The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-02-09
Capitol
SLants
by John M. Zwach

In the Governors address to the
Legislature, he did not deal with
the all important topics of state
finances and taxes. However, he
promised to go into detail on these
two items this week in a special
message to the house and senate
In many public utterances, he has
stated that the state would spend
less in this biennium than in the
past biennium and that the state
would have less debt ait the close
of his first term. Both are worthy
of a statesman, and those of us
who have been fighting for econ
omy assure the, governor of our
support. Accomplishment of this
ideal will, however, cause many a
headache Holding out against
spending requires more fortitude
and abuse than yielding to spend
ing. s~-z4~ ,sis-4s-,.s-
Township Roads
The 1887 legislature finally
shaped law enabling townships
to receive directly from the coun-
ties one-half of the gasoline tax
money allotted each county. The
writer has always favored. and
fought for such a division for the
purpose of safeguarding the town.
ship as unit of government and
of relieving real estate of some of
its burdensome load. Under the
law, however, distribution to the
townships was left to the dis
erection of the county commission
erS in; each county. Because some
of the commissioners have refus-
ed to distribute in this manner,
township groups now are favor
ing amendments to make it man.
datory.
Tax-exempt Bonds
For several sessions some of the
legislators have introduced resell
utions asking the congress to
abolish tax-exempt securities.
President Roosevelt has again
made the request that Congress
take this step, but for some reason
Congress refuses to act.
! Years ago, when government
debts state and federal =
amounted to only a few billions,
the tax-exemption privilege was
! not such a serious matter. But
now, when the public debt has
reached the total of SOS, 600, O00,-
600 (treasury estimate) it is diff
ferent. Billions of private capital
which might otherwise hunt a
place for private investment, now
can hide safely and profitably in
untaxed government securities.
The federal and state govern
ments lose much in revenue, for
if the same money We're invested
in private bonds, much of the in
come would yield high surtaxes.
IT compelled to seek private fields,
this capital would create needed
new industry and would work to-
ward the goal of transferring
from the shoulders of government
to the shoulders of business the
task of supporting our national
economy.
Board of Regents
Coming to head this week is
the important matter of selecting
nine new members to the univer-
sity board of regents. Because the
regents are the policy forming
board of the university, its per-
sonnet is very important. Rural
people have severely criticized the
board as being composed of indiv-
lduals who have advanced the
main campus at the expense of
the agricultural school and col
lege, and are insisting upon farm
er representation.
Voting Machines
1t requires about ten minutes to
complete roll call of the House.
In order to save time, voting
machine has been installed,
whereby all 131 members may
vote at once by the simple method
of pushing button on the desk,
and Immediately the vote is re-
corded on large board. A green
light on this board signifies an
FAYE" and a red light shows a
mo" vote. Total roll calls in one
session would perhaps approx
mate nearly a thousand so consid-
ering that the cost of session is
about 81 200 an hour, one session
should pay for the cost of install