The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-01-24
STATE LEGISLATURE.
WORK OF THE MINNESOTA Law
MAKERS.
Condensed Report of the Proceed
>ngs I'm the Senate and House, Com
rising a Brief Summary OF the
Weeks Business.


rising a Brief Summary Of the
Weeks Business.
Both houses held short sessions. Ii
the senate Mr.. Allen introduced a bill
to establish the Office Of forest COM
missiOners and for the prevention of
forest and prairie fires, which pro-
vides that the governor shall appoint
forest commissioner, who shall hold
his office for three years. His duty
shall be to prevent prairie fires, to in
yestigate the etent and character Of
the original and secondary forests
the state, together with the amounts
and varieties of the wood and timber
growing therein; he must ascertain the
different methods of numbering pur-
sued, and the effects thereof upon the
timber supply, water power, naviga-
ton and climate of the state: the an
prox1mate amount of revenue annual
ly derived from the forests in the
state; the damage done to them from
time to time by fire; the methods used.
If any, to promote regrowth Of timber.
The information so gathered by him,
together with suggestions, shall form
an annual report to the governor The
supervisors of towns containing forest
or prairie lands in the state are con-
stituted fire wardens, and they are to
have posted where tourists and hunt
ers can see them, notices against camp
Ing prairie or forest fires. These war
dens are not to be paid more than
$3.50 per day, and shall not be paid
in any one year for more tan ten
days services in extinguishing fires.
The penalty for setting fire to forest
or prairie lands Is 500 or imprison-
ment not exceeding one month. Rail-
road companies have to annually cut
and remove from their right of way
all grass and weeds.
Senator John H. Smiths bill on the
preservation of the game and fish of
the state creates board of five game
and fish commissioners, to be appoint
ed by the governor for six years. One
or two slight amendments are made to
the General Laws of 1893.
In the house q bill was introduced
by Mr.. Douglas which defines the du-
ties of the public examiner In addi-
ton to general supervision over banks
and banking institutions, he is given
power to prescribe the manner and
form Of keeping and auditing boks
and accounts; to call for special and
general reports, failure to comply sub
Jectlng such bank or corporation to
500 fine for every days delay; to ap-
point special examiners, that expense
to be borne by the bank for which
they are named; to compel testimony
and to appoint temporary receivers;
to require at least one, but not Oftener
than five times, report of every bank
and corporation, such report to be COM
plete and in the form he prescribes.
Mr.. Henrick's bill makes the legal
rate of interest per cent.
Mr.. Blagik's bill provides for
bounty Of cent pound on sugar
manufactured in this state from beets.
sorghum or other yielding canes OF
fruits. .>....... -. .a.
st. Paul, Jan. 2O.-In the house Hen
~ Feig called up his sensational reso-
luton on the inquiry into the condia
ton of the financial institutions of
the state by committee of five rep
resentatives and carried the question
through by unanimous vote, despite
the introduction of a substitute reso-
luton and various objections as to the
expense which might be incurred by
such an investigation. To clinch the
passage. Of his resolution, Mr. Feig
moved to reconsider, and to lay the re-
consideration on the table, and this.
too, was voted through by a large ma
jority. By this means the house
burned it's bridge behind it," the ac-
ton taken preventing the reconsidera-
ton Of the subject at any time during
the session, thus winning a double
victory for the resolution.
Synopsis of bills introduced into the
house:
BY Barta-A bill providing for
amendments to the homestead law and
defining homestead as follows: An
agricultural homestead to consist of
eighty acres, minus such portions as
are used for mining or manufa curing
purposes, no part of which shall be in
GUIDED in the plated portion of any
village or city; a village homestead,
not to exceed one acre, no portion of
which shall be found in the laid out
portion of any city exceeding 10000
inhabitants, and a city homestead, not
to exceed 10000 square feet in area.
BY Ferris-To provide for the ap-
pointment Of a board of game and fish
commissioners Of five members, to be
appointed by the governor, one Of the
members to be it's Executive agent
at salary of $1,000, and further
amending existing laws.
BY Gutterson-Allowing townships
at their own election to abolish the
election of Overseers and the collection
of poll tax and to transfer the du-
ties Of overseers of the highway to
the township supervisors.
BY Hartshorn - Providing for the
forfeiture Of certain lands granted
any corporation to aid in the construc-
ton of a railroad, and which have not
heretofore been earned.
, Senator Masterman of Washington
county introduced bill amending IT,
law providing for the designation o.
states repositories. The amendment
provides that the designation of states
repositories shall be made by a board
of audit, consisting of the governor Of
the state, state auditor, secretary Of
state and attorney general When the
state funds are thus deposited, the
state treasurer is relieved from liza
bility on his bond so far as the de-
posting Of funds is concerned. 1T
is the same bill as was passed two
years ago, but was not signed by the
oovorno,.O sold Sto IN rTNroo S,,ror J<oor-