Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-08-12
State Capitol News
BY A. I. HARRIS

A survey completed last week of
the tax situation in the state answers
very effectively charges of reaction
airy propaganda agencies that the spe-
cial session of the Legislature which
cost approximately 100000 did not
accomplish anything that the regular
session would not have done.
The survey shows very clearly that
owners of real property will save sew
eral million dollars yearly as the
result of concessions won by the lib
erals in the closing days of the spe-
cial session.
Passage of the homestead eXemp-
ton act, which eXempts city homes
and farms for the first $4,000 valua-
ton from the state real estate levy
will result in savings of $4,000 year.
ly to home owners.
In addition the millage rate of not
to exceed 10 mills for each year of the
next biennium as compared to the
millage rate of 1883 and 11.99 mills
which was proposed under the ten
tative agreement at the close of the
regular session will result in fur
Their savings to all real estate owners
of more than S5,737 900 for the next
two years.
It was also revealed that the pro-
gram of the Senate conservatives as
set forth in the omnibus tax bill orig
inally passed by the Senate at the
regular session would have resulted
in a % mill levy on property for
state purposes for each year of the
biennium. This program was frus-
trated by Governor Benson and the
liberals who insisted on tax relief
for real estate owners.
Effect of the cut in relief appro-
priations made by the Legislature at
the behest of conservatives is already
being felt L. p. Zimmerman, state
relief director, has ordered cut of
25 per cent in allotment of state re-
lief funds to all counties for the
month of August. The heaviest cut
is being made now, because needs
of the relief clients will be greater
during winter months when warm
clothing and fuel will be needed.
Before continuing its inspection of
the books of finance companies max
ing small, personal loans which have
been charged with imposing usurious
interest rates, the state banking de-
partment is awaiting an opinion from
Attorney General William Erwin re-
garding the jurisdiction of the de-
partment.
Should the present law prove in
adequate, efforts should be made to
amend it," Commissioner Berry said,
otherwise there is no state agency
which has the power to force loan
sharks to comply with the statutes
pertaining to usurious practices"
THE constitution was made for the
people and not the people for the
constitution and, with this funda-
mental principle in mind it should
be interpreted to promote the social
and economic welfare of the people"
This sometimes forgotten truth was
driven home to 1900 people attend
ing a meeting sponsored by the Dam
ube Commercial club by Attorney
General William S. Erwin, chief
speaker at the meeting Mr.. Erwin
also discussed a move to obtain low
er telephone rates throughout the
state as a result of the decision in
st. Paul which reduced rates by more
than 100000 a year for telephone
users.
Returning to the Twin Cities after
inspecting the 100000 Lac Qui
Parle water conservation project,
Commissioner of Conservation Wen
eel stated he was greatly impressed
with the work so far completed to
create storage reservoir 40 miles
long. He predicted that migratory
waterfowl would greatly increase in
the territory as result of the i'm
provementS made.
Good crops which are predicted
throughout the state will not bring
an end to the farm problem. Farm
income is still substantially below the
1929 figures and farmers are still
losing their farms at the rate of 49,
900 a year throughout the country
However some farmers will be bet
ter off than they have been in many
years and others who went deeply in
debt during the long years of the
agricultural depression VIII C h
started in 1921-Will have some cash