Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-04-03
State Costs Up $4,000.

Rep. Allen, chairman of the House
Appropriations committee, last week
introduced the big appropriations bill
covering the AZ state departments. It
calls for $4,000 more than was
raised two years ago, taking into
account the different procedure fol-
lowed now. In the Governors office,
for instance, where $4,000 was ap-
propriated for salaries for the last
two years, we are asked to raise
$50,940 for the next two years. An
increase of 81, 100 is asked for mis-
cellaneous supplies and expenses.
The Railroad and Warehouse Com
mission is given an outright ap-
preparation, instead of functioning on
the inspection fee basis upon which
they have worked heretofore. It will
be interesting to see how this works
out. If we have larger crop than
usual this year to be inspected the
commission will find itself tied down
to set appropriation, possibly I'M
able to do its full work. Formerly
the fees took care of the unpredict-
able ups and downs of our annual
production.
Section IS, Chapter 422, Laws of
1889, specified $4,000 per year "to
be expended under the supervision
of the Legislative Emergency Coun-
Gil" This appropriation bill, Sec.
AZ, sets up general contingent fund
of similar amount, but makes no
mention of the legislative emergency
council. This would tend to show
that the fears of the liberals that
L. E. C.. was unconstitutional were
we'll founded, although the House has
before refused to call on Attorney
General Burnquist for a ruling, as
oft-requested by Representative Hal
sted.
A bill for a two per cent state
wide sales tax was introduced in the
Senate last Wednesday forenoon by
Senator Vim Weber of Slayton, who
you have no doubt heard could not
be found for nearly four hours dur
ing that same afternoon! While the
Senate fumed and waited, unable to
do anything until he was found, may
be he was thinking about his bill
introduced that morning!
Tax-free tractor fuel-Passed by
both the House and the Senate last
week was the tax-free farm tractor
fuel bill, the only real farm legisla-
ton passed, up until this time. It
provides that crude petroleum can
be shipped into the state again, tax
free, practice that was discontinued
shortly after the last election. 1t was
stated that you farmers can save from
Is to rs per cent of your tractor
operating costs by using this fuel
Last Friday the House passed a
bill which will increase the State
Highway Patrol by 20 members, to a
maximum allowable of 1885, No one
voted against this bill as it is general
ly felt that the work they are doing
is of inestimable value, and further
safety demanded this slight increase
To Check Game and Fish Division.
AS mentioned by me before, Reps.
Otto Clark, .Huhtala and McNulty
last week introduced resolution call
ing for up to $1,000 to finance an in
term investigating committee of 10
members. Rep. Clark showed where
$225, 900 more was spent for salaries
and travel in this division during the
last two years than in previous two
year period. There is TALK, he said,
"of increasing the fishing license to
81, but l want to know why so much
of the present income goes to salaries
and travel before I vote for this in
crease. Why can't we have more
fish-hatcheries and rearing units on
our present fees? We have only 20,
as compared to So in Wisconsin and
"a in Michigan, and in those states
only 40 per cent of their Game and
Fish funds 60 for salary" This reso-
luton calls for a much needed in
vestigation which should interest not
only sportsmen but all citizens, and
shall report its progress to you
later.