Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-03-02
Voice From Senate
By SEN. c. ELMER JOHNSON.
From Pine and Chisago Counties
1.-TWO Weeks Period)

bill been passed and signed by the
Governor, than the sponsors and au-
thors of the measure found them
selves in trouble Either through
gross negligence or carelessness or
Intentionally, the bill included credit
unions and licensed pawn brokers.
The bill passed and signed by the
Governor contained provisions that
were not known to be there when
passed. A curative act was hur-
riedly brought in and approved. The
question is now if an amendment can
be made to a bill incorrectly drawn
and containing provisions unknown
to the members voting on that meas
ure. In 1885, when the Old Age
Assistance law was enacted, SINH
lar mistake was made which neceS-
STATED calling special session. Mis-
takes or changes in bills, such as
these, show up the weakness of a
bunglesome two-body legislature. 1t
proves again the fallacy of the argu-
ment that checks and balances, such
as provided by independent action
of two houses, provide a safeguard
against mistakes, and hasty and I'M
wise legislation.
Unemployment Compensation.
There seems a fairly good oppor-
tunity that an amendment can be
passed eXempting small concerns
from paying unemployment compen-
sation The records show that the
cost of handling and collecting funds
from employers of small groups are
excessive 1t is further argued that
there is very little unemployment
among those having less than eight
employees. For a great many valid
reasons the present law covering all
employers is impractical. l voted
against the all inclusive feature when
the law was enacted and l have not
changed my attitude.
Civil Service.
/ believe that some civil service
law will be enacted. l wish l could
state that it will be a good, meritor-
ious law. Unfortunately, the bill as
it was recommended by the House
committee is not good bill and
shall insist on several changes or
vote no.
The administrative machinery is
fairly good and would consist of a
commission of three appointed by
the Governor This committee would
be the policy forming agency and
the success or failure of the system
would depend upon them The bill
as it now stands contains four SER
ious objections:
l. The length of service which
would entitle a state employe to be
blanketed in is fixed at Az years.
That time limit has been arrived at
for political expediency. The pub
lie wants law to take state en-
ployes out of politics. They don't
ask for a bill that is based upon
favoring any party man.
2. Each employee is to be on six
months probation after passage of
the bill. During that time any de-
partment head may discharge any
employee without cause and without
hearing. Another rich political man.
euver
g. Veterans preference, a courtesy
afforded war veterans for over so
years, would be repealed under the
provisions of the new civil service
bill. When the war craze was on
and young men were wanted to sac
rifice everything to save democracy,
then nothing was too much to prom
Use the veteran. Have we forgotten
how the service men came back after
the supreme adventure to find their
jobs gone? Those who went into
business or purchased farms found
they had to buy on an inflated mar
ket which almost m m d a e ly
crashed, leaving them again ship
wrecked and broken-this time the
victims of another war-that of the
money and credits bandits. We want
to retain the veterans preference sec
ton in the bill.
f. Certain departments, notably the
State Highway patrol, are now oper-
ating most efficiently under civil
service The proposed civil service
Oil WOulu scrap Tie pdllOl law dilu
leave them again at the mercy of
politicians and they could be removed
without cause or hearing during the
six-month probationary period. There
have been no charges of inefficiency
made against the patrol. No charges
have been made that they were active
in partisan politics. We want to re-
tain or re-incorporate the Highway
Patrol Civil Service chapter into the
new civil service law.
The week ending February rs, has
not produced very much in the way
of legislation. The Dairy and Pro-
ducts committee heard DR.. Cotton,
the Messers. Moscrip, Jones, Foley,
Adams, Novak and others on the state
Bangs eradication program. That
work, costing about 100000, has
been paid for entirely out of Fed
eral funds. From now on it will be
necessary for the state to meet Fed
eral grants on a fifty-fifty basis. The
Importance of the livestock industry
IaI 70 he OF