The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1938-06-02
Observations
from Washington
by Congressman Harold Knutson
Wage and Hour Bill Passes Hous
PAGE EIGHT


Wage and Hour Bill Passes House
The much touted wage and hour
bill passed the House last week by
a vote of So to 314 and I dare say
that a large majority Of those who
voted for it's passage did SO with
their fingers crossed. This legisla-
ton was opposed by all branches OF
agriculture and even labor leaders
who realized that it is nothing but
a political gesture designed to catch
votes. About all that the operation
of a wage and hour law will do is
to create another expensive bureau
and greatly increase the number OF
government shoppers who run
around the country sticking their
noses into everything under the sun.
Great promises have been held
out by the proponents of this leg
islation but I have not forgotten
that these same men made similar
promises in urging the passage of
the Wagner Labor law which has
resulted in as many strikes during
the past IS months as we had in
the preceding "a months. I can well
understand the opposition of the
farmer to this legislation as it will
make it practically impossible for
him to get farm help. If the gov
eminent is given the right to fix
minimum wages and maximum
hours it follows that it will also
have the power to fix maximum
wages and minimum hours which
would not be good for labor. The
principle is dangerous, to say the
least.
Would Take Over Iron Mines
Congressman H. G. Teigan (FL.)
of Minnesota, has introduced bill
to have the government take over
the iron mines and steel industry
of the country and in looking over
the measure got to thinking about
the affect it would have upon Min
nesota's tax situation if Mr.. Tieg-
ans proposal were carried out.
I find that the local units of gov
eminent in the Iron Ranges receive
an average of about 20 million dol
lars year from taxes on iron ore
properties and that the State Of
Minnesota collects on an average of
three million dollars a year in roy
alties and occupational taxes, while
the local units, such as the town.
ships, school districts, cities, vii
lagos, and counties, receive an av-
erage of about II million dollars
year from the real estate taxes lev
led upon iron ore properties.
am wondering how many of my
readers are aware of the fact that
between the years 1921 and 1885 the
iron industry in Minnesota paid in
taxes a total of $3O9, 207, $50 divided
as follows:
Real Estate Taxes. 1858 1897 ,661
Occupational Taxes 36,143,434
Royalty TaXes...... 9,666, 1865
So it will be seen that the state
would lose heavily if the Teigan bill
were to pass which, of course, it
will not. The state will get much
more money from the iron industry
in royalties and occupational taxes
as soon as the demand for iron ore
picks up.
A Wonderful Plant
The government spends money
for many purposes that do not ap-
prove of but there is one expendi-
ture that has my support 100 per
cent. refer to the money spent for
research work to find new uses for
agricultural products, which means
new markets for them and better
prices.
Do you know what can be made
from soy beans? The Chinese soy
bean, which has been one of the
chief elements of the diet of Orient
al peoples for thousands of years,
has, only a few years, turned out
to be the miracle plant of modern
civilization. So astonishing has been
the number of uses to which this
ancient bean can be put that it
has become Americas fastest grow
ing crop and in it's production we
now rank second only to Manchur-
la.
Far Eastern people crush the
bean, making a substitute for meat
from the meals and a kind of milk
from the juice, but modern research
has gone far beyond these simple
foods to find hundreds Of new ap-
plications. From the oil can now
be produced a new soap that lath-
ers in hard water, remarkably
durable kind of varnish, synthetic
rubber, linoleum, paints, printing
ink, explosives, salad dressings,
shortcomings and many other things.
The meal yields a palatable food
for livestock, macaroni, breakfast
cereals and bread. Soy bean meal
used as base for plastics has as
sumed thousands of forms and
shapes, from buttons to automobile
steering wheels. I dare say other
uses will be found for this remark
able bean which will grow as far
north as Central Minnesota.
I. W.P.A. In Politics?
From time to time administration
leaders have seen fit to deny that
WPA is taking part in politics but
everything we hear indicates that
this relief organization has been
very active in recent state cam
paigns. In a preceding letter I call
ed attention to it's activities in the
Florida and Pennsylvania primary
campaigns. Now it is charged that
WPA took an active part in the
gubernatorial campaign in Oregon
e.