Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-02-09
Voice From Senate
BY SEN. c. ELMER JOHNSON.
From Pine and Chisago Counties


Confirmation of Appointments.
Bills are now piling up in the COM
mittees, on the general orders and on
the calendar for the day.
With very few exceptions, the ap-
pointmentS of former Governor Ben
son have not been confirmed by the
Senate. In most instances no reasons
are given except that it is the IMAM
date of the people" In the course
of the debate the point was raised
as to what "the mandate of the peo-
pie" was Are the voting public de-
handing a clean sweep of all present
state employees, as administration
leaders now see it, to make room
for new political machine; or is
the public still clinging to the cam
paign promises made that no state
employee need fear for his job if he
is efficient, able and honest.
The members of the minority party
moved to confirm Mahoney Liquor
Commissioner, but failed. j. N. Pc
terson, former county attorney of
Todd county, who has been named
to replace Mahoney, is a popular and
able attorney and will no doubt make
a good executive.
Senator Lommen made a strong
plea against the confirmation OF
Ralph Jerome, charging inefficiency,
lack of business judgment and charg-
ing irregularities in his accounts. II
was hopeless effort and only few
members voted against confirmation.
After all, the Governor selects these
men to help him run the state affairs,
and his judgment in making those
appointments reflects directly upon
his administration. had thought
the Senate should be more directly
concerned and responsible in confirm
ing appointments, but find that the
exception is rare when the Senate
protest is asserted.
University Regents.
The selection of the University OF
Minnesota Board of Regents has been
dominant problem the past week.
Chisago county offered an outstand-
ing candidate in Ben Wennerberg OF
Center City. Mr. Wennerberg car
ried a great deal of support from all
parts of the state and it looked like
a sure decision, but the rural coun-
ties of the third district, split each
county, boosting their own favorite;
the Minneapolis delegation centering
their votes on J. Ford Bell, chairman
of General Mills Inc, carried the
nomination.
In the Sixth district DR.. Nethercott
of Pine City, was strong candidate
but Ray Quinlivan of st. Cloud, can
didate for reelection, was nominated
The Small Loans Bill.
Probably no bill before the Legis-
lature has had greater build-up in
the newspapers, through hand bills
letters and professional lobbying
than the so-called Loan Shark bill
It is a shame that so much money
should be spent in educational work
for so questionable program to i'm
prove the credit of the desperately
needy. In spite of the terrific pres
sure from the king of Loan Sharks "
the Russell Sage Foundation, / have
not yet been able to reconcile myself
toward supporting bill legalizing
SO percent interest per year on small
loans. True, we now have instances
of rates up to 1000 percent illegally
exacted by these heartless Shylocks,
What do we have government Of
ficials for? The law has not been
enforced. These people have been
robbed and if these practices have
been carried on illegally, how can
we make that our excuse to legalize
a rate of three percent per month,
which surely is usury. If the admin
istration wishes to help the desper-
ately needy it should be done through
a special relief loan at low interest.