The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-09
Legislative Matters.

oeAi"oeCi, VIZ Xuohaoy, WV h"VV SSssiSe
down to business and from this out they
will attend to the wants ofthe people in
legislating on questions Of importance.
Tho railroad committee Of the House
refused to seriously consider the bill
relating to the taxation of railway sleep
ing cars and telegraph property. The
reason for this, perhaps as much as any.
thing, was the fact that there is a ques-
ton as to the constitutionality of the
bill, and that test case involving the
question in point, Is now before the
courts. The bill making railway com.
panies liable tor the injuries inflicted
upon employees by the carelessness of
another, was also indefinitely postponed.
The bill was opposed as being danger.
Gus alike to the company and the peo-
ple--to the company since confedera-
tion of employees could make the cor
poration liable to- almost any amount,
and to the public as tending to make
employees careless, whereas if they knew
there was no remedy against the com
pany, when the latter was not in fault,
they would use due circumspection to
prevent accidents.
Judge Wilson's bill, which has passed
the Senate, providing for an amendment
to the constitution forbidding bonuses
to railways or private corporations, ex.
cept upon an acquiescent vote of two
thirds of the legal voters Of the district
proposing to give the aid, was recon.
mended for indefinite postponement by
a vote Of 8 to 4. the majority averring
that the majority should rule and the
law was we'll enough as it Is. Messrs.
E. A. Cole, Marcus Johnson and Alex.
ander Moore were the principal oppo-
nents of the measure, which seemed to
excite little interest in the minds of any
of the committee, notwithstanding the
long debates attendant upon its passage
in the Senate. Of course, the commit
tees recommendation does not definite
ly kill the bill, but it is pretty good
index of the status of feeling in regard
to its existence IN the house.
Gen. Bakers railway bill, introduced
by Marcus johnson IN the house, and by
z. B. Clarke in the senate, was next
brought up, and it was stated that a
number of railway officials desired to
be heard upon the subjects embraced in
the sections Of the document at some
future time. 1t was recognized that
this bill would be the one upon which
the general discussion Of railway dis.
elimination etc., would be based, and
the bills introduced by Representatives
John Peterson, Thayer and Thompson
were, on motion of Mr.. Emery, passed
for the present. The same action was
taken as to the Baker bill. The bill
introduced by Mr.. Sadley to revive the
10000 acre land grant to the Princeton
& Auoka railway, on condition that the
road be completed within three years,
was recommended to passage, after Mr..
Sadley had stated that the road was al.
ready surveyed and profiles made, and
would certainly be completed within
the time specified. The road is pro-
jected to run from Anoka, in the county
Of the same name, to Princeton, in the
extreme southeastern corner of Mile
Laos county, the total distance peins
twenty six miles.
The joint committee on Normal
Schools held meeting at the Metropol-
itan Hotel on Tuesday evening, and
heard reports from the principals of the
several schools. The committee will
visit the Mankato Normal on Wednes.
day of next week to see what is required
in the way Of an appropriation for need.
ed improvements.
A memorial to the United States Con-
gress was adopted under suspension of
the rules Tuesday because Of the i'm
mediate need Of its passage by Con-
gress. The memorial represents that
the piers Of many of the railway bridges
across the Mississippi are very serious
hindrancs to navigation. That steamers
frequently collide with them, and some
times great loss of life is thereby &C.
casioned.
The saloon-keepers do not believe in
having Legislative enactments entirely
one sided, hence have caused to be
introduced bill making it an offense
punishable by fine or imprisonment for
any minor or habitual drunkard to oh.
tain liquor under false pretenses.
A bill was introduced Tuesday re-
auirlng insurance companies organized |
under the laws Of any other State or
Nation doing business in this State, to
pay annually to the State 2 per cent. on
all premiums received in cash and other
obligations, Except what are denomin-
ated deposit rates, representing divi-
dends of the company and the assess.
able premium rates of mutual fire in
surance companiesl in this State by
their agents or elsewhere during the
year ending on the preceding 3lst day
of December, which sum shall be in
lieu of all other taxes to be collected
frsm said companies in this State, ex
cept upon the real or personal proper.
ty owned by said companies in this
State, which shall be taxed the same as
like property owned by individuals,
and not otherwise. And all insurance
companies chartered by the Territory
or State of Minnesota, or organized un-
der the general laws IF the State, shall
pay to the State per cent. on their
premium receipts in this State, and shall
also pay taxes and assessments upon real
estate owned by them within the State,
in like manner and in like amount as
real estate owned by individuals 10
taxed and assessed, and no additional
taxes shall be collected of such com.
panies other than the fees provided BY
law.
A bill has been introduced which. If
it becomes Law. will be very accept
able to the people generally. 1t 10 tol