The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-03-19
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
What the 9th Minnesota Legislsture =
Doing.

but substantial progress has been made
upon two important measures; the
Australian election bill and the interest
question. The work upon all matters
pertaining to the regulation of the rail-
way traffic has been done in the COM
mittee appointed for that purpose.
Several meetings have been held and
the bills have been thoroughly dis
cussed. 1t was decided some time ago,
IN view of the fact that so many railway
bills had been introduced in both
branches of the assembly, that it was
advisable for the committee to frame
substitute measure that would enable
the radicals and conservatives to
combine. 1t has been to this end that
the committee has labored and burned
the midnight oil on several occasions.
At meeting on the night of the 18th
the committee decided to retain in its
substitute bill the proviso to section SO,
the present law, which is the same as
the proviso to section of the interstate
commerce law, and provides that the
railroad commissioners may permit
railroads to make special rates between
pal feature of Mr.. Curriers' substitute
bill, and will be the fighting ground
when the bill is introduced into the
House. There were other amendments
suggested and adopted, but inasmuch
as the whole question will be fought
out in the House whatever report the
majority of the committee may see fit
to make the proposed amendments cut
very little figure at present. There is
evidently a strong feeling among the
representatives from the northern and
western parts of the state against the
proposal to establish distance tariff,
as they hold it will result in destroying
competing railroad rates on long hauls,
and SO shut them out of their market.
The interest question has been prac-
tically settled so far as the Senate is
concerned. The first bill introduced in
the upper house when the legislature
began, was sent up by Senator Davis,
of st. Peter, and known as Senate File
No. 1. The matter came up for consid
GRAFTON some four weeks ago, and has
occupied most of the time since. It was
amended, changed, turned, referred and
re-referred finally passing the Senate
almost identical as it came from the
hands of the gentleman from Nicollet
county.
The bill provides: First, that the
legal rate without contract shall be 6
per cent and upon contract per cent.
Section 2 provides that every person
who for any loan or forbearance shall
have paid or delivered to the person
making such loan of granting such for
bearance, any greater sum or value
than is above allowed to be received
therefor, may by himself or his per-
sonal representatives, recover in an
action against the person who shall
have so taken and received the same,
or his personal representatives, the full
amount of the principal, interest or pre-
MUM SO paid, with costs, if such action
shall be brought within two (2) years
after such payment or delivery. Pro-
vided, that the payment of interest in
advance for period not exceeding one
year, at rate not to exceed eight (s)
per cent per annum, shall not be con-
strued to constitute usury.
Section provides that all notes, con-
tracts etc., not in conformity with the
foregoing shall be void except that
nothing herein shall be construed to
prevent the purchase of negotiable
mercantile paper, usurious or other.
wise. for a valuable consideration, by
an Innocent purchaser, free from all
equities at any price, before the matur-
ity of the same, when there has been
no intent to evade the provisions of this
act by such purchasers, or where said
purchase has not been a part of the
original usurious transaction. In any
case, however, where the original hold
er of a usurious note or other written
instrument evidencing an indebtedness
sells the same to an innocent purchaser,
the maker of said note or other written
instrument, or his representatives, shall
have the right to recover back from the
said original holder, the amount OF
principal and interest paid by him on
said note or instrument.
Section 4 provides that commissions
cannot be charged for securing loan,
except that commissions and the inter.
est combined shall not exceed per
Centum per annum.
The bill passed the Senate on the
18TH There is is little doubt that the
House will concur.
Mr.. Reeve of Hennepin Co. o.introduced
bill relating to public roads that will
interest the country districts. 1t pro.
vfdes that no money shall be appropri.
ated by the county commissioners fo1
public roads in any town of the county
unless said town shall have paid for
five previous years as high a rate OF
taxation as any other town where saiG
money is proposed to be expended.
1t also provides that it shall be un.
lawful for county commissioners to ex.
pend money from county treasury fol
the dredging, deepening or straighten
ing of any lake, river or stream or fol
the maintaining of any ferry across
any water, or to expend money to pur
chase or condemn land or build dams
for the purpose of raising the water in
any lake or stream in any of said coun.
ties.
Violation of this law is made q misde.
meanor and punishable by fine or i'm
prisonment.
The Currier bill known as House File
No. 11s, has passed the house with only
three dissenting votes. The bill pro
vides that all three of the railroad com
missioners shall be elected every two
years by popular vote at regular elec
tions. The board to have secretary
to be appointed by the commissioners
Those who voted against the bill were
not opposed to the idea of electing the
commissioners but were opposed t
making clean sweep every other year
On the 18th, Speaker Champlin wa.
unable to appear and the House elected
Judge Furlong as speaker pro tenn
Mr.. Furlong makes very creditabl
speaker, keeping the house in order ant
rushes business along with vim.
BY ONE WHO KNOWS.
FLATrERY will win q woman's love
where love will fail.
lr's easier to pop the question than to