Warren sheaf., 1897-01-28

wants tne courts TO consider the spirit
of the law rather than its letter. This
same bill, however, proposes q decided
change By removing all limit to the
amount Of liability. Editor Statesman
Manchester brought in bill few
days ago prohibiting theatrical per.
tOrmances on Sunday.
Corrupt Practices Law.
: Senator Henneman considers the cor.
rult practices law simply premium
Oh lylEg and in the interest of un-
ecrupulous candidates, and has intro.
duced bill to repeal that law. He
holds that by limiting expenses Of can.
didates the law makes it impossible for
honest men to run for Office, because
unscrupulous candidates will use more
money than the law allows and then
fi.e false statements Of expenses, while
the honest man will keep his expenses
within the limit and find his candidacy
suffer by so doing. Senator Heneman.
however, is not the first man who
thought honest men had small prospect
OF success in politics. ...a-.
According to Mr.. McDonald's idea
the street railway companies have
owned the cities long enough and he
has introduced bill to give the state
railroad commissioner the same author.
'1ty over such companies as they now
have over other railroads. Another
bill extends the gross earnings tax pro-
visions to take in such companies
Taxing of Mineral Lands.
Much serious thought has been given
to the problem of finding the most
equitable and most profitable method of
taxing the mineral wealth of the state,
and the subject is to be fought over
thoroughly this winter, as it was two
years ago. Representative Reeves few
days ego introduced bill covering
the matter, and proposes to push it
along with all his recognized ability.
One great trouble has always been that
in the mining districts the big iron
companies the same as owned every
official and the reports of the assessors
would be such as the iron companies
desired. The last year showed tax re-
turns Of this class Of property at not
much more than per cent Of it's actual
value, and under the ordinary system,
there seemed to be no way of correct.
ing these inspired" reports. Mr..
Reeves wants complete detailed reports
of ore output, it's value, gross receipts,
net earnings, ETC., from both the assessor
and from the mining companies, aud
his bill directs that such reports be
turned over to the state board Of equal.
ization, by whom the assessment will
then be fixed. II the state board has
any reason to believe the reports are
not strictly correct they are authorized
to employ experts to Acure the needed
information. The assessed valuation 10
then certified BY the state auditor to
the county auditor. II the information
u withhold tho state board Is directed
to add 10 psr cent to the valuation.
Mr.. Reeves says hs wanted to 60 q the
matter from both sides and treat it a.
fairly - was possible.
Chief Clerk Dowliz9 IL usually equal
to any emergency. Occasionally some
committeeman in tho past has asserted
that bill has been reported back with.
out having been acted on by the COM
mittee. Mr.. Dowling therefore pre-
pared roll calls for the more important
committees and hereafter the, c4esks Of
these comni<tees viii have on 6ls the
Recommendation Of the committee on
every bill before it and how each man
voted on it. However, This move may
not be wholly approved by dodgers"
~ it places them on record.
The Haytsr AnsaA,ns.t.
The Hayter bill for . constitutional
amendment to declare the governor and
Eoveruor-olect ineligible to the office of
United States senator has been reported
without Recommendation and is on
general orders In the house, 80 that it
Will come up for consideration at an
early day. It is similar but not 60
swceping ~ the Illinois provision
which shuts out al elective state Of.
acers from such icontests. The famous
Sutton case in this state 10 similar in
effect, for tho idea Is to require officers
Of the state to serve the term Of Office
for which they have been elected. The
action of tho legislature on such q
measure is predetermined, for which
members might want the constitutional
limitation that now only applies to
them thus extended, there are enough
leaders in tho two houses with ambi-