The Ely miner., 1935-02-01

pose of exciting popular perjudice that
might yield votes to the Farmer-Labor
candidates for state Office in 1884.
There is some evidence that they
thought correctly. Those who so voted
have been denounced as reactionaries
and a tremendous hue and cry was
raised against the Bancorporation dur
ing the campaign last summer and
fall.
The net results of the expenditure Of
more than $4,000 by the state, an ex-
penditure of more than $4,000 forced
on Clay county, heavy costs assessed
against Hennepin county, and all the
political uproar contrived by the Far
mer-Labor leaders has been this:
/. Complete failure to obtain any
indictments in Hennepin after the most
elaborate and prolonged Investigation
backed by all the power OF the state and
ample funds.
2. A stunning failure of the case
brought in Clay county. Here the pro-
secution concentrated all its forces in
an attack lasting five weeks; the de-
fense did not introduce single witness;
the jury promptly returned unani-
NOUS verdict of not guilty.
From beginning to end this thing
has all the ear-marks of political plot
to obtain votes. The taxpayers of the
state have been cruelty and unscrupu-
lously gouged to satisfy personal politi-
cal ambitions. With all the power OF
the state, backed by ample funds, the
plotters have been able to show nothing
but their own poison gas attack.
Tax Problem to the Fore
The first joint committee meeting OF
the session was held last week for a
preliminary consideration of the most
serious and most puzzling problem OF
the Session-tax relief.
The gathering was impressive. It
filled the Senate chamber. Senator
George Sullivan of Washington ano
Representative Dick Hart of Carlton
chairmen of Taxes in Senate ano
House respectively, presided. The CON-
bined committee numbered "a. one-thirc
nearly of the total membership Of the
Legislature. Spectators were Struch
with the evident ability of the COM
mittee members and their earnestneSs.
This initial hearing was devoted
principally to factual information con-
cerning the gross earnings or dollar
turnover tax and the sales tax. H. L
Henderson, executive director OF the
Minnesota Institute of Governmental
Research gave detailed figures ano
estimates as to the productivity OF the
gross earnings tax. His estimate of not
more than $12,5OO,OO revenue from a
gross earnings tax of one-half Of one
per cent contrasted strongly with esti-
mates of 0,OO0, 900 made by proponents
of the tax. States which have tried the
gross earnings tax, Indiana, South OAK
ota, West Virginia, have all been dis
appointed in the amount Of the return
Washington Commands, We Obey
A "joint convention" is a gathering
of House and Senate members. A not
able joint convention took place in the
House chamber last week. Governor
Olson presented an "ultimatum" from
ington-MinneSota taxpayers viii
put up $4,000, 900 for relief or the state
will get no federal funds. The federal
regional director, Mr.. Hunter, was even
more plain spoken than the Governor
Put up, and put up quick, he said, il
you want any federal millions. Harry
Hopkins in Washington is the big boss
He arbitrarily tells each state what il
must pay-the people have nothing to
say, their part is just to dig down in
their jeans for the kale.
When Senator Stiening of Moorheao
protested that the people of Minnesota
would like to know something about how
their money is being spent, M. Hunter
retorted that the federal government
would like to know how the state is
spending federal funds, and the gal
leries actually applauded. Actually the
federal government knows everything
and the state knows nothing about how
relief funds are spent. Requests for in
formation have met either silence OF
rather rude repulse.
Dust From the Capital Corridor
The House has it on the Senate in one
respect. The House members are
gentlemen" but members of the Senate
are merely Senators" these terms
members in the respective chambers. A*'
Henry Sullivan of st. Cloud occupies in
| the Senate the same seat from which
his father for so many years so ably
volleyed and thundered. Representa-
tive Roy Wier of Minneapolis has Il
pockets in his clothes and halt dozen
labor bills in every pocket. .s*%Only two
women in the 1885 Legislature, Repre-
sentative Mabeth Hurd Paige of Hen
nepin and Representative Hannah
Kemfer of Otter Tail. They're both
veterans, not in years, but in law
making ***The Senate has got uppity-
closes its doors an hour before sitting
and an hour after. 1t will get over 1t
scatter sustaining an unsuccessful fill
buster for three hours, Representative
Mark Nolan, Farmer-Labor, wiped his
brow in the corridor and remarked
I'VE were Just trying the boys out. pass