The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-02-02
GOVERNOR STAssEN's OBJECTION

GOVERNOR STASSEN'S OBJECTION
to broadening the powers of the state high
way patrol strikes us a stand taken for
political eXpediency at the expense Of better
law enforcement.
Establishment of a state constabulary
has long been opposed by labor unions on the
grounds that such group might be used as
tool of capital in quelling labor trouble, a
view which the governor echoes in asking
that a constitutional amendment to prevent
such an occurrence be passed before powers
of the patrol are expanded.
This liberal" view does not consider
that the federal government has guaranteed
labor much broader privileges than were
conceived of when this fear of constabu-
ary-perhaps justified at the tlme-orlgln-
ated. 1t does not consider that such an
amendment would almost certainly fail of
endorsement at the polls, mainly because
rural areas would be suspicious, and with
reason, of any act to give strikers exemption
from police authority provided for others.
Liberal as we'll as conservative governors
have called out the militia to maintain order
in labor disputes when the job got too big
for local authorities, but it is drastic step
often too long delayed. The presence of
state police ready to 60 into action if neces-
sary would have SOLDERING effect on both
sides and would often prevent bloodshed.
We doubt if the rank and file of labor
actually fears establishment of state con-
stabulary. The demand for Handwriting
police in case of labor trouble comes prin-
cipally from irresponsible radical labor or
ganizers.
AN II POINT PROGRAM HANDED
legislators last week by the governing board
of the Minnesota Taxpayers association is
indeed lapful. The association recon-
mends:
l. A ''pay as you go" system for
state and local units;
2. Administration Of relief by local
agencies;
5. Step borrowings;
4. Remove state tax levy from pro-
peTty as soon as practicable;
5. Merge small rural schools;
6. Proper zoning and exchanging Of
state public lands to conserve resources,
reduce costs, and put distressed cOmmun-
tiles On sound basis;
Z. Consolidation Of departments Of
state;
8. Full publicity in all units;
9. Civil service law, based on merit
and not On partisan qualifications;
10. Provide budget system, financial
reporting, and debt limitations for local
units;
IL. Avoid new taxes wherever posi-
BILE and keep appropriations down.
Item apparently only emphasizes item
l, quite practical policy for current ex-
penditures but not so workable for perman-
ent improvements. Items 10 and II are
aimed at a similar objective.
Another voice in favor of civil service
practically makes it unanimous except for
those legislators and job seekers who hope
to gain by the present reshuffling of state
jobs. The demands for administration of
relief by local agencies and full publicity for
all units echo complaints general throughout
last year. The recommended consultations
and mergers-actually streamlining of bad
ly designed governmental gadgets-are long
overdue
PERHAPS THE MOST UNPLEASANT
job ever given county commissioners was
that of handling relief. In those days each
board member made the recommendations
for his district, a fact which placed him
constantly on the spot politically, damned if
he did or didn't
A South Dakota county has preserved
the commissioner system but has extracted
its greatest evil. Instead of administering
relief in his home district, each commission
er-is assigned another district in which he
investigates and recommends without fear
or favor According to our source, the sys-
tenn is working splendidy.
. . .
REPRESENTATIVES, SWENNES OF
Redwood nd Nolcp,, Of fxy