The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-19
Legislative Matters.


ia State Legislature very little legisla.
tive business has been transacted. To
be sure goodly number of bills have
been intr0duced-sOme meritorious and
not few otherwise but there has all
along been noticeable desire upon the
part OF members to dispose of the Sena-
torial question before settling into the
harness for real, solid, hard work.
What will prove disappointment to
many, is the virtual killing of the bill
providing for the reduction of interest
from 10 to 8 per cent. Compared with
other commodities, there is no reason
able excuse for keeping interest at 50
high rate as 10 per cent.
There will DE no lack of railroad
transportation matters for the Legislature
to digest. Several bills have been in
troduced all of which are more or less
crude and unsatisfactory IN part or in
whole. Yet it is good that the subject
has been thus early brought forward,
because it is matter that requires care.
full consideration and thorough research.
On Tuesday two bills were introduced
in the House touching this matter. One
by Mr.. Plumber, fixing passenger rates
at three cents per mile, with penalty
of three times the amount Of fare col
lected In excess of said rates-the other
by Mr. Frank, defining the maximum
rate of both freight and passenger tariff.
There is little doubt but what the bill
fixing the maximum passenger rates at
cents per mile is reasonable mea-
sure and ought to pass, but the one fix.
ing freight rates requires more research
than Mr. Frank has been able to give
the subject.
Senator Wilson introduced a resolu.
tion for the appointment of a committee
to inquire whether any lands granted
by the State to railways were wrong
fully exempt from taxation, such com.
mittee to have power to send for per.
sons and papers. The resolution passed.
A memorial to the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States,
calling for greater and more immediate
appropriations for'the improvement Of
the harbor Of Duluth, was passed under
suspension Of the rules.
On Tuesday, the Judiciary committee
reported in favor of the passage of the
bill, forbidding donation or loan, by any
city, town, &C., to any railway COM
pany or private corporation.
On Wednesday the grain inspection
bill prepared by the Farmers Board of
Trade was presented to the House by
Hon. Ole Peterson. The bill Is quite
lengthy, and proportionately clear in its
demands. 1t provides for the licensing
Of all warehouses for the storage of
grain, with sufficient bonds and the APP
pointment OF State and deputy inspec-
tors. The powers and duties of the
Board OF Trade are 20 be enlarged, and
the members of the Board art to be ap.
pointed by the District Judges instead
Of by the Governor. 1t is the duty of
of the Board to establish system of
grading and prescribed rules for the H.
spectors, who are to fix the grades of all
grain and be paid by system of fees
and inspection charges, high enough to
furnish the revenue required. A very
substantial consideration is that which
attaches severe penalty for the mixing
of grain before it has been inspected
and graded. An inspector is strictly
prohibited from being purchaser of
grain.
In the Senate on Wednesday bill
was introduced relating to the compen-
sation Of County Auditors, but as the
text of the measure was not published
we are unable to review it in detail.
Col. Hicks, OF Minneapolis, believes
in distributing holidays freely. He has
introduced bill declaring Christmas,
Thanksgiving, New Years day, Dedica.
ton day, 22nd of February and election
days, as legal holidays Some one
ought TO amend by making the six
secular days holidays and done with it..