Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-05-04
PIT. A. Audience
Hears Review By
Two Lawmakers
Johnson and Mann Talk on
Major Laws Enacted at
Legislative Session.

State Senator c. Elmer Johnson of
Almelund, and Representative c. G..
Mann of Hinckley, came to Askov
last Thursday night as guests of the
Askov Parent-Teachers meeting. They
gave an interesting review of several
of the major laws enacted during the
session.
Representative Mann was called on
first by Supt. Otto G. Hoiberg, who
presided in the absence of Mrs. John
Meier, president of the association,
and spoke on the reorganization and
appropriation laws. Mr.. Mann ex-
planned the reorganization law as set
ting up four new departments while
at the same time it abolishes others.
There will be a commissioner of adj
ministration department, public ex-
aminer, taxation and social security
department. Mr.. Mann explained the
functions of these various departments
and stated that five percent of all
license fees will 60 for adminiStra-
ton expenses. There will be legis-
lative emergency council consisting
of the Governor, chairman of the tax
committee in the House and of the
tax committee in the Senate.
A commissioner of taxation replaces
the old tax commission, with the
Board of Appeals consisting of four
instead of three as formerly. The
Social Security division will embrace
public institutions, social welfare and
division of employment and security
The change is reputed to center re-
sponsibility and save the taxpayers
money, said Mr.. Mann.
The Appropriations Law.
Representative Mann explained the
new Appropriations law and said that
state school aids have been set at
IS percent. Last year the aids
amounted to but fraction over go
percent.
It was apparent that northern leg
islators, generally, favored higher
school aids, while those from the
south and more wealthy districts were
for cutting the aids or at least keep
ing them down.
Senator Johnson Speaks.
Senator c. Elmer johnson, who
represents Pine and Chisago counties
in the Senate, talked on the Civil
Service and Labor Relations laws
passed at the session. In launching
his talk Senator johnson issued his
opinion that the state should assume
more of the burden and assist dis
treSSed counties and school districts
as it has better opportunity to raise
the money. Mr.. Johnson said that
an interim committee was appointed
to study the school aid situation with
a view toward better distribution to
needy districts. He said that the
rural bloc, as some commentators
would have the public believe, did not
consist mostly of farmers, but rather
small town lawyers, doctors, editors
merchants and few farmers.
Senator Johnson said that he did not
like the Labor Relations bill when il
was first introduced, for it seemed
to carry the impression that it was
made to "set" on some one. He ex-
planned the provisions of the bill
which will outlaw sitdown strikes
Mr.. Johnson dislikes the law, too
because it is too drastic. It takes
away considerable freedom SO that
when a time comes when emergency
action is necessary it will be difficult
for certain groups to help themselves
Of course, said Senator Johnson
some things have not been right in
the labor movement, but there may
be a time labor needs its independ-
ence. Another provision of the law
will restrict labor strikes.
Civil Service Law.
Mr.. Johnson described the Civil
Service law as good one for the
present administration. 1t provides
for a commission of three, one to be
a nonresident of the state. The law
will include all of the states en-
ployes, except those exempted through
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