Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-02-27
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP
Our Special Correspondent Tells Of
the Solons' Doings.

SAe 0V4VNS AVAASSs
Bills are Being Rapidly Introduced and
Sent ON Their Way by the Commit
tee of the Whole. But Few
Have Become Laws.
st. Paul, Feb. Ex-senator Horton
introduced bill appropriating $40, 600
for the purpose of placing statue of
the late Senator c. K. Davis IN the Ma
tional Statuary hall in the capitol at
Washington. The governor is to ap-
point commission of three to carry
out the provisions of the bill.
The senate committee of the whole
recommended for passage the bill re-
curing judges to render their decision
within four months after the case is
submitted. Only two bills were passed
in the senate, and those of minor i'm
portance.
The larger portion of the house SEES
sion was devoted to discussing Speaker
Dowling's bill increasing the pay of
county commissioners from So to 81 per
day. A bill to indefinitely postpone
was lost, but the bill was finally left
in committee of the whole.
St. Paul, Feb. 18-There was little
attempt to introduce politics into leg
islation Saturday, but it came to
naught. Senator Stockwell introduced
resolutions against the ship subsidy
bill and against retaining the Philip
pines. Both were promptly laid on
the table, and as a motion to table is
not debatable, there was no oppor-
tunity for flights of oratory.
Among the bills introduced was the
one creating a board of opteometry
which is to regulate opticians, prevent
ing physicians who are general prac-
titioners from treating the eyes, and
requiring parties selling eye glasses
and spectacles to pass an examination
and secure a license. The bill is evi:
IDENTIFY based on the theory that none
are so blind as those who won't see,
and it proposes to make them see
whether they will or not. It is quite
evident that the eye specialist who in
vented the bill can see a hole through
a skinner with the naked eye.
Senator McGill introduced bill Gre
ating a fund to pension school teach
ers in districts having over 5000 peo-
pie. It sets apart l per cent of the
salaries paid to create the fund. It is
a sort of enforced savings bank pro-
vlded for the teachers by the teachers
themselves, and if the same set of
teachers remain in the same district
40 or so years they will have laid up
quite bank account for their old age.
1t will make the young lady teachers
independent of marriage to secure a
home.
Another bill prohibits marriage OF
feeble-minded persons, or those affect
ed with epilepsy or hereditary insanity.
The house was greatly wrought up
by a petition from the old soldiers at
the soldiers home. AS it is now, the
pensions of the old soldiers who are
inmates of the homes are collected by
the institution and devoted to its
maintenance, only small fraction
being given to the pensioner. They
either want it all or good deal larger
proportion than they receive. There
was contest over printing it in the
journal of the house: but the old SOL
diers scored, and it was ordered print
ed, so that they can see their griev.
ance. This publicity may lead to some
legislation later.
A bill was passed requiring proposed
constitutional amendments to be print
ed at the top instead of at the bottom
of the ballot.
The tombstone industry encountered
loss by the defeat of the bill author
izing the probate judges to erect S5C
monuments over neglected graves.
And still they come! A bill offered
Saturday provides for state art com
mission to pass upon the architecture
and plans of all public buildings. The
commission is to consist of five persons
appointed by the governor and they
are to be paid IS per day for every day
actually employed. If this thing
keeps on there will be nothing on
earth not regulated by commission,
not excepting the bills of fare at hotels
and restaurants.
st. Paul, Feb. 19.-The senate passed
the anti-cigarette bill. with only five
opposing votes. The only argument
made against it was that the Russians
who have come to Minnesota are adj
dicted to CT garettes and it was an in
justice to prevent their using them.
AS the Russian vote is not very large,
this argument did not cut much figure
and the bill went through.
Senator Wilson's bill requiring dis
trict judges to render decisions within
four months after the cases are sub
mitted also passed.
A bill was introduced in the senate
making it misdemeanor for man to
accept transportation from his en-
ployer and then refuse to work it out.
1t has become quite custom for men
seeking employment in the lumber
camps in the woods to accept trans
portation and, when they arrive, 20 to
work in some adjacent camp and re-
fuse to work out the amount of money
paid by the intended employer for
their railroad ticket.
The civil service bill for school
teachers was indefinitely postponed in
committee of the whole.
A bill was introduced in the senate
making the salary of probate judges
in counties of 5000 population or less
5000 per year, and for each additional
thousand an increase, up to %, 600, a
total of 81, 900. and $50 for each addi-
tional thousand until 81, 900 is reached.
which is to be the maximum.
All the road and bridge bills which
have been introduced in the house
were sent to common grave yester-
day. This was on the ground that the
constitutional amendment of 1898 Gre
ated a state highway commission,
which alone has anthoritv IN d;eh,rso