The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-04-29

y
method of taxing ths iron mines, and
the further advantage in the new
Thorpe law authorizinGY state board
of equalization to .aise assessments in
any county when their Judgment in
dictates a necessity for so doing. This
law will help the receipts from all
large corporations, whose influence
with their local assessors Wi! no l5nger
be final but can be overturned by the
state board.
Notwithstanding the fact that for
once all the temperance elements were
united the legislature did not see fit to
pass the county local option bill, prac-
teal politics being the Zeal reason for
its defeat. None of the great parties
just now seems ready to take up the
matter so it may rest for a few months
at least.
One of the features of this legislature
has been the number Of Investigations
into public and private matters, and
there was good sized expense account
attached to nearly every one of them.
The most important, especially In its
possible results, was that into the title
of the Mountain Iron mine lands,
which the joint Investigating commit
tee declared still belonged to the state.
This was instituted on the suggestion
of State Auditor Dunn that the known
facts in the case seemed to warrant an
investigation, which was held in exec
utive sessions and was apparently very
thorough. A bill was passed appro-
priating $4,000 to pay the expense of
retaining this and other state lands
adversely held by other parties, and
the governor, state auditor and attor-
ney general were made commission
to select a special attorney and direct
the prosecution of the claims of the
state This same commission is ex-
pected to look after the forfeited
Duluth and Iron Range rail-
road land grant and any
other similar lands they may discover.
The Mountain Iron property is gener.
ally valued at $4,000, 900, and those
Duluth and Iron Range lands aggre-
gate 6OO,O 900 acres, much of it valuable
pine and mineral land, so that the sue
cessful prosecution of the state claims
to these properties would be of wonder
full financial benefit to the public
funds. Then there were Investigations
of the public accounts and expendi-
lures, of the management Of the stock
yards, of sugar beet culture in Mime
sofa, of the Soldiers Home, and Of in
solvent banks The $1,000 expended in
these various Investigations will be
considered money we'll spent, if the
matters can be carried through as de.
sired. For instance, that would be
counted as trifiing expense ~ the
stase could regain actual possession of
the $i2.O0O,00O Mountain Iron mine.
Not the least exciting, in its subse-
quent proceedings, was the investiga-
ton of the site for the Fourth insane
hospital, but it ended with the whole
matter in statu quo, as lover Of legal
latin would say.
1t was to be expected that, after the
business experiences of the past two or
three years, there would be legislation
regarding banks and financial institu-
tions generally. The general banking
law was changed in many particulars,
with the national banking law as a
model and stringent provisions added.
Greater safeguards were thrown about
savings institutions and it was made
more economical to close up the affairs
of building and loan associations, when
the Necessity for such action arises.
Many other bills on this general sub.
ject became laws but these were the
more important of those endo1 sed by
both houses and also by the governor.
The most desired law regarding the
courts was that repeating the struck
jury law, and it went through early in
the session. Then the fees for certifi-
Gates of declaration of full Cit zenship
were renuced to ST. Both Of these
seem TO be decid eddy popular laws.
One of the new laws seeks to fsciii-
tate settlement of insolvent estates. 1t
authorizes the transfer of assets to
creditors in partial or complete settle
ment OF their claims, when it is appar-
ent to the district judge that better re-
suits may be in that man1er obtained.
This law brings out competition be-
tween creditors by providing that such
sale of assets to creditors sh&n be Oh
proper advertising for bids.
An insurance law of importance to
widows is that introduced III tho house
by Mr.. Snyder and promptly passed,
which provides that regular ms nrance
to the amount Of $4,000 shall be ex-
empt from attachment for debts of the
deceased husband.
A board of drainage commissioners
has been created and they will have
charge of the system of drains and
canals in the Red River valley. This
is, for that section Of the state, one Of
the most important laws enacted
An interesting exhibition of patriot
ism called for the passage Of the law
requiring that the American flag shall
float above every polling place on reg
ular election days. One election law
whose enforcement will be watched
with interest is that introduced by Mr..
Snodgrass, permitting the use of ballot
machines, and it is understood tho first
use of these machines in MINI esota
will be in the city election in st. Paul
next spring. For time il was believed
the governor would veto the bill, but
ha finally signed il after the lacisla.