Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-01-21
VOICE FROM
THE SENATE
Senator C.. Elmer johnson
From This District Re-
views State Problems.
Will Write Weekly Letter
From Legislature to
American.


The slow cumbersome mismated
Minnesota legislature is again getting
into motion. The promises and poll
cies and aggressive driving power OF
the house members backed by the
popular mandate of the people in the
very recent election is somewhat re-
Elected in the attitude of the senate.
While the state senate is organized
by the conservative majority as in
the last session, there is a tendency
to 90 along with the house on much
of the proposed legislation. The SEN
ate is presided over by Senator Rich
ardson of Rochester, president pro
tenn in the absence of Lieut.. Gov.
Lindsten, who suffered physical col
lapse early in November. Latest re-
ports are that he will soon be able to
take over his duties as presiding Of
ficer.
1887 Legislature Must Establish
Sound Policy.
The 1897 Legislature is faced with
a showdown on policies in financing
the business of the state. Those who
controlled the shaping and admins
tering of the states affairs, for
long time, followed the path of least
resistance. While a certain amount
of credit is due our ancestral law
makers for conserving at least Lit
tie part, yet, we find that great
part of our natural wealth has slipped
into private control.
The States Indebtedness.
Up to 1920 the state constitution
limited state Indebtedness to S25O,OOO.
BY amendments of 1920-1922 and
emergency act of 1888 the state has
been authorized to borrow large addi-
tional sums for various purposes such
as highway development, rural credit
bureau and for public relief until in
1886 the state is in debt for S123,SOS,-
2SS. Today the natural resources OF
the state are almost completely in
private control. Debts are high and
payments must be met. The day of
accounting is at hand. Somebody
must pay the piper. The business be-
fore the legislature is to establish
sound economic policy. The senate
interim tax committee reports the
state debt as follows:
Rural credit bonds -. .S65, no, 10000
Highway bonds, trunk
ROADS oo,loV,ooo.Vo
Highway Co. reimburse
mentS 5,ol $40 >.oo
MINI. municipals ...... 1889, 90
MINI. public relief -. S,51S,00O.O0
MINI. board of relief :. 1,0S5,0OO.OO
The balance of Indebtedness is made
up of buildings, ditch bonds, veterans
bonus, etc, making grand total of
123,S0S,2SS.OO.
Budget.
A strenuous effort will be made to
keep expenses down to actual income
or to raise the income up to current
expenses. PractiC ally all departments
are asking for increased appropria-
tions. Many are asking for salary in
creases. Mr.. Rasmussen, budget COM
missioner, has pared the requests
courageously. Further cuts may be
effected in committees. 1t has been
estimated by the interim committees
that S14,625,000 new revenue must be
found if present yearly expenditures
are to be met and to provide for a
debt retirement budget.
Current Expenses.
Checking current expenses of 1886
it is interesting to note that increased
&c nj in
items:
Highway maintenance expenditures
increased 1870 over 1882. This is ac-
counted for by an increase of road
mileage of $50 over 1882.
EducatiOn-Increased aids including
income tax 1870 over 1882. Special
aid to poor districts in addition to
regular aids and proceeds of income
tax.
Public Welfare-This item required
9.46T of the entire current revenue
receipts.
1t is now quite generally conceded
that relief is one of the necessary
obligations of the state and must be
met by current taxes.
Bills introduced.
Many important bills are already
before the committees. The tax pro-
gram is being worked out with the
assistance Of Prof. Ratchaffer of Min
nesota University. The house tax
committee headed by Edward Hagen
is to be congratulated upon their
choice of Miss Violet Johnson as
clerk. Miss Johnson has been con-
nected with the state income tax de-
partment.
Several bills on liquor control are
in the hopper and it is apparent that
tie liquor laws are due for a thor