St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-11-08
MINNESOTA
POLITICAL
ROUNDUP
By ARTHUR NAFTALN

Inc eiecIlon - over DuL pOllLlcs
in Minnesota, rather than subsiding
as u usually the case after the end
Of q campaign, are due for sustain
ing and feverish activity for an
indefinite period. In the immediate
offinR Is q battle over the explosive
sales tar issue, and along with that
will develop q related series Of con-
troVersial legislative matters. Can
didates who won in Tuesdays cleo
ton can look forward TO Congress
sional and legislative sessions that
promise TO be the most strenuous
and hectic in the history Of the
state and nation. The political
scene will be further enlivened by
the joekeying for position within
both parties as long-range plans for
1913 are formulated.
Minnesota Is heading for .
sales tax. This Ii the plain truth,
despite all the denials heard dur
ing the campaign that Il was be-
ing considered. Top legislative
leaders have discussed the sub
ject and have concluded that q
sales tax Is unavoidable. Accord
ing 10 the inner circle, one plan
tentatively agreed upon Is 8 per
cent levy that would be linked
with the state bonus for veteT-
ans. This plan calls for dedicat-
ing receipts for the first three
years 70 the bonus. The annual
yield Of q 3 percent tax II esti-
mated at $50, OOO, 900 on the basis
Of no exemptions on 1945 gross
sales. This would mean that q
100000, 900 bonus could be fin
aReed by the thFee-yeaF program.
The big parade Of demands for
substantial increases in appropri-
atoms is already under way. Last
week the University Of Minnesota
announced that Il will ask the 1947
legislature for $33, 427, 900 for the
biennium beginning next July 1,
This is an increase Of almost three
times over the current biennium,
and includes building funds total
ling S15,b340O0. With an enroll
ment Of 27.l03 students, the Uni
versitv is bursting at the seams, and
It's request for vastly increased
appropriations will be only one Of
dozen major items requiring
greatly expanded revenues.
Some real fireworks are prom
Used when the state legislature
holds hearings on appropriations
for public institutions. particularly
for state mental hospitals During
the war the standards Of person
mel and service deteriorated sharp
ly, creating many problems Of
administration that can be solved
only by increased funds. Manage
ment Of the Hastings State HOspi-
tai is already under fire, and 1t
would not be surprising to find q
full-scale investigation of its admin
istratiOn. The Public Employees
Union at Hastings openly charges
that the institution Is operating
with a staff Of graduate nurses and
attendants below minimum require
ments.
Unions of state employees are
preparing for a vigorous fight for
upward revision of salaries and
for changes In the civil service SEMI
ority provisions. On every hand
there will be demands for larger
appropriations, for schools, for old
age assistance, for highways. This
all adds up TO a tremendous chal-
lenge to the legislature, and the
issues these demands raise will keep
the political pot boiling for many
months.
On the political front itself there
will be no letup in maneuyering
for position within both parties.
The Republicans will be pointing
their strategy TO l94S, seeking TO
keep their house straight so as to
give Harold Stassen the greatest
possible assistance for his drive for
the Presidency. Within the DFL
jockeying for position will become
more obvious with intra-party
hlignments likely to command a
good deal Of public attention.
Minnesota is certain to command
more than its share Of attention
in the preliminaries to the l94s
Presidential race. IL obviously will
spear-head Stassen's campaign
Tor the COP nomination, and the
jockeying within the DFL makes il
clear that President Truman will
have a fight to obtain a pledged
delegation, If he decides TO run fol
reelection. There is talk about
Henry Wallace or William Douglas
being the choice of the DFL for the
Presidency. All in all, politics
promise TO be feverish and hectic II
the months ahead.