The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-04-15

length, was introduced in duplicate
last week in the senate by Senator
Smith,. in OF der that both branches
might study it, thereby increasing its
chances for passage.
State Equalization Board.
A bill that was introduced, by re-
quest of the governor, by Judge Hicks
day or two ago proAis"s an enter
tanning contest before it is disposed of
finally. 1t is a proposition to change
the composition of the state board OF
equalization to allow three members
from each congressional district in
stead of one from each judicial district
as at present The immediate result
would be to give Hennepin county two
instead of one member of the board and
to reduce the membership in
those congressional districts that
have several judicial districts.
The Sixth congressional district, with
five judicial districts, would lose
three members and other sections
of the state would be affected SINH
larly. That some change is advisable
seems to be generally agreed, but there
is lack of agreement as to the best way
to accomplish the desired end. The
idea is to give the richer and more
populous centers greater representa-
ton on theHboard, and another plan
that has been suggested is to allow
member of the state board of equaliza-
ton for each district judge.
Hennepin May Finish Her Court House
And at last Hennepin county seems
likely to be able to complete its magnl-
ficent court house, that great pile OF
masonry whose cost has so far exceeded
the first estimates, and in whose build
ing so many years have already been
consumed. The senate has passed,
under suspension of the rules, bill
allowing an annual tax of one-half a
mill for this purpose for eight years,
aggregating half million dollars,
which is believed to be enough to com.
plete the gigantic structure.
Senator Theden.~ department store
crusade ran up against the country
store and the collision was disastrous
to the department store license bill, in
whose behalf this crusade was led. An
attempt was made by the country SEN
ators to limit the bills provisions to
cities of over 5000. but the bill could
not go through without such exception
and was postponed by vote of 20 to
20. This vote shows clear majority
of the senate against the bill, so that it
will probably not again be heard from.
at least for this session.
Machine Politics.
"Machine politics" came in for all
kinds of anathemas in the house on
Saturday, when Senator Wyman's bill!
to provide for holding county conven-
lions to choose delegates to any state
convention on the same d., came up
for final action. The bill also seeks to
take away from the county committee
the power to designate who is to pre-
side at primaries, and is generally in
tended to get the control of nominal
ing conventions out of the hands of
any party machine and within reach of
the general voting public. Mr.. Gron-
dahl, who classes himself as an ardent
reformer, was in the position of defend
ing the machine. for he did not believe
in this Wyman bill because differing
conditions in different parts of, the
state would make it difficult to fix
day for primaries that would suit all
parts of the state. The bill was sup.
ported vigorously by Messrs. Jacobson,
Feig and Donnelly, reformers all, and
was finally passed by vote of u to IA.
Maximum Freight Rates.
The Douglas maximum freight rate
bill, over which there have been so
many lively encounters, has been Off
cially declared to be dead, by vote of
% to 81, the latter figure representing
the number of members who feared
that the legislature had not the power
to take such action, or that railroad
employees would be subject to a cut in
wages if the earnings of the railroads
were reduced. Mr.. Douglas work ed
faithfully and eloquently ils behalf of
his bill and had able assistance, but
votes were more important than speak
ers, and sufficient votes were lacking.
The Frank Hoskins Case.
The famous Frank Hoskins insanity
case came up before the house the
other day and may be taken up again
almost any day, being now on the
table. 1t came up on bill to expurge
from the records all reference to his
commitment to the hospital, two re-
ports being made on the bill. During
the discussion the rights and wrongs of
the matter were gone into extensively.
The final votes scarcely indicated the
real opinion of members on the justice
of Hoskin's commitment. By a tie
vote, 45 to 40, the house refused to
adopt the minority report in favor of
the bill, and then by vote of 45 to As
also refused to adopt the majority re-
port killing it, SO the bill and reports
were laid on the table temporarily.
Many members feared the expunging
of this matter from the record would
give too strong ground for civil action
and for that reason opposed favorable
action on the bill.
How Business Progresses.
With but week Of legislative work
ahead the feverish unrest of the legis.
lature is on the increase and members