Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-01-07
Hjalmar Petersen S cps
From Governors Chair
Into His New Job.
Harold Barker Elected as
Speaker as Legislature
Gets Into Action.

This week saw another administra-
ton take the reins of the states gov
eminent when Elmer A. Benson be-
came the states oath chief executive
Monday. He was given the oath OF
office by Chief Justice John p. De-
vaney in the governors reception
room in the state capitol building.
Governor Benson presented his in
augural address and message to a
joint session of the legislature which
convened Tuesday. He was preceded
by a farewell address by the retiring
governor, Hjalmar Petersen, who has
served as chief executive since Au-
gust when he succeeded the late Gov.
Floyd B. Olson. Mr.. Petersen immed-
lately upon stepping down from the
governors chair took the oath of Of
flee as Railroad & Warehouse Com
missioner to which office he was
elected in the November election.
Liberals Organize House.
With the Liberals organizing the
house of representatives. Harold Bar
ker received SO votes to give him a
substantial majority as speaker. Mr..
Barker was a candidate for the posi-
ton at the last session but at that
time the forces behind him were not
sufficient in number to elect him and
he was defeated by George w. John
son of Duluth, who failed of re-elec-
tion to the legislature this year.
Governor BensOn's Program.
In a 10000 word address to the
legislature Governor Benson outlined
a lengthy and elaborate program, the
substance of which follows:
He proposed to:
Raise income taxes in the higher
brackets and to raise inheritance
taxes.
Increase utility taxes and tax util-
ity franchises, raise insurance COM
pany rates.
Exempt homesteads from the state
tax levy up to $4,000.
Raise iron ore occupational taxes
under the income tax classification.
Increase allowances for old age pen
sions, and make provisions more lib
eral.
Amend new employment insurance
act to pay benefits to strikers and to
repeal the merit rating provision.
Set up a state public welfare agency.
Abolish the five man conservation
commission and provide a single COM
missioner.
Take steps to conserve water, tim
Der and ore resources.
The establishment of a state liquor
dispensary, state cement plant. and a
stitutiOnal amendment.
Extend the mortgage moratorium.
Repeal the deficiency judgment.
Require barley in beer.
Adequate tax on butter substitutes;
uniform butter standards.
Encourage coOperatives.
A consumers research bureau
A graduated tax on chain farming.
Would Aid Labor.
Establishment of compulsory work
mems compensation; possibly a state
fund.
Prohibit importation of strike
breakers.
Submit a constitutional amendment
pertaining to wages and hours.
Set up a state agency for collec-
tiOn of unpaid wages.
Regulate train lengths and require
full crews.
A state civil service system.
Union scale for all state employees.
Restrict loan sharks.
Revise and make more drastic the
chain store tax.
Pass a state fair trades act.
Offers School Program.
Governor Benson proposed to:
Pay school aid i'm full.
Expand facilities for handicapped
persons.
Furnish free transportation for
rural high school pupils.
Expand adult education.
A statewide teachers tenure.
He advocated work program su-
pervised by the industrial commits
sion.
A relief program to be developed
when the federal plan is known.
Consolidation of administration in
a special agency.
Register lobbyists.
Lower legal rate of interest from
to per cent.
Create a regular state planning
board.
Expand the bureau of criminal ap-
prehensiOn.