The Minneapolis journal., 1901-02-21
AN OPINION ASKED
Plowman Seeks One on the High
way Commission Amendment.
LAYBoURN's TAX COMMISSION
The Bill Goes Through the House
In Somewhat modified
Form.

representative Henry Plowman, who SO
vigorously objected to the indefinite post
ponement OF some thirty road and bridge
pllls the frst of this week, intends to have
the opinion of the attorney genral upon
the constltutionality of the amendment to
the constitution for a state highway COM
mission The house last session declined
to establish such commission. and Mr..
F!owman thinks it will not do SO this
winter. II 1t does not, there will be no
road and bridge legislation. The opinion
Oh the attorney general was requested in
resolution Mr.. Plowman introduced dur
Ing to-day in the house.
LaybOurn Tax Bill.
The senate amendments to the Lay
Dourn tax commission bill were con-
CURED IN, and the bill passed in its modi-
neo state. There was no opposition.
Bills Postponed:
The number of committee reports was
large; Biils indefinitely postponed were
as follows:
H. +. 27-TO amend section 1929, general
statutes 1884, relating to the keeping of pris-
oners.
II. F. 57-Amendng section 52S9, general
statutes 1884. relating to risks of attachment
II. r. 69-To amend an act preventing the
spread or contagious and infectious diseases
"A
reported by the committee
H. F. $50 amend section 5459. general
statutes designating property exempt from
execution.
). f. TITO repeal chapter 22l, special
laws 1881, making paupers town charge in
LIE Sueur county.
The Morris bill. was the only one
| passed on the calendar. H F. 1S4, to
designate the plan of conducting life
and casualty insurance companies in the
state of Minnesota, and to provide penal
tbs for the violation thereof.
The following senate file was passed
under suspension Of the rules
). f. los, Hawkins-To provide for the
number of county commissioners in counties
containing 5000 square miles and having
population of at least $4,000 and authorizing
the boards of county commissioners of such
counties to redstrict same.
Live Stock Commission.
Mr.. Hillmond has worked out a license
system which makes it unlawful for any
one to sell live stock on commission or to
solicit consignments without first having
obtained a permit from the railroad and
warehouse commission. It is discretion
ary with the railroad and warehouse COM
mission to require an affidavit Of good
character. There is required state
AHeHI VI Cue Sale, luCiuuluS the udIll0 anu
address of each purchaser. Commissions
are limited to ~ per cent
of the gross sales, unless some other ar
rangement is agreed upon in writing. Con-
signors failing to receive remittances or
reports may complain to the railroad and
warehouse commission and it thereupon
becomes the duty of that body to investi-
gate the circumstances.
Chattel mortgages, seed grain notes, and
other pledges of personal property are
required to be listed for assessment, ac-
cording to a bill byeMr. Bowling. Other
bills included measures to regulate the
speed of stock trains sby Mr.. Torson, and
substitute bill from the committee on
public health providing that an owner Of
stock, condemned and killed by the state,
shall be reimbursed under certain condi-
tions.
A Verdict by Five-Sixths.
The Sweet bill, providing that in GER
tain cases f1ve-sixths of jury may bring
in a verdict. was reported out to pass by
the house judiciary committee to-day. The
bill simply carries into force the consti-
tutional amendment adopted in 1890, but
if 1t is adopted by the legislature it will be
a step of tremendous Importance in cour%
procedure An essential section of. the
bill is as follows:
Section l. In any civil action or proceeding
in this state, where a jury has deliberated
for six hours and has failed to agree on
verdict, five sixths of. such jury may agree
on verdict.
The second section simply keeps the
| statutes in conformity with the present
law governing the poll of jury.