Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-05-01

It ordered a reduction in Range ex-
penditures gradually increasing over
a period of years, with mining COM
panies the main beneficiaries." Mr..
Gilstad also commented that the
Legislature "did not know where it
was going when it started, and APP
parently never found out"
Charles B. Cheney remarks that
beyond upholding 1899 acts the Legis-
lature twas not very cooperative with
the governor. The session has been
almost barren of important results"
A package of cigarettes selling at
Is cents is now taxed 61s cents by
the federal government. There was
much opposition to adding cent
state tax, and with some justification.
If the It ate sales tax had been
adopted, as proposed by the governor,
a package of cigarettes would sell at
II cents. Then half of the cost to
the consumer would be taxes. There
was also a proposal for taxing to-
bacco. If luxuries must be taxed to
raise needed revenue, then take in all
the luxuries, or most of them, and
do not place all the tax on one pro-
duct. When the tax on cigarettes is
now nearly half the retail selling
price, it is about high enough. There
is always a point of diminishing re-
turns.
The Legislature did enact new
bank tax law. A similar bill was
passed in both houses of the 1889
session, but then vetoed by the gov
ernor.
The Legislature is to be commended
for raising the state gasoline tax
from to 4 cents, so that eventually
the entire revenue needed for the
construction and maintenance of
highways may be paid for through
gasoline taxes and motor vehicle
license fees, and thus reduce the
burden on general property. The
gasoline tax was up in the 1889 ses-
sion at which time it was cents
and was allowed to continue at that
rate until September 1, 1889, when it
was reduced to cents.
There is another, and very import
ant reason for having the legislative
work done in a more orderly and busi-
ness-like manner. All bills should be
voted up or down on their merit
and that can be done when the bills
get to the floor of the two houses
in ample time There are always
some special interests lobbying to kill
some legislation, as much as to have
other proposed bills enacted into law.
When the Legislature gets into a jam
toward the closing days, as in the
1887 and 1941 sessions, the oppor-
tunity is much greater to kill merited
legislation. The legislators are work.
ing long hours, they get all tagged
out, irritable and sometimes even
angry and are then in a mood to &C
cept compromises and quit and 60
home.
The individual membership of the
1941 Legislature is about the average
of Legislatures as they come and 60
no better and no worse. Some
members are not so able, perhaps
even narrow in viewpoint, but on
the other hand some are broadminded,
and some are very able. Lack of
results, in a large measure, is due
to lack of courageous leadership.
The governors travelling and speak
ing from one end of the country to
another, hobnobbing with Willkie,
comforting with Minnesota citizens
by way of the radio in his one-man
capitol Conferences" and leaving
the impression that Minnesota is not
big enough for him, has resulted in
limited time for Minnesota affairs
and greatly curtailed his leadership.
True, it is one thing to criticize
and quite another to improve upon
conditions, but those who have served
in the halls of Legislation and thous-
ands of others who have watched the
procedure of the Minnesota Legis-
lature, one session after another, will
agree that there is chance for i'm
provement and improvement should
be forthcoming.
HJALMAR PETERSEN.