The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-24
A SHORT SESSION.
That Is the Prevailing Senti-
ment.
Little Legislation Outside OF Tax
Matters to Be Considered.
Minneapolis Journal:

Minneapolis Journal:
Advocates of the new tax code,
which will be adopted or rejected by
the legislature in extra session next
month, expect to see the measure put
through in ten days or two weeks,
and. without injurious amendments.
They admit that large element in
both houses of the legislature is in
tending to tear the bill wide open, and
to overwhelm it with amendments. II
the contemplated program is carried
out, however, the bill will go through
almost unscathed.
An extra session cannot be handled
like the regular ninety-day affair 1t
comes just before a state campaign.
and to protract it or to pass bad bill,
would mean disaster for the Republi-
can party, which has a big majority
in both houses.
Business must be rushed, and the
Republican members of both houses
must steer to definite course, in or
der to make the session successful.
Caucus action will rule, unless the
"fying squadron" shows its hand and
bids defiance by refusing to enter into
caucus agreement.
The Legislature is called to meet
Feb. 4. An effort will be made to Sc
cure full attendance of Republican
members on Monday evening, Feb. 8.
This will be preliminary to series CT
caucuses. A resolution will be intro
duced that evening, binding the Re-
publican members to definite time
for adjournment, and whatever date
the caucus decides on will be put
through the next day in the form of a
joint resolution. This will make it
impossible to drag the session out be-
yond specified time, and will make
it necessary for the members to get
down to business and stay there A
likely date for the adjournment is
Friday, Feb. 81. This will give prac-
tically three weeks for work.
This first caucus may also decide on
resolution limiting the introduction
of bills to tax matters, except on rec
ommendation of the governor. This
will shut the gates on general legisla-
tion. 1t will hold the houses down
to the tax code and such emergency
measures as the governor requests.
The plan will also head off bills pre-
sented by legislators who are to come
up for reelection and want to make
record purelyssfor campaign purposes.
Much legislation of this sort is already
contemplated.
Next morning, Feb. 4, both houses
will convene at II o'clock. The for
mer organization will be undisturbed,
except in case of officers who do no
care to return. A message from thu
governor will then be presented, il
which he will introduce the report o.
the tax commission. With this report
| will come the new tax code and thu
bill for amendment of the constitu
tion. These bills will be introduced il
each house in regular form. Tht
chairmen of the committee on taxei
and tax laws will probably perform
the Office, A. R. McGill in the senate
and G. L. Wallace in the house.
At the same time a host of amend
ments will probably appear. Copies o
the new law are now in the hands o.
members, many of whom will hav,
changes to suggest. They will hav,
them drawn in the form of amend
ments, ready to introduce the first da!
or so. All will be referred to the ta1
committee, which will probably handl
the various topics through sub-com
mittees.
Another Republican caucus will
consider these amendments. and agre
on their rejection or adoption. Bount
by caucus action, the amendments will
be added to the bill or go down to de
feat.
By working evenings in caucus AM
days in committee of the whole, tn
bill can be put through in short order
Then if time remains more genera
legislation may be accomplished, thu
amendment of the board of contro
bill, for instance. 1t is expected tina
the governor, in his message, will asl
an appropriation to help the attorne,
general in fighting the Northern Sure
ties case. This can be passed in fiv
minutes.
This is the program of those mem
bers who mean business. 1t is believe,
to have the sanction of the govern
ment in general way. He has hear
from number of legislators within
week, nearly all commencing the new
tax code, and favoring prompt actor
on it. The governor will not ask tina
the legislature pass the bill word TO
word, as it comes to them, but he i
in favor of the system as a whole, AM
will use his influence not to have
crippled. The strongest opposition