The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-05-02
PUNITIVE LAWS.

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 O
complete revision of the prison law. the new
law containing several new provisions
with reference 20 the care of prisoners.
The board of managers is increased 10
five members, md the warden, instead of
receiving his appointment from the COVER
nor, Will be elected by this board. Tnis
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
tho state PRISON and the state re-
formatory; and for the parole CT
prisoners and the care of ex-conVcs
person who has served two terms of not
less than three years each is decllred an La
bitual criminal, and on u third conviction will
be sentenced for a term of twenty-one years.
The Lill providing for the inspection of cat
tie, sheep and swine on the hoof before
slaughter was among the bills passed. 1t is
one of the important measuses of the ses-
sion. Laws were also enacted amending the
dairy laws, so as to bring violations within
ZIG IL JuSGLCe
there is also one to prevent the adu'-
teration of certain articles Of food and of
liquors, which law is to be enforced by the
dar ry commissioner. The military code YVES
amended by 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 u loan to tt e
counties, which loan is ma ie available 10
the farmers. The law was taken advantage
of to it's full extent, the entire appropria-
tion being utilized Another bill desired by
tue farmers in the north part of the state
the Red river drainage bill-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 its author, MI.
Keyes of Winona. Mr.. Keyes 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. It 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 balloting
which is known as the Australian
system. SO carefully was it drawn that the
| house passed it with only few verbal
amendments, limiting it's operations, how
ever, to cities of 10000 inhabitants or over,
as the country was not willing to accept it
without trial. The senate yesterday pass sed
it by vote of 80 to 2 In addition the house
passed a civil service measure copied after
| the Massachusetts law and proposing
| a 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 the wildcat legislation toward
railroads which characteriz. d former ses-
| sions Mr.. Diment introduced bill fixing
an arbitrary grain and live stock mile age
rate, but the house rejected 1t, as it did Sem
ator Popes distance tariff bill An attempt
| to reduce passenger rates to two and one
half cents per mile also failed.
Another important matter before the leois-
lature was tho question of reapportioning
the state, q labor which should have been ac-
complished at the last session. A joint CON-
mittee was appointed and after weeks OF
work, bill making "a senatorial districts,
with la representatives was drawn. There
was good deal of opposition from the
southern part of the state, which lost part oi
it's representation, and further, on the ground
that it was unconstitutional. 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 {
practically exhausted treasury. consequent,
| 1etrenchment and reform has been the cry
While they have not always been consistent
in their economy, and their Judgment il
placing money in some minor particulars i!
open to question, the appropriations have
| been smaller than usual. The demands
of the state institutions were enor
nous 1t 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 ough tt
run the institutions for the next two years
when it is hoped the state will be in better
financial condition. 1t became necessary, q.
il was, to raise the tax levy from l. mills Il
1.9 mills, and to bond the state to the ex
tent of $400, 600 to meet extraordinary ex
penses Thy various main appropriation
bills call for the following sums:
Permanent annual appropriations for 1890