Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-03-04
Voice From Senate
BY SEN. C. ELMER JOHNSON,
From Pine and Chisago Counties
Income Tax.


BY the time this appears in print
it is expected that the amendment
increasing the rate of the net income
tax will have passed the House. IL
will then be up to the Senate to re-
view the work of the House and Ell
Their amend it, pass it as it is or re-
ject it. 1t is generally conceded that
the House is assuming the attitude OF
a horse trader and has marked up
the per cent tax overly high so as
to have a leeway for bargaining and
trading. This is one of the evils OF
our antique legislative system and
proves very confusing to the average
citizen. 1t looks like so much chican-
cry. This horseplay. however, some
times springs from the taxpayer citi-
zen.
A good example of this was in evil
dance at a public hearing on the
proposed increase in the net income
ious commercial clubs was decidedly
hostile and bitter. Threats of leav-
ing the state were frequent. Particu-
larry outspOken in his opposition was
a representative of the MankatO Com
mercial club. Chairman Hagen asked
him what he would propose to raise
the necessary money for state eX-
penses. The prompt reply was that
the state should quit spending. "Do
as we do. When we haven't the
money we don't spend any" 1t so
happens that Mankato is asking for
an appropriation of 100000 for addi-
tiOns to the teachers college so Mr..
Hagen wondered if it would be all right
to dissapprove that appropriation. A
great many requests have been re-
ceived from friends of our schools
asking that all increases derived from
higher income tax be kept for
school purposes. The author hereby
acknowledges receipt of several hun
dred cards dealing with this import
ant proposal and wishes to assure
these friends that he will, as always,
support improved educational facil-
titles for rural children.
lnasmuch as an increased tax rate
must be adopted before any new
school funds can be available, might
it not be permissible to suggest that
these friends of education and those
who are in hopes of a lower local
tax as a result of increased state aid
extend to those on the firing line their
good will and support in placing a
larger share OF the tax burden on
those having net incomes.
Conservation.
The Senate has passed the bill set
ting UP a commissioner of conserva-
ton and abolishing the five-man COM
mission. This seems to be a pro-
gressive step. The only way to fix
responsibility and get results is to
simplify our complex system of boards
and commissioners and Implications
There has been enough inefficiency
and buck passing and shifting OF
blame from one to the other. Through
an oversight or by manipula ion, a
joker in the bill placed all sale OF
timber and land in the hands of the
state auditor This has been handled
by the department of lands and min
erals Because of this, the bill was
recalled from the House and will be
recOnsidered in the Senate.
Veterans Activities.
Of considerable Importance to vet
Grams is the bill consolidating al
veterans activities under one depart
ment. That would cover the various
relief agencies and the MinnesGta
Soldiers Home board. Those who
have been interested in the welfare
of needy veterans are familiar with
the manner those disabled and on re-
lief have been herded around from
one department to the other. The
same buck passing tactics are usually
found when there is no fixed respon
sibility but each one depends upor
someone else. The bill setting up 6
single department of veterans relie
activities may have to be redrawI
but the principle is sound
County Agricultural Extension.
Under bill introduced in the
iIouSc ulIueT the signature or 6O co
authors, county agents would operat,
under the supervision of count,
agricultural and educational commit
tee. This committee would be com
posed of the chairman of the count,
committee, county superintendent o
schools, county auditor and five direc
tors. At each annual township meet
ing one farmer would be elected t
a county committee. This committe
would in turn elect the five delegate
to serve as the county agriculture
and educational association TIL
idea behind this bill is that all farm
ers should feel themselves free t
seek the service and advice of tn
county agent regardless of their mem
bership in any farm organization
Unfcameral Legislature.
In line with other ideas for simpli
flying the tangled business of law