The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-02-24
MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.
THE HCU Sc.

cd for passage, Of which the most i'm
portant we're S. +. No. IA. to reduce
fees ON citizenship papers to 81, and
II. +. NJ. ii6, giving authority TO c.ty
councils 70 tx the price OF gas to con.
sumcrs by majority vote and to
make contracts with private parties
for water works, etc.
Petitions from Dodge county were
introduced by Littieton. asking that
the terms OF ttlice for county and
township officers be extended from
one to TIVE years and that their salar-
les be cut down One-fourth, and that
the session, of the Lcgls stature be held
every four Instead of two years and
that the salaries Of the members and
employees be reduced.
Congressman Fletcher, in response
to resolutions adopted recently by the
Legsla lure, wrote that he would do
ali in his power TO have passed a pos
tai savlng's bank bill.
Large numbers Of petitions for
county local option were read and re-
ferred - committee on temperance.
jacobson has Introduced bill for
an amendment to the state cOnStitu-
tiOn to tax railroads at the rate of
four per cent of the gross earning in
stead Of two as now in force, and to be
submitted to the people at the next
election. This was referred to the
comm ttee on tax and tax laws.
Tuesday, Feb. l6-Thc bill intro
duced BY + s., which prohibits sending
flowers to any one accused or convict
ed Of murder, was passed by vote of
81 to 10.
Dunn introduced bill which pro-
vides that 10 members of the jury
may render d verdict in civil cases aft
er SIX hours deliLeration. Referred
to judiciary committee.
Fcig's freedom of market bill was
passed by I; vote of II /. This bill
is substantially the same as Melicke
bill passed by the House two years
ago but was defeated IN the Senate.
The bill aims to prevent combination
of grain buyers to fix rate OF commits
sion for handling grain. 1t is partic-
ulariy directed at the Duluth Cham
Der OF Commerce and the Minneapolis
Board OF Trade.
Other in portant bills passed
S. +. No. ll-Eixing fees for citizen
ship paper 1T 81.
ii. Il. lIG-Giving city councils au-
thority to make contracts with priv
ate partie> for water works, etc, and
to fix the price Of gas to consumers by
majority vote.
Wednesday, Feb. I'LL. f. 40, pro-
viding Il 23-l00 mill tax levy Tor the
support and maintaince of the State
University, came up on general orders.
Considerable opposition was manifest
ed, and after a heated discussion, the
bill was finally referred to the COM
mittee on appropriations. Mr.. Snyder
had introduced the bill, and briefly ex-
,lc;, Il l,n o,ly
He was supported by Mr.. Coe. Feig,
Donnelly, jacobson. and Staples led
the opposition.
The bill to license bicycles and use
the proceeds to bald bicycles paths
was recommended for passage.
The bill. which provides that a ma
jority Of all the votes cast at an cleo
tion shall be necessary to adopt an
amcndmeIt to the state constitution,
was also recommended to pass.
Important bills intro uced:
H. +. No. 4SS-CommitJee on gener-
al legislaLion-To provide for the
treatment OF inebriates by mites;
placed Oh general orders.
II. +. No. 4S9-Donnelly-To amend
state constitution to exempt home
steads not exceeding $1,000 in value
from taxation; judiciary.
III. Il. 499-Dale-To require rail-
roads TO put safety devices on all
freight and flat cars; railroads.
The bill, providing for system of
travelling libraries, introduced by Mr..
Staples. was up for discussion on gen.
eral orders. The measure was defeat
ed by vote Of H to 81.
The bill, fixing the cost Of citizen
ship papers at 81, was passed.
BY vote Of 81 to 30 the resolution
declaring That the next legislature
should consist of not more than 60
senators and 120 representatives, was
adopted.
Important bills introduced
II. f. 5322, Donnelly-To provide that
no person shall acquire the right to
vote after 1900 unless he read and
write the English language. Judici-
airy.
II. f. 534, Dahl-To provide for 1000
mile tickets to be sold by railroads for
$50, and the same to be good on all
roads, regardless Of which road issued
it. Railroads.
II. f. go, Marin-To require rail-
road companies to maintain track
scales at all stations where 100000 bu
of grain have been shipped during the
previous year. Railroads.
II. f. 53S. Sloan-To tax inherit
ances, requests, legacies and gifts.
Taxes and tax laws.
Schmidt's state treasurer depository
bill was thoroughly discussed, and a
motion for passage was lost. The bill
will come up again. but it is practical
ly dead.
The Inheritance tax bill, providing
for graduated tax on inheritanceS,
requests, legacies, and gifts, was made
special order for next Wednesday.
Three of Mr.. Donnelly's banking
bills were recommended for indefinite
postponement by the committee, but
the author defended the measures in
brief speeches, after which, two of
them were recommended for passage
by the house and progress was report
ed for the third.
THE SENATE.
The Senate ordered an lnves tigation
of the deficiency in the office of the
public printer.
The Wyman banking bill was con-
sidered, amended and ordered printed.
A bill apprOpriating $1,000 for seed
grain was passed unanimously.
S. f. $50, providing for semi-annual
payment OF taxes. was passed.
Send us in a Club of
Eix,n voav.1xy