Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-03-25
Voice From Senate
BY SEN. C. ELMER JOHNSON,
From Pine and Chisago Counties

The past week has seen a marked
speeding up in passage of bills. Most
of these have been of minor import
ance and largely local in nature and
effect. Legislation of greater import
ance such as raising revenue and ap-
propriations is under deliberation in
the committees. Various tax meas
ures, which under present cOnstitu-
tional provisions must originate In
the house have been passed by that
body and are now in the hands OF
seven man subcommittee OF the SEN
ate tax committee. Tie administra-
ton group being in the minority in
the senate was given only one men,
Der on that all important committee.
A protest was made which went un-
needed
A generally accepted policy arrived
at is that taxing net income is a
sound method of taxation and the
rates will have to be substantially in
creased That because of increased
demands upon the state for educa-
tional aids, old age assistance. for
dlU 10 Tic SlCh, tilC uhOhPAoySN Civ
to enable the state to get on a pay
as we go basis instead of issuing more
bonds and certificates Of Indebtedness
and in order to set up sinking fund
to meet present and future Obliga-
tions, it is now conceded that added
income must be found and that the
place to get it is from those having
a net income, cash or credit, and from
large corporations. Lawmakers are
in agreement that there is to be an
increase. FarmerLabor legislators
and other liberals hope to raise
around S2O.00O,000 of new revenue and
also TO lower the tax on homes and
farms by the exemption of those prop
critics up to a $4,000 value from state
tax. Conservatives prefer the sales
tax but know such a bill would be
impossible to pass so they have to go
along with proposals to tax the money
and credits net incomes and gross
earnings on a higher rate.
Lobby Bill Defeated.
The bill calling for registration of
lobbyists was defeated on general
orders by vote of % to q. The dear
lobbyist was ably and Justify upheld
by Senators Hausler of Ramsey, Car
ley of Wabasha, and Farnand Of st.
Louis. These senators opposed the
bill as an anti-lobbyist measure and
wanted to know why the haste to ham,
per their dear friends lobbyists. Sem
ator Carley did not feel any need Of
such prote ctive legislation and
thought the members had sufficient
self respect and integrity to stand on
their own feet. Those of us who ia
istering and filing of a record show
ing connections and expense accounts
OF persons employed in influencing
legislation would not hinder respOn-
sible and bona fide agents represent
ing groups or clients but in reality
would legalize that practice and put
it in a respectable, honorable anC
above board standing. Senator Farm.
and in a humorous burst of eloQuence
related how he had employed the serv.
ice of secret service operatives an(
how they discovered two men rolling
barrels into the State Capitol during
the dead of midnight. He told how
his faithful men seized the men ant
the barrels, the barrels were opened
in excited expectancy thinking tina
at last they had discovered Represen
tative Roy Wier's barrels of money
Imagine their chagrin when upOl
opening the kegs they found then
full of apple sauce.
County Agricultural Committee.
The new democratic agriculture
committee as proposed in House Fill
1017, Senate File 117S has been unde
considerable discussion and is SEIZED
uled for a hearing before the commit
tee in the senate. AS usual whel
there is controversy about an issue
many erroneous issues are raised an,
wrong conclusions are often arrive,
at. Many states, including immediat,
neighbOrS, either are working unde
the plan proposed for Minnesota O
are considering legislation along thos,
lines. Reports from Wisconsin indi
cate that the county agent neve
worked under a setup such as ha
existed in Minnesota and yet rep TT
of the work in that state are YER
favorable. Because of the Farm Blu
reau's recent fling into politics, til
strong political activities of the stat
bureau leaders, and their indirect sup
port of the packers in opposing Senate
Craven's oleo tax bill, and because O
the difficulty many counties have ex
perienced in signing up the require
membership at So to S. per year, Their
seems to be no logical reason for ty