The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-01-18


to grow up with the country he wrote
home that he was "in the Legislature
now" But" complained the Old Man
''he doesn't say what for"
Nearly two hundred representatives
of the people are In the Minnesota
Legislature now for four months OF con-
fusion and hard labor. The session
will be beset with pulling and weighty
problems. It will be good Legislature
If it solves one of the many serious
problems confronting it; namely, the
tax problem; but if it does that it will
do more than any other Legislature, in
Minnesota, or elsewhere, ever did be-
fore.
Fatigued with the excitement and
labor of organization and with the
thought of the heavy tasks outlined in
the Governors message, the Legislature
will probably adjourn today and rest
up over the week end and gain strength
to face their committee assignments
next week. The Legislature Is always
slow starter, but late in April it will
work night and day and put on fast
finish. :, - ."
Some Legislative Statistics.
The Legislature meets only in the
odd numbered year. This is the states
forty-ninth although it had eight other
legislative sessions as territory. It is
limited by law to 80 legislative days
which will draw out the session fol
four calendar months and bring fina
adjournment late in April. The Legis.
lature consists of 131 House member.
and 81 members of the Senate, all o.
whom, strange as it may seem, are en-
titled to be called Honorable. Eacl
member gets $1,000 for the two yea
period; believe it or not, that's all HI
gets; being member of the Legislator,
isn't what it used to be- About 500
bills will be introduced of which per
haps 400 will get to be laws; if we ma.
believe what many critics of law
making seriously say, this is about 80
too many. Some six or seven, mayb
a dozen, statewide laws Of major Inn
portance will come out of the session
most of the rest will be local bills o
/; minor amendments of existing laws
The session, if it follows recent pre-
cedent, will cost between 100000 an,
100000. If this distresses any tax
payer, let him consider the New Yorl
Legislature which has the same numbe
Of members, sits for the same length O
time, costs $1,000 900, and will repea
the performance next year when tn
Minnesota Legislature is taking com
plete rest, praise the Lord.
What q Legislature Is.
The Legislature is a Representative
democracy in function. Representa-
the people, it is the sovereign power O
the, state. and can add to or take fror
every other activity of the state, priv
ilege, authority and power.
The Legislature Is the people in tn
act of governing themselves. Good Q
bad, it is what the people make il
When we praise it, we take pride in on
own accomplishments; when we blam
it, we find fault with ourselves.
Flesh Pots of Egypt.
More than q month ago each tactic
of the legislative membership hel
caucusses In the effort to control til
organization of the House and Senat.
and on the opening day of the session
Tuesday, these efforts were completed
The papers have been full of matte
the members have been keenly con
crned, and the people at large con
: Siderably interested. What was all til
excitement abouta Everybody saie
particularly the contending factions
that it was to determine the characte
OF the legislation Of the session. Blu
it wasn't that at all. We get about th
. same legislation no matter which fac
ton controls. Minnesota Is liberia
progressive state; it has been enactin
liberal, progressive laws at every legis
lative session since it became a state
All the hullabaloo about organizing tn
House and Senate was simply for tn
purpose of determining who should ge
the flesh pots of Egypt-the appoint
ment of clerks and stenographers 70
the session and the choice committe
places.