Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-03-28
OxRdUN's BILL APPROVED NY THE
MINNESOTA SENATE.
1t Gets Through the Committee OF
the Wholc-ScnntOr Coles BILL to
Distribute Gross Earnings
Tax Ii Also AD.
proved.
THE CENSUS BILL IS DEFEATED.
Defeated in the House by a
Vote of AZ to 81.

~. 1uul, MuIcu <f.-1uC SClslIc Ill
Of the whole approved Sen
;ator Ozmun's civil service bill, known
rs s. +. No. 273. There was not
large attendance and it is possible that
the bill may not secure the necessary
twenty-eight votes when it comes up
for, passage, but its safe journey
through the committee of the whole
was a surprise, and it's subsequent de-
feat would be unusual.
The bill is fitting companion to the
Ramsey senator's corrupt practices
act, both being distinct advances along
the line of purity in politics. The lat
ter Is through the senate and calmly
sleeping somewhere In the house. Its
author hopes the former may have a
safe journey through the senate and
join forces with the other, when both
may be able to secure recognition
from members of the lower branch Of
the legislature.
The civil service act provides for a
sstatc board of three persons, to be ap-
pointed by the governor for term Of
six years, and to. serve without COM
nensation. The board will divide the
offices into two classes, much after the
fashion Of the national civil service,
and for the holding of examinations
for appointments to the civil service
positions. In main outline the object
is to appoint persons to public posi-
tions because of fitness and not on &C.
count of political activity, supposed
influence and as reward for partisan
service. The bill originally carried a
small appropriation to provide for the
expenses of the state board and SINH
lar local board to be, appointed for
the various cities, but the appropria-
ton was stricken out on motion of it's
author, who thus prevented its op-
poncnts from Il covert attack on it's
principles.
The senate spent an hour just be-
fore adjournment upon Senator Coles
bill to appropriate out of the general
fund of the treasury an amount suf-
ticient to reimburse the counties in
which untaXed railroad lands are stu
ated for the loss sustained by their
own treasures through the operation
of the gross earnings tax system. The
matter came up in committee of the
whole and the bill was recommended
for passage by vote Of "a to 16.
In the House.
In the house the report of the COM
Inittee on public lands indefinitely
postponing the pine land bill. H. Il.
6O2-Gibbs-stirred up the house and
the committee was Endorsed by vote
Of three to one. The committees
(Staples) bill was made a special order
for 2 p. nj. on Wednesday.
"a. The entire afternoon was taken up
with the consideration of the census
bill, which was amended until it re-
sembled a crazy quilt, and then de-
feated by vote of Al to 81. The cen
sus committee was instructed to pre-
pare bill providing for an enulnera-
ton Of population only.
Mr. Furlong introduced proposed
constitutional amendment authorizing
the legislature to appropriate not to
exceed 100000 annually to aid in the
construction of roads and bridges. Mr.
Holman introduced the Miller senate
bin declaring express companies to be
common carriers aud placing Il IN I'M
der the Jurisdiction of the railroad
bills to appropriate money for roads
and bridges, which has been carried
over from yesterday, the last day al.
lowed for the Introduction of bills ap.
propriating money from the internal
Improvement fund, were introduced.
There were eighteen bills reported
back from committees and sixteen new
ones, making total number of house
files to date 1877 introduced.