The Redwood gazette., 1936-04-02
Special Privileges
~ PECIAL q

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t<0 PECIAL privileges" and favored
Ninterests" have been the bomb-shells
of recent political campaigns in Mime
sota Whenever platform wording was in
discreet or some opponent brought out a
point that made explanations difficult, the
speakers simply raised their voices and
shouted Especial privileges.
No one knew exactly what was meant
or who was referred to. Most voters guessed
it was the power interests, the telephon
the railroads or the mining COM
panes Certainly it was something big and
powerful. One never heard much about 1t
after election, so just electing the speaker
who knew the details apparently was suffl-
cient
NOW the explanation has been given.
We, the people, who use the state parks, who
take our youngsters down to show them the
animals, or to picnic or who attend band con-
certs or political rallies or just tarry there
while for set of tennis - we are enjoying
special privileges" The conservation COM
mission has used these old familiar words in
it's explanation of the 25 cent parking char
ge to be made in state parks this summer. 1t
therefore follows, supposedly, that we who
use the parks are the favored interests" al
though some of the taxes we pay go to sup
port these parks.
Two weeks ago when word of the de-
cision to put luxury tax on state park US
ers reached surprised public, this news
paper took the matter up with the local park
board and with officers of civic clubs. They
thought as we did that there must be some
mistake. Surely the state park authorities
had been misinterpreted. Resolutions were
prepared "just in case'' but all cheat" was
carefully confined until full details could be
obtained Surely one fellow commented,
''the administration which fought the sales
tax hasn't come to this p
Now the park officials have been here
and gone To their credit it must be said
that they listened attentively and apologeti-
caly to the complaints of an aroused park
board Moreover they have reasonable ex-
cuse in the reduction in park appropriations
made by the legislature and they have the
less convincing argument, "other states do
it."
But to our way of thinking, the COM
mission should back paddle on it's decision
as quickly as possible. The reduction in the
appropriation is regrettable. Had we had
some warning when the legislature was in
session, protest worthy of the name could
have gone forth Advice then that an adj
mittance charge might be necessary would
have aroused plenty Of cheat.
But is 1t necessary to double tax the
users of the park, many of whom found it
the one luxury they could enjoy without ex-
pense other than few quarts of gas it took
to get there? If maintenance is a problem,
what about the WPA and the CCC? Surely
some projects approved for the former are
no more appropriate than sending men into
the park to repair roads, trim trees, gather
broken limbs for irewood and otherwise
keen I'D the property
Persons who drive into the park,
through and out without stopping will not be
charged. But when the car pulls to stop
so the occupants can see the animals or get a
drink of water or get better view of the
scenery-a state employee will step up with
the friendly greeting '25 cents please" Just
how many men it will take to keep the park
properly policed, we have not heard estima-
ted but it will fall slightly short of one per
bush
The conservation commission has been
the subject of a good deal of criticism
through recent years but nothing compared
with what it can expect from this. It's wisest
move is to rescind the order Immediately.