The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-03-20

Sr. PAUL. March 19.-The most inn
porlant bill introduced at the opening
OF the senate Wednesday morning was
thai creating board Of agriculture. IT
is toe work Of the Farnlsrs alliance, and
was introduced by Senator Borchert
OF the agricultural and forestry interests
OF the state, and is to provide general
rules for the Guidance and management
OF all societies and institutions whose
primary object is the promotion of agri-
culture. It is to be composed of the
governor, master of the state grange,
and the presidents of the State Agricul-
tural society, the State Horticultural
society, the State Forestry association,
the State Daiiymen's association and the
State Farmers alliance. The members
OF the board are to have no compensa-
t1oa, but are TO appoint practical far
MIR for secretary at salary of 81, 800
annually All the members of the'board
are to subscribe to rock-bound oath
ami give $4,000 bond for the faithful
performance of their duties. After
making these provisions the bill goes on
to define the powers of the proposed
board. 1t is to have authority to exam
Inc into the affairs of any of the forego-
ing societies or any other agricultural
societies IN the state. and direct the ex-
pending of their funds IN the ways indi-
Gated by their charter. The board is to
have charge of the distribution of for
estry bounties and direction of farmers
Institutes. Then comes a novel pro-
vision. The board is authorized to re-
quire the board of regents Of the state
university to expend all funds received
under the various acts of congress for
agricultural education for that purpose
alone and further power Is given it to
at any time order investigation by the
agricultural experiment station into any
subject Of interest TO farmers. The Sec
rotary of the board is made member
OF the agricultural committee of the
board of regents Further. the board of
agriculture is to be authorized to collect
statistics in the interests of agriculture
and to give out all valuable information
In its possession to the newspapers of the
state for publication. But such news
papers as shall refuse to publish such in
formation are to be punished by being
excluded from the distribution of the
annual reports of the board. As final
provision the board is given charge of
contagious diseases among cattle and
grasshopper visitation and $1,000 is al
lowed as an annual appropriation for the
expenses of the board.
Senator John Day Smith introduced,
at the request of State Encampment, g.
A. B., a bill increasing the annual ap.
preparation for the burial of ex-soldiers
from 81, 600 TO $1,000. This is done in
view Of the increased number Of deaths
among veterans and the inadequacy of
the present allowance.
The joint resolution authorizing the
receipt of the refunded direct tax from
the United States government was re-
ported back and passed under suspen-
sion of the rules on motion of Senator
Tawney, its author.
When the senate reconvened at p.
m, it at once resolved itself into COM
mittee of the whole and voted to take
[ I,,. h-,--An f19s Much of the -:.A.-,nnr
cradle number of bills were recon-
mended to pass without discussion. On
Representative Stockton's anti-Pinker-
tor" bill there was caused little talk.
though not much opposition, and it was
finally referred for amendment. On
Mr.. Longs bill, prohibiting the attend
ance OF children from criminal trials
there was some discussion. and it was
| finally amended so as to make the age
under which Judges may exclude II
| years instead of IS.