The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-03-08

COW, horse and pig, accomplished
more in one day toward passing the
stock relief bill than the solons did
in the eight weeks of the session
The animal exhibit, brought from
Beardsley, were all bony and ill nour
ished. They were penned on the
capitol lawn and attracted much at
tention. The relief bill, asking $780,.
900 in state funds to be administered
by legislative commission, was Of
fered to the senate by Senators G. l.
Oliver, Graeeville; o. A. Stetvold, De.
troit Lakes and ]. v. Weber, Slayton
1t passed the senate unanimously and
was sent to the house where Just as
speedy action sped the bill along to
the governor for signature. The half
million dollar fund will be admins
tered under the direct control of the
state executive council rather than
through the SERA, which is controll-
ed by the governor. The money will
be handed out to individual farmers
through the county boards which will
be barred from any expenditures not
approved by the council.
Agreement on a motor vehicle IL
cense bill was reached by the house
committee on motor vehicles. They
adopted compromise, keeping the SIS
and $3.50 minimums which have been
in effect under the reduction of the
last two years, but otherwise return
ing to the basic rate of "a per cent,
with depreciation allowances of 10
per cent year. 1t was estimated
this plan will add s1,300,00O a year
to the tax income for highways,
bringing the motor vehicle tax totals
up to SS,000,00O. A bill will be pre-
sented to both houses for action.
Methods of administering local gov
eminent in Minnesota would be i'm
proved greatly by the local financial
affairs bill, one of the most compre-
hensive pieces of tax legislation pre-
sented to any recent legislature. In
troduced by Senator Henry c. Stien-
ing and Representative S. Theodore
Severtson, the bill would completely
revise local tax systems. The bill
would accomplish the following:
Establish county board of tax adj
justment in each county, with seven
members, to which taxpayers would
present arguments on tax measures:
require all municipalities, counties,
townships and schools to submit
financial reports to the state; require
the public examiner to audit books
of any local board, at the request Of
citizens; establish standardized ac-
counting methods for all branches Of
local government; require annual
budgets and public hearings on them;
prevent issuance of anticipation war
rants exceeding levies, except by au-
thority of county boards of tax adj
justment; place all units on 'pay
as you go" basis; require all monies
to be used only for the purposes lev
led; restrain administrative bodies
from spending money in excess of tax
collections in any year; permit voters
to be the final authority in adjudica-
ton of tax levy appeals from the de-
cision of adjustment boards; provides
penalties for violation of provisions
of the bill.
The request of the state prison for
$4,000 per year for current expenses
in the next biennium was allowed in
its entirety by the state house ap-
preparation committee as was a re-
quest for S54,50O for repairs and i'm
provements. The committee rejected
request of $500 for extra help and
granted only $4,000 of a$7,5OO request
for printing supplies.
Cities of the first class, including
Minneapolis, would be permitted by
ordinance or agreement with rail-
roads to require or provide for over
head or underpass crossing and
grade reseparation without applica-
ton to or consent from the state
railroad and warehouse commission,
according to bill introduced by Rep
resentatives w. S. Collins, Otto D.
Nellermoe and Carl S. Hagland, all
from south Minneapolis districts.
Imposition of a gross income tax
of one-half of per cent and a retail
sales tax of per cent, estimated to
raise a combined revenue of S40,-
100000 yearly for the purpose of re-
placing tax levies on real estate and
general property, was proposed in
bills introduced with the backing of
the Minnesota Federation of Associa-
tions for Tax Reform. Introduction
of the gross income and sales tax
bills is expected to precipitate one
Of the most hectic battles at this ses-
sion. The measures are in direct con-
flict with the tax program offered by
Gov. Floyd B. Olson, who is unalter-
ably opposed to sales tax. He has
said he would veto such a bill If
passed by the legislature.
The proposed taxes will reach vir-
tually every person and business in
the state, constituting the most far
reaching plan ever offered for the
purpose of reducing the burden on
real estate. Bills providing for linn
itation OF real estate tax levies, both
by statute and Constitutional amend
ment, were introduced early in the
session and already have received IA
vorable recognition in committee. The
constitutional amendment bill has
been recommended for passage by the
house tax committee.
A bill proposing to reduce the state
legislature to A senators and SS rep
resentatives, with one senator and
two representatives to be elected from
each of A new legislative districts,