New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-05-01

lower house has led to mass of curative
acts, which have only perfected the laws
which now stand on the statute books. At
the same time large number of important
laws have been made which will ever stand
to the credit of those who made them
PUNITIVE LAWS.
Most of the legislation relating to the penal
institutions of the state was introduced in
the senate, having originated with the board
OF correction and charities. It includes a
complete revision of the prison law. the new
law containing several new provisions
with reference 10 the care of prisoners
The board OF managers is increased to
five members, and the warden, instead of
receiving his appointment from the COVER
nor. will be elected by this board This
change is made for the purpose of taking
the office OF warden OUT of politics. Bills
were also passed providing for the transfer
OF certain classes of prisoners between
the state prison and the state re-
formatory; and for the parole of
prisoners and the care of ex-convicts
person who has served two terms of not
less than three years each is declared an ha-
bltual criminal, and on third conviction will
be sentenced for term of twenty-one years.
The Till providing for the inspection of cat
tie, sheep and swine on the hoof before
slaughter was among the bills passed It is
one OF the important measuses of the SEES
sion. Laws were also enacted amending the
dairy laws SO as to bring violations within
the jurisdiction CT justice courts. aud
there is also one to prevent the adul-
teration of certain articles of food aud of
liquors, which law is to be enforced by the
dairy commissioner. The military code WIS
amended by a couple of bills, one OF which
admits the Third regiment as member of
the national guard. The seed grain bill'
was measure OF relief for The farmers in the
counties in which the wheat crop was
ruined by frost or blight last season.
1t appropriated 100000 as Il loan to tie
counties. WHICH loan is made available to
the farmers. The law was taken advantage
of to it's full extent, the entire appropria-
ton being utilized. Another bill desired by
the farmers in the north part of the state
the Red river drainage bil-appropriat-
ing money for draining the low lands in the
valley, was lost in the house.
In the way of political reform the house
has been responsible for a long step forward.
1t was by the passage Of the election law
which has taken the name of it's author, Mr.
Keyes of Winona. Mr.. Reyes had spent
nearly the whole summer in drafting his
BILL which was the second introduced By
those interested in the subject it was pro-.
nounced one OF the most perfect election
laws ever drafted in any state. 1t was care
fully planned to dove tai! in with the laws
Of registration and returns, contain
ing, in addition, with notifications.
the secret system of baloting
which is known as the Australian
system. so carefully was it drawn that the
house passed it with only few verbal
amendments, limiting its operations, how
ever,to cities of 10000 inhabitants or over
as the country was not willing to accept it
without trial. The senate yesterday passed
it by vote of 80 to 2. In addition the house
passed civil service measure copied after
the Massachusetts law and proposing
commission OF examination for APP
pointive offices in the larger cities. The
senate, however, was not favorabiy disposed
toward similar bill. There has been little
or none of tine wildcat legislation toward
railroads which characterized former SEES
sions Mr.. Diment introduced bill fixing
an arbitrary grain and live stock mileage
rate, but the house rejected 1t, as it did SEN
to reduce passenger rates to two and one
half cents per mile also failed.
Another important matter before the legis-
lature was the question of Reproducing
the state, a labor which should have been ac-
complished at the last session. A joint COM
mittee was appointed and after weeks of
work a bill making 54 senatorial districts,
with LA representatives, was drawn. There
was a good deal of opposition from the
southern part of the state, which lost part of
its representation, and further, on the ground
that it was unconstitutional. A willingness
to give the northern part of the state part at
least of its just representation was stronger,
aud the bill was passed.
APPROPRIATIONS PASSED.
The subject that touches the public most
nearly is that of appropriations and taxes
The legislature found the state with a
practically exhausted treasury. consequently
1etrenchment and reform has been the cry.
While they have not always been consistent
in their economy, and their judgment in
placing money in some minor particulars is
open to question, the appropriations have
been smaller than usual. The demands
of the state institutions were enor-
NOUS. It was out of the question
TO give them all they wanted
and the appropriations were cut to the bone,
the idea being to allow them only CROUCH to
run the institutions for the next two years,
when it is hoped the state will be in better
financial condition. It became necessary, as
it was, to raise the tax levy from i. q mills TO
1.9 mills. and to bond the state to the ex-
tent of $500, 600 to meet extraordinary ex-
penses Thy various main appropriation
bills call for the following sums:
Permanent annual appropriations for 1890
1891:
Fergus Falls hospital for insane 1880. $4,000
ST. Peter hospital for insane. .......... lac, coo
Rochester hospital for insane .......... lao, 900
Deaf school ........... So, 900
Blind school Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Predetermined school, ................. $4,000
State public school $. ............ $4,000
State reform schoul. Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
State prison Observation-Disclosures. 10000
State reformatory 5000
Total .............. $500. 600