Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1899-04-27
.LBGlSLi1l | I'VE LETTER.

lEGlNLA lN u LII IElR
RESUME OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF
THE THIRTY-FIRsT SESSION.
Was Business BODY IN the Fullest
Sense of the Observation-Disclosures Less
Per Capita Than Two Years Ago, Due
Mainly to the Economy of the Republi-
can AIajority-Defeat Of the jacobson
BILL Due to Fear Of Its Legality
Antitrust Measure just What the Peo-
pie Want-Nearly Four Hundred Bills
Were Passed and Approved.
ST. PAUL, April 25.--The Thirty first
Minnesota legislature has completed its
work and the senators and representa-
tives are again at home. Although but
few days have elapsed since the ad-
journment it is now more nearly posi-
BILE to estimate the value of what has
been accomplished. 1t was business
session in the fullest sense of the term.
The reelection of Cushman Kellogg
Davis to the United States senate was
unopposed and consequently interfered
in no way with the general legislative
business: Then, both houses made rec
ords in disposing Of business, both of
them ending their work with desks al
most clear. This was possible by diff
ferent means. In the house were many
new and untried members, who were
early convinced that prompt work was
essential in order to transact business
properly. Underestimated in ability at
the start, they proved their worth before
adjournment and have no occasion to
be ashamed of their record. On the
other hand the senators were of known
ability and relying on their conscious
strength they Jagged during much of
the session but within the closing week
brought their work we'll up and closed
with scarcely any measures Enacted on,
for which majority wished favorable
action. 1t is open to question whether
all legislation was enacted that should
have been. but any such failure was
due to an adverse majority rather than
to lack Of time for action. ~.
X r. Il u
The money item is considered as Of
primary Importance the world over,
and in judging of the care with which
any legislature has attended to its bust
ness one of the first points to be looked
at is that of the expenditure of public
money. The expenses of the state gov
eminent are naturally increasing as the
state grows larger, for Minnesota is a
growing state, just entering on the last
decade of its first half century Of state
hood. This legislature contained IA
more members than its immediate
predecessors but its own expenses
were somewhat less per capita. Two
years ago it required $144, 600 for leg
islature containing 81 senators and ia
representatives, while this year SO sena-
tors and 119 representatives only cost
the state $147.879. It has of late years
been customary to keep the legislative
expenses under $150,O0U, the exception
having been in 1891 when the Alliance
Democratic legislature exceeded that
amount.
Last fall State Auditor Dunn pre-
pared estimates of the amounts neces-
sary for the purposes of the state dur
ing the next two years. His estimate was
81, 900, 900 for next year, and the legis-:
lature trimmed that down to $2,281, 800.
For the year following the estimate
was 1854, 900, and the legislature
granted $2,298, 800. This is saving Of
fully quarter million for by new
law no institution is to be permitted
hereafter to exceed the appropriation
given it.
The tax levy at 1.5 mills will provide
$3.50, 900 per annum. From the railroad
gross earnings tax the yearly total is
81, $50, 900, and miscellaneous receipts
give at least 100000 more. This will
mean a yearly surplus of not less than
$500, 900 and probably reaching and ex-
ceeding 100000 under the prosperity
coming to these Northwestern states in
these happy Republican times. Such q
surplus Notwithstanding the increas-
ing expenses of the state-will bring
about reduction in the tax. levy two
years hence, and this outcome will be
directly due to the economy of the Re-
publican legislature.
y
All sorts Of influences affect legisla-
ton and the inability to unite conflicting
or diverse opinions often prevents the
enactment of desirable and desired laws.
Different interests in the two houses and
conflicting opinions of constitutional
law accomplished the defeat Of the
Jacobson bill to increase the tax on the
gross earnings Of railroads. Whether
it is best from a party standpoint to
have done this is matter on which the
two houses fail to agree, although the
strongest influences seem to be on the
side of the increase. The Confusion
lists" will try to make campaign capital