The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-03-15
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

Senator Whiteman wants to amend
his election law SO that it will be some
thing like the Australian system. His
bill pres ented Thursday provides tina
at every election precinct there shall be
erected suitable stall where a voter
may prepare his ballot unseen.
Senator HIxon sent up bill reorgan-
izing the agricultural college and provid-
ing for its better regulation. The meas
ure is voluminous one, covering six
teen pages of typewriter papar. 1t
separates the agricultural management
from the state university and deslgnates
as board ofmanagement the governor,
the president of the college, E. II. At
wood, of Stearns county; Z. j. Hodgson,
of Ramsey county; T. H. Barrett, of
Stevens county; John Frank, of Mower
county; John T. Nelson, of Otter Tail
county; Seymour Jones, of Wabasha
county; r. A. Costello, of st. Louis coun-
ty; Adolph Everett, of Pipestone coun-
ty; Andrew Sure, of Polk county; ]. J.
Fulkerson, of Olmstead county, and Swan
Nelson, of Kandiyohi county. The
board has the same right and power as
the board of education, under which the
college is now run Section II of the
bill provides that the college of agricul-
ture, including military tactics aud the
mechanical acts be disestablished, separ-
ated and taken out of and removed from
the University of Minnesota and re-
united and reincorporated with and re-
stored to and merged In the agricultural
college of Minnesota. All the grants,
appropriations and endowments and
privileges of the college are taken from
the university regents and placed under
the supervision ofthe agricultural board.
In the committee of the whole Thurs
day afternoon the senate recommended
for passage the bills which come from
the State prison committee. One was
the general prison bill which places the
management in board of five, to be ap-
pointed by the Governor and which re-
models the entire prison law. Among
other things this provides for the APP
pointment of the warden by the mana
gers, and on this point there was some
opposition. Senator Scheffer sent up an
amendment to vest this power in the
Governor, but it was finally killed and
the bill given favorable recommends
ton as the committee reported it. The
bill providing for the employment of
the convIcts under the direction of the
managers was also recommended for
passage, and the two others, which pro-
vide for the transfer of convicts from the
prison to the reformatory and for the
punishment of habitual criminals were
given the same favorable action. Sena-
tor Edwards had charge of the bills
while the committee was considering
them.
The senate is ready to adjourn the ses-
sion on Wednesday, April 10, if the
house will agree to that date. Senator
Brown yesterday morning called up the
resolution fixing the final day for April
5. 1t was amended by Senator Eaton
by extending the time five days, and in
that shape was passed. 1t was concur
rent resolution, and to be effective the
lower house must pass it.
Senator Durant's bill relating to the
ownership of real property in Minnesota
started lively debate Friday. The
bill seeks to repeal the law passed two
years ago restricting aliens and foreign
corporations from holding real estate in
the state. Senator Goodrich protested
against the passage of the bill because it
would allow foreign corporations to pur-
chase more land than it would be just
for them to hold. He opposed any
thing that favored of landed arlsto-
cracy in this country. He did not be-
lieve in allowing corporations to hold
more land than was necessary for them
in properly conducting their business.
Senator Ward and Durant maintained
that the present law shut out foreign
capital and retarded the growth of the
state. After a brilliant debate, in which
the honors went to Senator Goodrich
the bill, with that of Senator Ives on a
similar subject, went to the judiciary
committee.
Senator Edwards has introduced an
other prison bill which asks for an APP
preparation of $25, 900 for the purchase
of tools IN furnishing the plant for the
employment of the convicts under the
state account system. The bill provides
that Immediately after the passage of
the bill it shall be the duty of the Gov
ernor, the state inspectors and the war.
den of the state prision to serve notice
upon the present contractors at the earl
lest time possible. The bill was sent to
the prison committee.