The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-02-08
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

Senator Bowen has introduced bill
to commemorate the battles OF New Ulm
fought against the Sioux Indians be-
tween August. 1884, 1862. In pream-
BILE the bill refers TO the fact that many
of the citizens of this state laid down
their lives in its defence and checked in
vasion OF the Sioux into the heart of the
settlement of the state. The sum of S.
600 Is appropriated to erect suitable
monument to commemorate the event,
and Gen. Sibley, Hon. ]. F. Meagher,
DR.. ]. w Daniels and Col. w. Pfaender
are constituted a committee to locate the
monument and to decide the character
of the same.
The railways are to be investigated.
Yesterday Senator Popespresented the
following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolced, That committee of three be
appointed, with authority to send for
persons and papers, and charged with
the duty of examining and reporting up
on the reports made and taxes paid to
the state by all or any common carriers,
corporations or persons which, under ex
listing laws, pay to the state a tax upon
gross receipts in lieu of all other taxes.
Senstor Clark's usury bill reducing
the legal rate of interest from 10 to 8per
cent. came up in the Senate yesterday.
1t will doubtless pass, as it is IN accord
ance with the last Republican state plat
form. Senator Pope said that he would
support the bill, not because it was a
Republican measure, but because every
Senator who had opposed it was bank
er. He claimed that the present system
of interest was making the rich richer
and the poor poorer.
Senator Pope has introduced a bill
which contemplates an increased tax
levy of one-tenth of a mill, which shall
constitute soldiers relief fund.
Senator Marcus johnson introduced a
bill Saturday which amends the law re-
lating to grand jurIes. Under the old
law it was necessary to call grand juries
in counties of 1900 inhabitants, wheth-
er there was any work for them or not.
The bill of Mr.. johnson makes the call
ing of such bodies optional in counties of
less than $4,000 inhabitants.
The prize-fghting bill introduced in
the Senate by Mr.. Daniels is meeting
with no outward opposition in that
body, however much the noble Senators
may In their hearts regret the ban I'M
der which it is proposed to place the
manly art of seif-defense.
The bill put in while ago by Mr.
Pope providing for submission to the
people of an amendment to the consti-
tuition, providing that at the election
succeeding the next re-apportionment
the members of the legislature elected
from districts with odd members shall
be chosen for term of two years only,
was discussed in the Senate on Saturday
in committee of the whole and amend
ed, but was afterwards recommended to
be indefinitely postponed. 1t is likely
to be called up again, however.
The Senate in committeespf the whole
killed the bill introduced by Mr.. Daniels
which was designed to create state ex-
aiming board and system of teachers
certificates. 1t had been recommended
by the superintendent of the state.
Some of the senators thought there was
"woodckuck" in the clause which pro-
vides for So fee for issuing the certifi-
Gates