The Redwood gazette., 1935-02-07
CAPITOL
SLANTS
By John M. Zwach

Many people are of the opinion
that the Minnesota legislature is
composed of too many members
and they perhaps know of what
they are speaking. The house
has a membership of 131. It
seemingly is too large body to
expedite business in the most eff
flcient manner.
Representative Mark Nolan, of
Gilbert has a bill which he be-
ieves will cut down the member
ship of both houses sufficiently
to remedy this situation. In it he
proposes to lower the member
ship of the house to not less than
" and not more than 80 members
and the senate to not less than 36
and not more than 40 members.
Houses of such membership per-
haps could function with greater
efficiency and economy. Chances,
however, of the passage of this
measure are dubious as many of
the present members see the pos
sibility of legislating themselves
out of a job should such a bill be-
come a law.
Another, More Drastic
A more drastic proposal is that
of Otto D. Nellermoe, Minneapo-
lis representative. His proposed
bill would establish a one-house
legislature of so members. 1t is
following the lead of Nebraska
which is the only departed state
from our two-house or bi-cameral
system.
The idea of a one-house legis-
lature is not new. Many Euro
pean countries now use that form
of government. However, our
American system, handed down
from England, has always consist
ed of two houses and we have felt
that it provided better safeguards
against ill-considered legislation.
In recent years, under the direc-
ton of Senator Norris of Nebras-
ka, the unicameral, or one-house,
legislature has made progress.
Many await with keen interest the
Nebraska experiment. If the bill
reaches the floor here, it is sure
to bring forth many bursts of or
o{a,,nol lon1o
Millions for Relief
The question of relief is still
drawing much fire between the
conservative and liberal groups.
The wrangling is not over the
question of relief itself as all are
in accord that relief funds must
be voted. What is causing the
disagreement between the two
groups is the method of distribu-
ton to be employed.
Governor Floyd B. Olson's
hackers insist that the funds
should be handled through the
present relief set-up. The con-
servatives insist upon returning
to the old system of handling the
funds through the county commits
sioners. They contend that the
present system is diverting TOO
large a percentage of the funds
for the employees who administer
relief.
The house voted $1,0OO,OOO for
immediate relief Friday. After
considerable discussion from both
sides, it was decided to distribute
the sum through the old channels.
The ten million dollar relief bill
is set for passage Friday and con-
servatives hope to change the ad-
ministration of this fund to the
county commissioners of the vari-
Gus counties.
Besides cutting down the expen-
sive manner of distribution, it
seems reasonable to assume that
the commissioners are closer to
those who actually need relief and
thereby are able to cut down the
evils which have crept into our re-
lief problem. Many people are
disgusted with the relief set-up
because some who are not deserv-
ing are receiving aid while others
in dire distress are seemingly de-
MED.
Cheaper Electricity
There is a movement on foot to
make available cheaper electricity
and power for farmers. 1t is per-
haps one of the most just demands
forwarded by them. The large