The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-02-02
LEGISLATIVE
SIDELICHTS
By II. E. SUennes

would do in this respect l might
mention as starter the pay-cuts
of legislative employees as well
as new appointees and also the
| contemplated consolidation of
bureaus. The administration has
made a good start and the prom
Use of Governor Stassen to go on
"a pay-as-you-go basis without
raising the real estate levy for
state purposes will undoubtedly
attain its end. New taxing sourc-
es are difficult to find, the alter
native was the pruning knife. A
large percentage of legislators are
| ordinarily conservative spenders
so the governor will have their
cooperation.
Can you realize that some
| school districts in northern Mimi
esota have but a fifth of the real
estate paying taxes, and that the
rate in some of the districts runs
as high as 800 mills? Such is the
case and its matter of getting
state aid or closing the schools.
/ The bond issues in these counties
have become SO burdensome that
the settlers just give up and eth
er refuse or haven't the means to
meet the excessive tax.
Regents Are Storm Center
The naming of university reg
ents or the procedure of selecting
them has caused the first real rift
in the lower house. Members were
openly accused of subterfuge in
order to get some say in the pro-
ceedings. The method of choosing
nine regents, as adopted, will al
low each congressional district to
caucus on their candidate and
their choice or choices will be re-
commended to the university COM
mittee which will report them to
a joint meeting of the two houses
| for confirmation on February 7.
| The university is the states larg-
est business and save for naming
of the regents and making the BIZ
ennial appropriation the state has
nothing to say regarding its adj
ministration. The university was
established by charter and the
provisions of the charter are not
subject to amendment. For this
reason it is believed that univer-
sity employees can not be included
in the civil service bill. 1t takes
1900 employees to man the var
ious departments of the state.
This is the maximum high for
1888. The average of their pay
runs around S125, which takes in
| to consideration the top officials
as well as those in the lower pay
brackets.
The proposal to investigate all
departments of the state govern
ment is sure to get approval. The
investigation will serve a double
purpose. While looking for any
thing Of shady nature it will un-
doubtedly suggest remedies for
efficiency that could in time save
many times the cost. .
Liquor Control is Problem
The members Of the liquor con-
troll committee are getting more
than their share of mail these
days. sit next to a man who is on
the committee who received 80
letters in one mail mostly for and
against the Redistribution of 80
beer. 1t is weigaty problem and
is causing members no end of
concern. Most of the membership
is agreed that there must be some
tightening up of control of the Ii
quor laws but they are at odds as
to what procedure they should
take. The Redistribution measure
is still in committee and may stay
there for some time. The commit
tee may recommend something in
lieu of reclassification that may be
satisfactory but at least the thing
is knotty problem. The drastic
move does not only effect those
that are in the business but en-
tails financial loss to those rent
ing buildings, selling electric re-
frigeration and numerous other
! goods to the So places. These
are people that are raising as
much fuss as anyone and write
telling Of their particular situa-
ton. The drys as well as the advo-
Gates of 80 beer are lobbying ar
IDENTIFY for their beliefs in the mat
ter.
There are 26 dry counties in the
state that have only 80 beer and
representatives from these coun-
ties, in many Instances, whether
dry or wet, say that if the measure
passes it would create a worse
situation in their counties and
would leave a good opening or ar
gument for the vets to get in hard
liquor.
1t is definitely certain, however,
that some regulatory measures
will be forthcoming to curb the
road houses and such places that
are not under police supervision.
Representative Nelson from Lyon
county and / will introduce a
bill this week to make the 80
places conform to the state law
which sets the maximum time for
closing of liquor places, which is
IL o'clock. This will keep folks