form of taxation re-
sorted to in order to raise money for
special purpose should have some
relationship to the purpose for which
the funds are to be used. A sales tax
upon necessities certainly has no re-
lationship to the payment of moneys
to the needy. A sales tax upon neces-
stiles is a penalty imposed upon pow
erty. A sales tax for the purpose OF
raising old age pension funds would
be a penalty upon the needy imposed
in an endeavor to help the needy. The
'have-nots' would be paying a tax to
those who have naught The only
falr system OF taxation to raise money
to care for the needy. is one which
involves the redistribution Of wealth.
To produce the revenue necessary
to finance the old age pension, the
governor suggested an increased tax
yield by increasing the moneys and
credits tax from to S mills and that
the entire proceeds be paid into TIE
state treasury. He also recommended
that all mortgages upon real property
be classified as money and credits
and pay the proposed 6 mill rate. and
that the mortgage registry tax be re-
pealed. The governor qualified his
as follows:
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