The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-04-25
LEGISLATIVE WORK.
GOOD WORK ACCOMPLISHED BIZ
THE LEGISLATURE.
hembers Have Been Industrious
md PatrfOtic-Text of the Princ1-
pal Bills Which Have just Become
II Portion of the Laws of Minne-
knta.

|
work done. Many bills, and some of general
interest, passed both branches during the
latter part Of the week. but they have not
yet received official consideration by the
governor and therefore are not Included in
the list Among these may be mentioned
Senator Ozmun's bill limiting the expendi-
lures of candidates and Senator Miller's
bill regulating express companies and their
charges and placing the companies under
the supervision Of the railroad and ware
| house commission There are about 100
bills now awaiting gubernatOrial cOnsidera-
ton and nearly as many more are await
Ing action in the two houses to-day. .-
The interests Of the agricultural portions
| of the state received much attention from
the legislature. Among the bills passed for
the former are: The Russian thistle bill.
Intended to eradicate the pest, and subordi-
nate legislation amending the weed laws
of the state; the establishment Of two
new experiment stations; the appropria-
ton Of $4,000 to continue the state drain
age operations; the granting Of a bounty
for raising beet sugar; increased Irvine
manufacturing facilities in the Saltwater
prison; the creation of a department to
AID in fighting chinch bugs and other de-
structlve insects, and large number of
other laws.
The bone and sinew of the state, the men
VINO work with their hands, received such
Lovejoy child labor law, regulating the
employment of minors in workshops, mines
ana factories; Stevens law, regulating en-
ployment bureaus; the factory inspection
law amendment, bringing nonresident
owners under the control of the labor COM
missioner and improving the law relating
TO factory and mill fire-escapes; the Schur-
'ile!er prison labor law, preventing com
petition with convict labor, and other laws
bearing on the general proposition. Sena
TOR stevens compulsory arbitration bill
mas not yet passed the house of reDresenta
tives.
All OF the laws relating to the manage
1lleht and sale of public lands and timber
were carefully considered new bin 70.
vlslns and recodifying them, was passed.
1t is supposed to be so worded as To nre-
vent any repetition of fraud or collusion
III olsposlng of the forests growing on
state and school lands. In order TO nre
vent repetition of the destructive forest
nres OF 1874 a carefully prepared law
was enacted creating state fire warden
ana making local township supervisors his
ueputles clothed with full authority to ex-
tlngulsh forest fires before they had got
ten beyond control
Inc temperance and school laws of the
state were carefully revised in minor mar
ticulars and changes made that will place
minnesota farther in the lead of her sister
states IN leslslatlon relating to these sub
Jects. The high license system is Dre
served intact and all known loonholes
oDstructed. At the same time no prol,;bi
'lon or sumptuary laws found their way
10 the statutes Of 1895. The pronosed laws
ie!ltlng to public schools were entrusted
20 legislative committees composed of ex
perlenced educators and afterwards thor.
uu:niS discussed in both branches of the
ieslslature No startling changes in forn,e,
laws were made, but some of the beno+its
heretofore enjoyed by larger villages and
Gus nave been extended to district graded
schools. ' e'o"eo
Pure Politics,
A determined and successful effort was
nlaue looking to the publication of po1it-
ical methods, especially in crowded cnntprs
OF population. Five bills were introduco1
relating to primaries and caucuses and
AFTER thorough investigation a compronise
oill was passed throwing the sanctity of
the law over primaries. 1t is suDposed tn
contain provisions that will prevent the
WIN OF the people being subverted at the
foundation of the free government. the
PRIMARIES. a proposed constitutional,
amendment will be submitted to the voters
at the next general election which nro
Vldes that foreigners coming within the
cohnnes OF Minnesota must be full t1edsed
american citizens before they become pos
sessed of the elective franchise
Several bills affecting railroads. md
"hlch nave been discussed generally for .
humoer OF years, were passed. Prominent
among them are: The bill to tax unoccn
pied railroad lands as other lands In the
state are taxed. This question will be sub
mltted to the people at the newt renar,,
election. The Hastings 4 Dakota forfa;t.
ure bill, affecting about $500 acres Of
lano. was passed. Also the jacobson "Y''
Dill was PASSED. The legislature addressed
memorial to the United States senate on
the Patterson pooling bill pending in that
oodv' which is supposed to have had some
measure
The fish and game laws of the stafe
were amended in several details and are
now thought to afford better protection fo
the game, looking to the increased enjoy
ment of true sportsmen. The soldier bows
OF the state had no difficulty in securing
the passage OF a bill to reorganize the
national guard along the lines adopted by
the regulars. With equal ease they secured
irberal appropriation for the improvement
OF their camp ground a tLakeview and q
medical corps.
The question of better roads through the
state was not overlooked It was deter.
mined that any mandatory increased ex.
pend1ture was unadvisable at this time
but number of changes in the law were
made. The general effect of the changes
Is to leave 1t optional with the counties
c'nei lheS VIII ENJOY the benefits in
evltably resulting from good roads or il
they Will neglect their own best interests
ANY locality can in the future abolish thu
system of working out the road tax and
adopt the more efficient method employed
TO advantage in older states. The use Of
wide wagon tires is to be encouraged by
allowing 81 rebate from the individual
road taxes for every such wagon.
The needs of the cities and villages ot
the state received their need Of attention
complete system of municipal govern.
ment Is provided in the Howard charter
DILL and it's adoption is left optional with
every city. In addition to this s.readp
made charter a constitutional amendment
will be submitted at the next election.
which, If carried, will permit cities to
make their own charters with provisions
suited to the peculiarities of their respec-
tive conditions and surroundings. A large
number of other bills relating to cities and
villages were passed. There were passed
many bills relating to towns and counties,
winch are Intended to correct any existing
difhcult1es in the local government Of ruraa
districts.
The legislature also made into laws
bills relating to the practice in the courts,
looking to protection Of littgants and max.
Ing 1t convenient and cheap for eyery citi