The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-18
ADJOURNED OVER.
The Legislature Takes a Recess
Until Monday.
Will Wait for Committees Before Much
Business is Transacted.

ming. The house was occupied largely
with the report of the committee on
rules and the passage of the bill appro-
priating money for legislative ex-
penses
Representative Laybourn, of Duluth,
has presented a bill for the creation of
a tax commission which authorizes the
judges of the supreme. court to desig-
nate five persons for such a commits
sion. Mr.. Laybourn said it was his
intention to provide for commission
that would not only codify all tax
laws, but also recommend amendments
to the state constitution. The COM
pensation is fixed at SO per diem for
each commissioner, with an actual
limit of So, 600 to any one member.
The board of control, proposed in
the Torson bill, is patti after the
Iowa board. The bill is .voluminous,
not only defining the membership of
the board and limiting the authority
of its members by rules but defining
its relations to the various charitable,
reformatory and penal institutions.
The board is interested with super
visory powers over state educational
institutions. One object is to supply
a complete system for state purchases.
The bill takes up such topics as BIZ
ennial estimates, quarterly conferences
with officials, the employment of a
state architect, bulle tins of informa-
tion, inventories of stock. the purchase
of supplies and the making of con-
tracts.
An effort will be made to create the
Office of state fire marshal Various
insurance companies have taken up
the movement and printed copies of a
bill have been distributed. There is
involved an expense of $12, 900 year.
1t will be the duty of the fire marshal
not only to investigate fires, but to
complain to the county attorney in all
cases where evidence points to arson
The salary is fixed at SO, 500 year !;
that of his assistant at 81, 500. The
is to be made from
money coming into the state treasury
from insurance companies.
In the senate Senator MCGOWAN of
Hennepin again introduced his eight
hour day bill, which he got through
the senate last session, only to have it
killed in the house. Governor Van
SAINT recommended it in his message,
and it is likely to pass at this session.
It makes eight hours days work on
all state work, whether day labor or
contrac cts let by the state.
Senator Miller of Rock introduced
bill authorizing and requiring NUM-
cipal corporations to pay the bills in
Cured by their charter commissions.
The bills are limited to $3.50 for the
first charter submitted and 800 for
succeeding charters. 1t results from
a charter commission which has been
in session at Luverne.
OCudIOl OhoCllOdh ucC SCOlCd o. pO1AU
for his tax commission bill by get
ting it first on the calendar. Senate
file No. 1 passed under suspension of
the rules. and the Underleak is No.
2.
A peculiar thing about the measure
is that the compensation of the COM
mission is to be fixed by the legisla-
ture to which it makes a report. The
compensation of it's stenographer and
the expenses of the commission will be
paid out of the contingent fund. Mr..
Underleak explains that it will be
easier to determine what the commits
sion has been worth after it has finish
ed its labors. Then, he says, if the
compensation were in advance, and
made too small, it would be impossible
to get the best talent ON the commits
sion.
It has been objected that thorough
revision of the statutes of the state
will be taken in hand soon, but Mr..
Underleak replies that the tax revision
will simply help statute revision to
that extent He has arranged the bill
SO that the commission is to report
thirty days before the next session of
the Legislature, whether it is an extra
session or a regular session.
The act requires that the commits
sion shall provide in its work for
just and equitable assessment of all
property, "both tangible and intan-
glibe,'' thus necessitating the taxing
of franchises of foreign corporations
doing business within the state. Gov
ernor Van SAINT is heartily in favor of
the measure.
There is prospect. that some of Gov.
Lind's appointees may have trouble
in securing confirmation of their ap-
pointments from the senate. When the
list submitted at yesterdays session
came up Senator Barker, who comes
from Isanti county, moved that Gustaf
Wahlund of that county be appointed
to the board of corrections and chart
ties, be excepted from the list.
Senator ]. D. Jones moved an execu-
tive session, but on motion of Senator
Greer consideration of the appoint
ments was deferred until Tuesday
next.
Senator Barker declined to state at