The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-07-01
Tuning In on The Minnesota
LEGISLATURE
By SENATOR WIN WEBER

The penalty feature, however, irked
Senators Carley, Rockne and others.
They pointed out that it would make
for wholesale felonies and that if en-
forced would fill our jails with honest
but uninformed people. The bill was
re-referred back to the Tax committee
where penalties were made less drastic.
On Friday the bill came up again
| for consideration. Senator Lommen Of
fered an amendment to raise the rate
to mills and the debate was again on
Senator CravenS, also Farmer-Labor-
tie, likewise offered an amendment that
would force corporations from without
the state to report all owners OF stock
to the State Tax Commission.
| The Senate was split wide open.
Senator Devoid, an ardent Farmer
Laborite, backed by Senator's Novack,
Hausler and other leading Farmer
Laborites took the floor in opposition,
despite the fact that the bill was one
which the Governor greatly desires.
Devoid made most impressive talk,
showing how such bill would take
from widows and children the small
pittance left them. Talks were many
and extended and then to cap the
climax the debate was started all over
again when Sen. Almen, Of Balaton
moved to reconsider the vote whereby
the exemption of $1,000 was passed
Upshot of the whole thing was that
the bill was finally passed by scant
ma jority of two votes, the vote being
Sc to 30.
The House doubtless will refuse to
accede to the Senate amendments and
the bill will go to conference. Though
far less drastic than the House bill
the Senate bill is anything but good
It gives the State Tax Commission
practically unlimited powers and will
; give them the privilege of employing
an army of shoppers to ferret out the
innermost secrets of the individual, rich
and poor. Its worst feature is that il
makes for political hammer, which
may be used by revengeful tax COM
miSsionerS, now or in the future, tt
pound opponents into the bitter dust
There is a possibility that the bill may
be reconsidered and by the time thi.
letter is in print dts fate might NEE
with reversal. AS it now stands people
of the State from the lowliest to ths
highest, stand in jeopardy.
The desire of Governor Benson Il
clean house in the Highway department
has been stopped at least to some ex
, tent by the federal government. II
order to qualify for federal grants TO
highway purposes the state entered int.
an agreement as to the personnel o
certain departments within the high
way department, more especially tn
planning department. The momen
two of the members of the plannin;
board were ousted the government
served notice that 100000 now avail
able would be withheld and that othe
amounts involving better than So ,OO0,O 90
, might also be held up pending an in
vestigation. The Governor, however
has reinstated the two planning boar,
| IliS WILL OOuUG
lessly proceed with greater caution.
That the farm help problem is
: vital one was stressed in q resolution
authored by this writer and Rep. Neil
son, in the House. The resolution cite
the fact that farm help is now scare
and that relief workers are refusing +
quit the relief rolls and accept farr
: employment. With bumper crop i
= prospect farmers of Minnesota will fin
= themselves in bad way if help canno
be had. The purpose Of the resolution
therefore, is to urge the Governor t
issue proclamation ceaSing all relic
cases where necessary so that men S
employed will have to accept farm EN-
ployment. The time for such a NOR
atorium Of relief help is suggested a
from July 18th to November LIST. Tn
fact that there are over 10000 men S
. employed proves to what extent farmer
of the state are handicapped in pre-
curing help during the harvest season