The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-01-07

you to adopt the union standard Of
pay for all state employees and to
restore all pay cuts.
The issue Of economy should not
be raised as bar. If the salaries Of
every state employee paid from the
general revenue fund were abolish
ed completely, the savings to the
taxpayer would be only one dollar
and eighty-nine cents for each one
hundred dollars In taxes.
I advocate a civil service law for,
all departments. The citizens have
right to expect at least the same
degree of efficiency from state en-
ployees as is expected Of employees
in private enterprises. This cannot
be done unless the state employee
has some assurance Of tenure In
his job.
The state Employees Retirement
Fund Act should be amended so as
to require the state to pay annual
ly into the Fund an amount equal
to the deficit Of the past year. This
will assure solvency Of the Fund at
all times.
The Workmen's Compensation
Act has many defects which pre-
vent workers receiving the full
benefits intended by the Act Work
mems compensation insurance Is
now optional with employers. There
are about $4,000 employers in the
state who have elected not to be
bound by it's provisions; the only
protection, thus afforded to their
employees is that which they can
receive through our civil courts.
The act should be made compul-
sorry upon all employers. Also, all
employers would be required to
carry insurance coverage sufficient
to meet all legal claims of employ
ees. The files of the state Industrial
Commission reveal that there are
about three hundred and twenty
awards Of compensation totalling
approximately three hundred and
sixty thousand dollars which have
not been paid to injured workmen
or their widows and dependents
because the employers carried no
insurance and were themselves ir-
responsible financially. Insurance
companies writing compensation
insurance should be required to
accept all risks rendered them by
employers who comply with the
safety code and who are able to
pay the premium on the insurance.
You should increase compensa-
ton benefits generally, particular
ly benefits for permanent partial
disability. Benefits due to fatalit-
les should be increased from sew
en- thousand five hundred dollars to
ten thousand dollars.
Consideration should be given by
you to the proposal for state fund
workmen's compensation. This has
worked out quite well in other
states.
Importation Of thugs and strike
breakers in labor disputes should
be prohibited by law. Testimony
bearing on the use of thugs and
professional strike-breakers pre-
scented before the LaFollette COM
mittee in the United States Senate
shows the necessity for such law.
The state should adopt policy
in regard to purchase and awards
Of contracts to give preference to
firms that adhere to the principle
Of collective bargaining and pay
union wages.
I recommend submission Of an
amendment to our state constitu-
ton giving the state the right to
adopt laws pertaining to minimum
wages and maximum hours of en-
pigment; liberalization Of the pre-
sent garnishment law so that all
the wage Garner possesses is not
covered in the garnishment action;
creation of state agency for the
collection of unpaid wages; a law
regulating the length Of trains, and
full crew bill as regards rail-
roads.
Housing Program
One Of the great problems today
national as well as state-is to
provide adequate. modern, housing
facilities for our low-income group.
A low-cost housing program is es-
sential.
Adequate low-cost housing is pos
sible only upon the basis of an out
right governmental grant Of funds
to pay land and construction costs.
The state can set up a Public
Housing Agency to cooperate with
federal housing agencies and avail
ourselves of all federal housing
grants.
Independent Merchant
The Independent merchant still
suffers from unfair chain store
competition. He is part of our COM
munity life. He spends his money
here. He keeps his wealth here.
Chain stores are monopolistic en-
terprises whose owners reside out
side the state. They contribute
nothing toward community up
building. Their profits leave our
borders, never to return.
I recommend that the chain store
law be made more drastic and re-
vised in the light Of recent court
decisions.
The last Congress enacted fair
trade practices bill known as the
Robinson-Patman bill. I recommend
that you pass state fair trade
practices bill which will prevent
harmful and undesirable business
practices such as unfair rebates,
and other recognized unfair meth
DDS Of doing business.
Youth
The pathetic condition Of youth
during this depression Is a chal-
lenge to those who believe in per-
petuating the present order.