The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-04-22

cation by the legislature. Sportsmen
generally, disfavored this provision due
no doubt, to misunderstanding There
was no intention on the part of the
Senate to divert Game and Fish funds
to any other fund, but merely to APP
prove the budget. Were this done no
such extravagant expenditures as $780,
600, for example, at the Thief Lake
project. 1t is hoped that the conferees
agree and that the Commission be
ousted. If only this alone is accom-
plished some $4,000 which has been
paid annually for expenses of the five
Commissioners will have been saved.
The liberal House last week passed
a 1c tax on cigarettes. Last fall the
Farmer-Labor party raised the sales
tax as its chief issue. The heat be-
came too much and the cigarette whole
salerS who kicked in literally to the
FL campaign Slush fund weren't ex-
actly satisfied, and so, the action was
reconSidered and the tax voted down
upon second vote. All right, boys and
girls, you can puff that extra flag a
day for at least another year or two.
Much was heard in the last cam
paign about Civil Service bill and
Candidate Benson assured the voters
that such a bill would be placed upon
the Statutes were he elected. Cover
nor Benson cannot fulfill the promises
made by Candidate Benson. Though
the so-called conservative Senate pass
ed out splendid Civil Service bill, the
liberal House, controlled by his excel
lency, has turned thumbs down. A
real Civil Service bill, like that passed
by the Senate wouldn't permit of state
employees entering into politics while
on duty, you understand.
ssssS
County engineers of the state will
have little safer tenure of Office under
a bill passed by the Senate this week.
Such engineers will be chosen by the
County Commissioners for two years
hereafter. Appointment will be made
on May LIST, when the snow drifts are
no more and the highways are in their
best condition. The average highway
engineer is about as popular on Janu-
airy LIST when roads cannot be opened
as quickly as users think they should
be opened, as is the average legislator
during a session in the legislature.
The Senate cracked wide open Thurs
day when the Senate Omnibus Tax bill
came up for consideration. If there is
any such thing as majority and mi
nority group it faded out of the pic
ture, for F'armer-Laborite voted with
Conservative and vice versa. The con-
Iservative lines held we'll and supported
the Senate Tax Committee which has
worked long and hard to perfect sane
and workable tax bill, until rather
insignificant amendment was offered by
Senator Carley, providing for a gross
earnings tax on natural gas pipe lines.
1t was a mole-hill made mountain.
The debate was long and furious, per-
sonalities regretfully entering into the
argument and close personal friends,
at least for the time, forgetting the
sweet ties that bind us together on this
great adventure. Behind it all was the
swarthy hand of the coal broker
whose paid lobbyist has for weeks been
button-holing the members. T e
amendment would take from many
counties through which natural gas
pipelines run, the ad valorem tax now
paid by the gas companies to such
counties and place tin the state treas
ury. But worse, the tax, so created
would be borne by the consumer, in
other words it is a hidden sales tax
The amendment carried by a close
vote, but the victory may be an ex-
pensive one in the long run so far as
the conservative group is concerned. AS
these lines are being written the bets
are even that, because of this amend
ment, the Omnibus tax bill will fail OF
passage, thus forcing an extra session
But, mayhap, that is news that is toe
far behind the news. By the time you
read this, all will have been settled ant
the outcome known.
|
Met DR.. Benson, brother Of his eX-
cellency, the Governor, today. He hail.
from North Dakota. Says he think:
compromise the best thing in politics
Now, if the good Doctor, and he made
a fine impression on me, but prescribe
that to his brother Governor, wei
wage the latter will be far more pop
ular young man six months or yea,
hence. But youngsters are not in thu
habit of listening to their elder broth
erS. Eli, Frank?
And now, dear reader. This bring
to an end my letters. know all item
have not met with the approval o
all readers. At lunch today I didn'
like all the items on the bill of fare
but it is the varying opinions Of W
mortals that make life exciting an,
worth the living, just as many item
on the bill of fare keeps the cook bus
and raises the cost of living. I an
grateful to the editor of The Ely Mine
for granting me the space he has S
generously set aside and my only hop
is that his subscription list has no
c1IfTorol q racII1t