Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1899-04-27


Another party measure was the Som
erville bill for taxation of foreign cor
porations doing business in the state. It
prevents the heretofore obnoxious state
of affairs that permitted such outside
corporations to do business in the state
without paying into the state treasury
any just proportion of taxes. tits in
the nature of license for outside cor
porations to do business in Minnesota,
the amount to be paid for such license
depending on the amount of business
in the state. The amount of revenue
from this law is very uncertain, but
home corporations believe it will be q
general benefit to the business Of the
state.
The state has thus far had to fight for
the small tax on business of express
companies and it was not fully in oper-
alton. Although just underway the
tax was increased from to ~ per
cent and the revenue from this source
will be increased accordingly.
There were other tax laws, among
them the Staples law relating to taxa.
ton of tim Der and mineral lands, but
most of them were in the shape of
amendments to defective portions OF
the existing statutes. Others were of
local application, although of necessity
the constitutional amendment prohibit
ing special legislation. /
Banking legislation included but five
measures. The DAILY law fixes the legal
rate Of interest at per cent. and the
Roberts law permits reduction in CAPT
talization by annuity, safe deposit and
trust companies.
4
Only one constitutional amendment
will be before the people at the next
general election. 1t is proposed in the
bill introduced by Mr.. Gutterson and,
if adopted, would permit the state board
of investment to loan the permanent
school and university fund in amounts
not exceeding 10 per cent of the assessed
valuation of the taxable real property
of the county, city, village, etc., issuing
the bonds. This seemed to be demanded
from all parts of the state, and was
especially favored because of the desire
to find good home investments for the
increasing school fund. This would
help the investment of that fund and
at the same time will be an advantage
to Minnesota counties and towns.
:.
There have been the usual changes in
terms of court and court procedure. OF
the latter, technical changes which
courts and court officers have found to
be necessary are in great majority. The
probate court code has been amended in
many particulars. Laborers,s liens have
been made more certain in several par.
ticulars.
Minnesota believes in education and
this legislature has sought to improve
the public school system of the state.
No less than 81 laws have been enacted
having direct bearing on the school
system. The Argetsinger law increas-
ing the provision for the common
schools had the hardest fight for exist
ence and leads in Importance. Among
the others are the Larson law to en-
courage better rural schools, the Staples
law for uniform state teachers certif-
Gates, the Smith law for free tuition at
the state university for soldiers of the
Spanish war and various others relating
! to school districts and school hnilGinoa
The Somerville foreign corporation
tax, already mentioned, was the most
important law affecting corporations,
along which line few new laws were
formulated. The enforcement Of stock
holders liability was the other impor-
tant measure, 10 others applying to
minor matters. 1t must be remembered
that many corporation laws would be
considered by themselves, such as rail
road and insurance matters.
N M
Minneapolis was favored with new
primary law, calling for nominating
conventions, but the rest Of the state
will handle elections as heretofore.
Many miscell aneous measures 10.
ceived favorable consideration, but
space does not permit even an enumera.
Eztion them. Now that the time
has expired within which action by the
governor is possible, q brief summary
can be given: The governor received
181 senate bills, Of which he signed l73,
vetoed 2 and returned s. From the
house 212 reached him, 4 being vetoed,
2 returned and 2O8 signed. This means
that 8s8 new Laws have been approved,
signed and deposited with the secretary
Of state" = the executives messages
express it. b i.s s.s35.
Many bad bills were killed, many
good ones were passed and some Of nm d.
certain value are among both dead and
living. Time alone can tell their value,
but the Republican Legislators have
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