The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-25

passenger operating expenses, and so
paved the way for all intelligent inquiry
into the reasonableness Of freight rates.
Primary Law Problems.
The primary election law will be att
tackled Without doubt some one will in
ltroduce a bill for Its repeal. There will
be numerous amendments proposed.
Among the most important will be one
Extending the law to state officers and an
lother doing away with the present rule
requiring the voter to disclose his party
utilization.
Cut Out Educational Institutions.
The board of control system will also
be assailed and it's enemies even claim
there is a prospect of repeating the whole
law. The friends Of the system generally
Twill support an amendment striking out
the educa tional institutions. and this will
be recommended in the governors mes
sage.
When the last legislature created a com
mission to revise the statutes. it was in
structed to REPORT this winter a full code.
This is an impossiblity. The commission
has made partial revision, but will re-
port that to pass such a piece of work
would only to worse confound the present
confusion. The legislature will be asked
to extend the time two years, so that a
complete revision can be accomplished.
The present commission has no authority
TO touch tax laws, and to make a complete
code this will have to be included in it's
powers. -.
Appropriations.
! The state board of control will do much
TO simplify the work of the appropriations
committee. In its report. the board tells
just what each state institution has to
nave for current expenses, maintenance
and new buildings. The boards report
Va ifxr Thn sc1o
hardly cut down the allowance recon-
imended and" sentiment generally will be
against increasing it.
There will be a hard fight for the loca-
ton OF the new training school for girls.
1t was created by the last legislature,
which required that it be built four miles
from the boys school at Red Wing. The
location was left to the board of control,
which had fourteen applicants for the
school, until the courts held that the ap-
preparation was void. It was included in
the general appropriation bill, but not
mentioned in the title. The legislature
this winter will be asked to set aside the
$4,000 again, and name location for the
school. or leave the board of control to
make the best bargain.
The appropriations for state aid for
high. semigraded and rural schools. made
in 1901. We're too small, and for the last
two years the legal quota for these schools
has been cut: down. The deficiency
amounts to .$104,000. and the legislature
will be asked to make deficiency appro-
priation to cover this sum.
Recommended BY Departments.
The various state officers and depart
ments recommend various legislation in
their annual reports. which will come up
for consideration. The game and fish
commission recommends an entirely new
code OF game laws, and advises a state
gun license of SO cents for each hunters
weapon, to prevent illegal shooting.
The dairy and food department wants
AN effective law against personalities in
food products. and against artificial color
ing. The law can hardly keep pace with
the ingenuity shown in adulterating and
disgusting food products, and much new
legislation is needed on this subject every
biennial period.
State Superintendent Olsen recommends
several improvements in the school laws.
His proposition for a state board of edu-
cation will also come up.
The public examiner wants an increase
lin the force of his department. He rec
ommends that state banks be allowed to
loan out 80 per cent of their capital on
real estate. A bill affecting his depart
ment is also likely to be introduced, re-
During the gross earnings reports of rail-
roads to be made to the public examiner
instead of the railroad commission.
The increase Of wolves in the state calls
for another wolf bounty act, and an ap-
preparation to make it effective.
The good roads association has consid-
erable@ important legislation to propose.
The defeat Of the railroad and bridge
amendment to the constitution will re-
vive the movement for a state highway
commission, which is provided for in the
constitution, but not in any statute. There
will be the usual log rolling for road and
bridge appropriations. .:"~, -. =. : =
Such battle Scared veterans as the
county option bill and the anti cigarette
bill will. make their appearance. with the
usual quota of such legislation for the
good of public morals. r%a& ~..'
General disgust with the corrupt prac-
tees act may lead to it's repeal, which was
unsuccessfully attempted two years ago.
The Sherman Smith bill putting mem
bers of the legislature a biennial salary
of $780,. is likely to reappear. It's strong
point is that it would shorten sessions
and save the state money spent for sal
aries of employees and supplies.
Amend GarnIshment Law. Ii
The retail grocers will make another at
tempt to have the garnishment law
amended, TO enable them to get at debtors
who get small weekly salaries. The Mai
mum limit is now $25. An attempt will
be made to kill the salary loan system, by
prohibiting employees from making any as
signment Of future wages.
Senator Stephens of Polk couny was
elected on a pledge that he would work
for the passage of an act by which the
state would go into the hail insurance
business. and this project will be largely
favored by rural members.
The Minneapolis real estate board
recommends an act making it a penal Of
Tense to break into empty houses and
steal fixtures, a practice very common.
.&9. From Hennepin Delegation.
AHennepin county, and MINNEAPOLIS do not