Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-03-21
RELIEF BILL IS
MUCH DELAYED
Governor Finds Bill UncOn-
StitutiOnal as Redrafted
by Rockne.
Many Important Measures
Being Held up in
Committees.
BY Hjalmar Petersen. Lieutenant Gov
ernor of Minnesota.

BY Hjalmar Petersen. Lieutenant Gov
ernor of Minnesota.
week of March II to 16)
The LEGISLATURE increased its labors
this week as the lawmakers pro-
crossed on the home stretch OF the
session The Senate for the first time
since the session began went into aft
ernoon meetings. Long debates over
various measures have marked the
sessions in the house during the week.
Despite this increased activity.
however, little legislation OF import
ance has been passed by the leg1sla-
tors so far. Much time has been spent
in wrangling over minor measures,
and those of only local application.
A number of important bills are held
in the hands of committees. This lat
ter group includes several important
pieces of social legislation supported
by the Olson administration. such as
increased income taxes in the higher
brackets, public ownership of utilities.
the bill for a state central bank, and
others
Relief Delayed Again.
After it appeared that the tangle
over the $1O,OOO,0OO relief bill had
been Strengthened out a new hitch
developed. The Senate recalled the
bill from the House, after it had been
passed by both houses, because of a
provision in the measure that coun-
ties must match funds provided by
the state on an equal basis. 1t was
contended that to enforce this provis-
ion on all counties would put a strain
on some of them such as might break
down their financial systems. The
bill went again to a conference COM
mittee and after being amended to
eliminate the Objectionable features
was repaSSed.
This was only one of a series Of
delays which this bill had encount-
cred since it was introduced i'm the
Legislature early last month. For
several weeks it was held up in the
Senate Finance committee while Sem
ator A. ]. Rockne. chairman of that
group, awaited direct word from
Harry Hopkins, Federal Relief admin
istrator at Washington, as to the ex-
act amount of money which Minnesota
was expected to furnish. Mr.. Hop
kins' regional representative, Howard
o. Hunter had told the Legislature in
January that the Federal government
expected the state to furnish $10,-
100000.
Found Unconstitutional.
Finally the bill was passed by the
Senate, and then. when it was sent to
the governors office, it was discovered
there that the measure was uncOnsti-
tutional as redrafted by Senator
ROckne.
The bill was again altered and re-
passed and it appeared that all was
settled until the latest hitch devel-
oped. The new delay meant that the
Federal government held up for
while longer 100000 in relief
funds already allotted to Minnesota
for March.
Another relief measure, the $4,000
600 seed loan bill has been finally APP
proved and preparations have already
begun to provide seed for farmers
under the terms of this act.
New March on Capitol.
For the second time within a week
the Legislature witnessed a march on
the Capitol. On March 6, two thou
sand farmers appeared to ask various
reforms. On March IL, five thousand
nj ntv oil 60
workers, marched on the building to
present demands to the Legislature
for relief of those now destitute The
chief Of these demands was the one
for the passage of House File No. 100,
known as the Workers bill. which is
similar to the Lundeen bill now be-
fore Congress. This bill provides for
unemployment insurance for unem-
ployed workers and farmers over IS
years of age. The minimum benefit
would be $40 per week per person
with an additional SO for each depend
emit Old age. sickness, injury and
maternity are also provided.
The money would be raised by taxes
on gifts. inheritances, and individual
or corporate incomes OF $4,000 or over
This bill. which has been held in
the Public Welfare committee of the
house for some time, was introduced
In the Senate this week by Senator'S
T. H. johnson. A S. Mellon and B. G.
Novak- all Farmer-Laborites.
Governor Olson, in a newspaper ar
ticle this week, commended the Work
ers' bill and suggested that the money
to carry out its terms should be
raised through a capital levy.
Public Ownership Bill.
An important administration bill
Aaeh0rizing cities to acquire, build,