Askov American., 1941-03-20
Legislative News
BY c. G. MANN,
Representative from Pine County

The Highway committee last week
introduced a resolution to the eff
feet that no new trunk highways
would be added to the state trunk
highway system at this session, as
the attorney general had ruled that
it would be unconstitutional. So
on Monday the chairman of that
committee, returned to the authors,
all measures designed to add new
highways, including one of mine to
add one mile into the Federal Cor
rectional Institution at Sandstone. So
there will be no new trunk high
ways added until rs per cent of the
existing highways have been i'm
proved.
Municipal Liquor Stores.
There was much discussion over
the weekend on bill of Mr.. Salt
ness from Lac Qui Parle county, a
dry county, seeking to allow villages
in dry counties to have municipal
liquor stores. I voted against this
measure on its initial passage, al
though it does not affect Pine coun-
ty, because 1 felt that in smaller
communities, municipal liquor store
might be quite a problem.
The bill was brought back and
limited to villages of more than 375
population, and l then voted for it,
believing that larger villages should
have the right to run their own af-
fairs. The bill allows only municipal
dispensaries in these dry communities,
and older members say if they had it
to do over again they would allow
only municipal stores and no private
sales.
Had a Fair Hearing.
Gordon P terS on of Columbia
Heights, who represents Anoka coun-
ty, which includes Braham, tried to
get another liquor bill out of the
Temperance committee Tuesday. The
bill provided that one could buy
liquor only at the place where it was
sold. He claimed that city dispen-
saries were delivering to his people in
competition with local municipal
liquor store, and we didn't blame him
for trying to protect a business in his
own community.
On the other hand, the committee
had given the bill fair hearing, ad-
mitted by the authors, and when
committees do this and recommend
that bills be killed, it is very seldom
good policy to upset the committee
report. If the membership of the
House or Senate as a whole had to
inspect every bill that is introduced
at each session, over 1900 most ses-
sions, they would never accomplish
anything.
No Great Accomplishments
Frankly, I don't look for any great
accomplishments from this session.
The majority seem to feel that we
went long way two years ago and
that this session would accomplish
much by amending and correcting
legislation now in effect. 1 hope,
personally, to pass several measures
benefiting my particular section, but
as whole, I think you will find
this statement true.
Iron mining taxation, school aids
and administration changes, and a
possible further "stream-lining' and
consolidation of departments of state
government, effecting more econo-
mics, which naturally are reflected in
lower costs throughout the state, will
probably be the major accomplish
ments of this session.
Close Fight Expected.
The repeal of the Dunn one-mill
road and bridge tax was passed out
of Tax committee on Friday morn
ing, recommended to pass by the
vote of only 13 to IL. I would say
that the action of the House will be
as close. I tried to recall the Accent
gas tax bill from the Senate the
other day, for the purpose of making