Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-03-16
Voice From Senate
BY SEN. c. ELMER JOHNSON.
From Pine and Chisago Counties
r. E. A.

TWO Oils VI SICdt liieShSSs w S~S>A y
of electricity were recommended to
pass last week by the Senate COM
mittee on taxes. One bill will cut
the taxes on R. E. A. rural lines to
lOc per meter. The second bill would
lower the tax on rural private COM
pany lines to $1.00 per meter, a drop
of So. 90 on each. 1t is expected that
this favorable tax rate on rural cleo
trio lines will make possible better
service and lower rates on electric
service to farmers. Reports sub
mitted showed very little profit to
the private companies from their farm
service lines. The metaliZing of tele-
phone lines by power service is fore
ing many rural telephone companies
to rebuild their equipment by adding
another wire. These companies are
asking a state law forcing the cleo
trio company to pay part of the added
expense.
I have received number of let
tiers in response to my news letters
and assure you am pleased to hear
from readers, even though in some IN
stances, they misunderstood or when
they disagree. l received an inter-
esting letter from reader from
Wyoming in response to my article
on civil service. This letter asks me
to reconsider my stand as opposed
to the civil service bill recommended
to pass by the House committee.
The reader evidently is so strong for
civil service that any kind of bill
would be good bill. Civil service
at best is going to be disappointing.
Civil service will not create more
Jobs. If it is a real merit service
bill it will give the employe pro-
lection from political interference and
pressure by the party in power. The
bill passed by the House is still pretty
much political measure designed to
allow the spoil system full play,
going back four and one-half years.
They even wanted to bring depart
ments into the political Spoils sys-
tenn who had functioned perfectly
under a good merit system. Lest some
reader may still misinterpret my
attitude, l want it understood that
l have been strongly in favor of
civil service for a long time. If we
can enact a law that will do as well
for other state departments as the
law that has served the highway
patrol, shall be happy. The trouble
is the committees have been too
anxious to make political capital of
a civil service bill.
The Farm Bloc.
Some forty members of the Sem
ate have formed group along non
political lines. The importance of
this move has been magnified by
newspaper reports. AS matter OF
fact this farm group or bloc has not
held a meeting or acted in any or
ganized way on any bill. Hennepln,
Ramsey and st. Louis counties have
for a number of years had organiza-
tons and held meetings to agree on
matters of interest to their districts.
This year with the proposed gas tax
reduction and repeal of Dunn one
mill tax threatening, road income
and school funds under fire and with
unemployment compensation to be
amended and labor relations law to
be enacted it is about time that the
members from the farming district
take stock of their voting power and
be prepared.
Dog License Law.
Wool and mutton are staple COM
modities, large quantities of which are
needed and used in the United States.
The future welfare of our country
and more especially so the future of
the cutover districts of Minnesota
requires that earnest efforts be made
to foster the sheep raising industry
and keep it on a sound economic
basis.
The sheep killing dog is one of the
greatest menaces to the success of
the sheep industry. But it is not
only the sheep owner who suffers
losses. Calves, pigs, poultry and tur-
keys are destroyed in large numbers
every year by dogs.
l can think of nothing more sad
dening or depressing than to find
several valuable breeding sheep or
a flock of half grown turkeys all
torn up by somebody's dog.
The dog rightfully holds strong
place in the minds and affections
of men. True lovers of dogs should
help to further any steps likely to
result in the limitation of the activ-
ity of these discrediting members OF
a noble species. One of the most
effective and practical methods OF
accomplishing this result seems tc
be to place upon dogs license tax
so as to reduce superfluous animals
Proper legislation will greatly re.
duce losses of livestock, and the dan.
ger of rabies, and will give strong
protection to the duly licensed dos
and his owner.
Many states have enacted gooe
dog laws, and we think the new Min.
nesota dog license law and provision
for a livestock indemnity fund will
90 far toward eradicating the dol
menace and providing security TO
livestock owners Practically al