Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-05-09
MANY GOOD
BILLS LOST
Continued from Page ~

continued from rage ~
were killed in committee. Others
were left there to die without re-
ceiving any action.
In view of the fact that the read
ers had opportunity to keep informed
on the actual passage of Legislation
as the session progressed, it is well
to devote some time here to things
that were left undone. 1t seems prob
able that some of these matters. too,
will come before the special session
if one is called.
One of the outstanding questions
before this Legislature was the en-
PWA Bills Die.
actment of legislation to enable the
state to obtain millions of dollars
| from the federal government under
the five billion dollar relief appropria-
ton. A number of bills, conforming
to the terms laid down by the federal
tanning these allotments, were intro
duced in the Legislature as admin
istration bills, but they were blocked
| by the conservative majority. These
measures included housing bill, the
power districts bill, the rural electri-
ficatin proposal. and a bill which
would enable the issuance of revenue
bonds for publicly owned utilities pro-
jects so that these utilities could be
built and developed without adding
any burden ON the taxpayers. The
future revenues of the utilities would
be used to redeem the bonds.
In a special message to the Legis-
lature in connection with the intro
duction of the PWA bills, Governor
Olson emphasized that Minnesota
should take the proper steps to re-
ceive it's share of the millions of dol
lars being allotted to the states by
the federal government. He pointed
out that the projects contemplated
would provide employment for thou
sands of Minnesota workers now job
less and would mean the purchase
of large quantities of materials from
business and industry in Minnesota.
Majority Balks.
Yet the dominant group in the Leg
islature baked. It's course in cOnnec-
ton with these bills was substantially
that favored by representatives of the
power interests who opposed the
measures in committee hearings. This
would seem to suggest that the ma
jority is more interested in seeing the
status quo maintained for the power
trust and other special privilege
groups than in giving men work or
providing markets for Minnesota bus
mess.
In the end the country must pay
the bill for the vast federal expendi
lures about to be made. If these ex
penditures bring about economic re-
covery and give us some lasting, use
full works as provided in the PWA
program, the price will not be too
high We can then afford to pay fol
them out of future returns.
Minnesota is going to have to pay
it's share of the expenditures involved
. in the federal work and relief pro
gram. Therefore it ought to take
steps to get its share of the fedora
allOtments. Other states will get tn,
money if it does not
= Other Measures Lost.
The liberals proposal for a centra
bank of deposit died in committee. j
is contended that such central banl
; would liberalize credit and loosen thu
grip of big banking groups on tn
financial system of the state.
Other liberal measures which wer
discarded were the bills for stat
1 hydro-electric power development, TO
the initiative and referendum for de
4 creasing the size of the Legislature
and for a tax receivership law which
:. would have forced many wealth.
| property owners to pay up large Ia
e delinquencies.
The bill for party designation o
legislators introduced by a Farmer
5 Labor member was sidetracked an
allowed to die in a conservative com
mittee. incidentally, all three polit
ical parties carried planks in thei
7 platforms last fall calling for tn
party designation. The conservative