The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-07-22

leader among them, Governor Benson,
months ago had threatened to keep
them here till Christmas if need be-"
Farmer Legislators were at home for
three days allowed, giving belated help
in their own harvest fields; businessmen
were similarly trying to catch up in
store and office But they had to be
back again-for how long, they knew
not. Some pondered, Governor Ben
son has been in Office now for exactly
six and half months. Of that time,
he has had the legislature in session,
half months. When will this political
turmoil end?
Conferees Busy
Money and credits conferees had an
as early as Tuesday of last week. Then
House members among them visited the
governors office. That was enough.
The same thing happened again as
came about so repeatedly at the close
of the regular session. Governor Ben
sisted on new demands. There must
be no yielding to these Ubiquitous sena-
tors" was, in effect, the command in
spite of the fact that reasonable COM
promise had been reached through
yielding by both sides. The governors
councillors in stubborness whose in
reference in the work of House con-
ferees brought about the deadlock
necessitating this prolonged and costly
special session were, at the time, named
as Abe Harris, editor of the Minnesota
Leader, Farmer-Labor party organ,
Roger Rutchick, private secretary to
Governor Benson, and Art Jacobs, sec
rotary to Speaker Harold Barker.
Rebuked by Their Leader
Legislators who looked back over LAST
weeks stormy record were heSitant in
picking its high-spots. Few of them
seemed very proud of the political
TRADES which occupied more time than
anything else in both House and Sen
ate. They justified the bitter talk
though, principally by pointing to the
then most recent outburst by Governor
Benson-the public statement in which
he took that incomprehensible action of
condemning the income tax bill vigor-
ously but at the same time failing to
exercise his veto power, letting it be
come law without his signature.
This addition to the steadily length
ening series of Benson blasts had even
his staunch supporters puzzled. He con-
demned the exemption plan originated
by his own loyal House supporters.
Hjalmar VS.. Elmer
Legislators and others at the capitol
during the weekend breathing spell
were discussing the thinly yelled criti-
cism of Governor Benson's leade ship
by Ex-Governor Hjalmar Peterson in
an editorial in his ASkov American
Not mentioning Benson by name, nc:
even mentioning the present legislative
situation. Peterson deplored the fact
that so little had been accomplished et
the capitol since last January, and in
timated state government had not been
functioning as smoothly in the past
few months as in recent years. The
American editorial opposed the sug-
Igestion that the 90-day constitutional
limit for regular legislative sessions be
extended. He opposed longer sessions
and contended that 'in the session OF
1888, one of the busiest on record, when
many bills of statewide Importance
became law, 90 days was enough to dc
the business. There was no special
session month after adjournment.
The editorial implies a great deal, leav-
ing the reader to conclude that Peterson
lays the confused legislative muddle
and the long extra session to the lack
of leadership on the part of Governor
Benson. Paying tribute to the late
Gov. Olson, Peterson said, ''He did not
present scores of proposals in his mes.
sage to the legislature, but rather he
confined his message to fewer but i'm
Iportant statewide measures-With gooc
leadership the legislators started right
out to work" This was taken as q
direct blast at Benson who, in his mes.
sage to the legislature last January
presented more suggestions than were