The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-03-22
THE LEGISLATURE
Desperate Fight in the Senate
Over AnderSon'S Rail-
road Tax Bill.
MUCH OPPOSITION DEVELOPS.
Attorney General Childs of
the Opinion That the
Bill Is Legal.

ST. PAUL, March 12.-House File 1,
the bill proposing constitutional
amendment for the purpose of placing
on the tax rolls all unused lands owned
by railroads in this state, was considered
by the senate in committee of the whole,
and the most interesting debate of the
session was had. The bill had been
made a special order for the day, and
there was quite large attendance of
visitors, though notably small mem
bership present. Senators Morgan and
McIIale made principal arguments
against the measure while Messrs.
Thompson, Knatvold, Reishus, Cullin
Wyman presented the side of the bill.
The arguments on the bill continued
until nearly 6 o'clock, when the COM
mittee rose and an adjournment was
taken until II a. M, when the debate
will be continued.
During the afternoon several amend
monts were offered, which, if adopted,
will set the whole act at naught.
The Morning Routine.
About 30 senators were present at the
morning session, and with this small
attendance nothing Of Importance
could be taken up, and but for the in
fusion of a few minor matters into
the proceedings there would have been
no session at all. The only feature was
the reading of the report of Attorney
General Childs, holding that the pas
sage of the railroad land tax bill would
not affect the gross earnings tax law.
Senator Sheehan asked that his home
rule bill be made special order for
Wednesday. Several senators objected,
bnt the request was finally granted.
S. T. 346 was recommended for pas
sage. 1t provides for the examination
and commitment of inebriates to the
special department for the treatment of
the insane in the Rochester state hos
pital.
These Recommended.
S. F. 343--To provide q penalty for CO.
ercing or influencing or making demands
or requirements of employees, servants,
laborers and persons seeking employment.
S. F. 417-To enable two or more col
leges, seminaries of learning or educa-
tional institutions for the instruction of
youth, to consolidate.
II. F. 277-To amend Sec 8, chap 202,
laws of 1885, relating to the storage and
disposal of unclaimed baggage, freight
and merchandise.
Fl. f. 17S-To amend substitute 10, sec.
BIO, chap. &c, laws of 1878, as amended, re-
lating to property exempt from execution.
H. f. 337-To furnish grass seed for dis
tribution in certain counties afflicted by
forest fires during the season of 1894 and
appropriating money for the same
Bills Passed.
Only those bills on the calendar
which had 30 opposition were taken up.
The bills which We're given final pas
sage were as follows:
S. T. 10G-Creating u commission to 10
cate and acquire lands and prepare plans
for fourth hospital for the insane.
S. +. 397-To provide for the exemption
from jury duty of all engineers, engaged
in active service as such.
S. f. 216-To authorize the state treas
urer to transfer moneys remaining to the
credit of the state agency fund of the
state public school from said fund to the
current expense fund of said school.
S. F. 4O5-To provide for the care and
keeping of dependent children during or
subsequent to the examination to derer-
mine their condition.
S. f. 4O6-To amend sec. $500 of statutes
of Minnesota, 1898, relative to the admis-
sion of children to the state public school.
The bills introduced were few in
number and comparatively unimpor-
t3Ot