Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-11-08
MINNESOTA
POLITICAL
ROUNDUP
BY ARTHUR NAFTALIN

The election 10 over but politics
In Minnesota, rather than Bubsiding
a. II usually the case after the end
OF q campaign, are due for sustain
ing and feveTiah activity for an
indefinite period. In the Immediate
offing 10 battle over the explosive
sales tax issue, and along with that
will develop q related series Of con-
tToversial legislative matters. Can
didates who won In Tuesdays cleo
ton can look forward TO Congress
sional and legislative sessions that
promise 70 be the most strenuous
and hectic In the history Of the
state and nation. The political
scene will be further enliVened by
the jockeying for position within
both parties as long-range plans for
1913 are formulated.
Minnesota IL heading for o
sales tar. This n the plain truth,
despite all the denlals heard dur
Ing the campaign that Il was be-
Ing considered. Top legislative
leaders have discussed the sub
jeet and have concluded that .
sales tar II unavoidable. Accord
Ing 10 the inner circle, one plan
tentatively agreed upon II o per
cent levy that would be linked
with the state bonus for veter-
ans. This plan calls for dedicat-
ing receipts for the first three
years TO the bonus. The annual
yield Of 3 percent tau In esti-
mated at $3.50 900 on the basis
Of no exemptions on I9i5 gross
sales. This would mean that q
s1O0.0OO, 900 bonus could he fin
aneed by the three-yeaT program.
The big parade Of demands for
substantial increases In appropri-
atoms In already under way. Last
week the University Of Minnesota
announced that II will ask the i947
Legislature for S23.427. 900 for the
h'ennium beginning next July I.
This II an increase Of almost three
times over the current biennium.
and includes BUILDING funds total
ling Sik.k2A mo. With an enroll
ment Of 27.103 students. the Uni
versitv In bursting at the seams, and
It's request for vastly increased
appropriations will he only one of
q dozen major items requiring
greatly expanded revenues.
Some real fireworks are prom
ised 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 In already under fire, and u
would not be surprising TO find
full-scale investigation Of It's admin
istration. The Public Employees
Union mt Hastings openly charges
that the institution Ii operating
with a staff Of graduate nurses and
attendants below minimum require
ments.
Unions Of state employees are
preparing for n vigorous fight for
upward revision Of salaries and
for changes In the civil service semi
orlty provisions. On every hand
there will be demands for larger
appropriations, for schools. for old
are assistance, for highways. This
all adds up 10 q tremendous ehal-
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 DO no letup in maneuverlng
for position within both parties.
The Republicans will be pointing
their strategy to l94S, seeking to
keep their house straight so a. to
give Harold Stassen the greatest
possible assistance for his drive for
the Presidency. Within the DFL
jockeyinE for position will become
more obvious with intra-party
alignmenta likely TO command a
good deal Of public attention.
Minnesota is certain TO command
more than It's share of attention
In the preliminRriea to the l94s
Presidential race, II obviously will
spear.head Stasscn'A campaign
tor the COP nomination, and the
jockeying within the DFL makes It
clear that President Truman will
have q fight TO obtain a pledged
delegation, II he decides 10 run for
reelection. There IL talk about
Henry Wallace or William Douglas
being the choice Of the DFL for the
Presidency. All In all, politics
promise 20 be feverish and hectic in
the months ahead.