The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-03-18
Tuning In on The Minnesota
Legislature :.
By SENATOR VIM WEBER

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pounds; fat containing meat products,
1856 900 600; tallow, 245, 100000 pounds
and over 1000 100000 pounds of cocoa
nut oil.
| Certainly these imports should be
stopped before We consider passing
legislation that will prohibit the use
and sale of products that have been
grown upon American farms. This
matter of imports is beyond the powers
of the Legislature of the State of
Minnesota 1t is a problem that the
Federal Congress should act upon. The
farmers of Minnesota and of the United
States should petition the Congress and
the President to stop such importation.
Rumors in Capitol corridors are to
the effect that there will be house
cleaning in the Tax Commission Office.
In these days when taxes are an all
absorbing question nothing is more i'm
portant than able, conscientious men
on this Commission. Down in Lincoln
county, A. L. Swenson for many years
county auditor, proved his worth as tax
expert He resigned his position to ac-
cept an equally important position with
the Miller-Davis company. The tax
question is his hobby. He knows tax
laws and tax problems as do few men,
If there is to be any change, Governor
Benson could do not better than to
place A. l.. in key position in the de-
partment. It would reflect credit on
the department and the state.
The consumer now holds the pole
position as the forgotten man." Here
tofore have alluded briefly to the Fair
Trade Practises Act, which is now be-
fore the Senate committe on General
Legislation. The bill, in its original
form, was vicious in the extreme. well
realize that the merchant must be pro-
tected against unfair competition, but
the proposed legislation would place
him in the gilded seat to the disad-
vantage of the consumer Everyone
wants to see the merchant fare WELL
The Lord knows his path has not been
strewn with roses, but those who buy
must likewise be protected. prophecy
that the bill will come out in such
form that it will be fair to all, and
after all that is sensible.
The Farm Bureau has been the real
agency that has fought for the best in
tereSts of the farmer for these many
years. Unwilling to he controlled by
politicians, forces are at work to enact
legislation that will bring the Bureau
under the control of politicians.
To keep fences up and in good repair
the Farmer-Labor party must have
lot of good jobs to give out. The agri-
cultural extension service and the Al
club department. embrace some good
jobs, not particularly well paid when
qualifications are weighed, but good
jobs nevertheless. Governor Benson
would like nightly to control the pat
ronage on these positions, by giving hire
and fire authority to the state COM
missioner of education and the state
commissioner of agriculture. So House
File lott was drawn, the Farmer Labor
steam roller was started and SO repre-
sentatives went on the bill following
the most intensive lobbyist campaign in
years.
There's new element around the
state capitol these days, known for want
of a better name as "Elmer's stooges."
nf To,
and other agricultural department I'M
derlings, are on the state payroll.
Others represent organizations that
have always been opposed to All club
and extension work. They're working
harder than any of them have ever
worked before, trying to crowd the bill
through before the farmers of the state
wake up to what is going on.
The Farm Bureau, which has always
supported the extension department
literally, through cash contributions
and the volunteered services of the
membership, is naturally opposed to
the bill and the thousands of members
throughout the state are making it
quite embarrassing for the house men,
bers who hope to please both the adj
ministration and the farmers of the
state. Minnesota farmers seem to be
waking up, abruptly, to tn fact that it
just can't he done. Elmer's stooges saw
their last argument in favor of the bill
blasted away when Farm Bureau Of
ficers pointed out that the Farm Bur-
eau subsidy the stooges have been
prattling so much about does not exist
that the Farm Bureau has never