The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-04


justice of the supreme court. and the
other by the attorney general, shall
constitute the pardon board. There
are hundreds Of retired professional
and business men in the state who
would be able to devote their time to
the work of the pardon board, and it
Is my best judgment that the law
should be amended so as to provide for
the change
Among the recommendations and
comments which the attorney general
makes in his report are the following:
Attorney Generals Suggestions.
Experience has shown that some
foreign corporations owning property
In Minnesota in the forms of shares of
stock IN Minnesota corpora tons have
failed to designate an agent in Mime
sofa upon. whom process may be serv-
ed, and have failed to comply with the
provisions of the Somerville act. 1
recommend that this act be so amend
ed as to provide for service of process
IN all actions at law and equity upon
such corporations. The plan outlined in
chapter 1872 of the Laws of 1895, which
was repealed by the SolnerVille act,
may, In my judgment, be followed in
part
L recommend the enactment of leg
lslat1on broadening the scope of exist
ms laws \CndploF ~ OF the General
Laws of 1874 and chapter "a of the
General Laws of 1S9D, which prohibit
any railroad corporation, or the
lesSees, purchasers or managers of any
railroad corporation from consolidat-
ing the capital stock, property or fran
chlses of parallel and competing lines
| of railway, or from purchasing the con-
troll of any such parallel and Compel
ing line Without discussing What NAV
be the construction of the statutes re-
ferred to, l deem it proper to recon-
mend the passage of an act definitely
prohibiting the consolidation of the
capital stock, property. franchises,
control or power of, control of two par
allel and competing lines of railway,
in the hands of any corporation, or
trustee, agent or representative of any
corporation. Such an enactment, of
course, can apply only to future trans
actions.
I again recommend the adoption of
short statutory form of warranty deed
and mortgage. The forms adopted in
Illinois and other states can be safely
| followed, and their use will not only
result in saving thousands of dollars
annually to the general public in re-
cording fees, but also lessen the large
accumulation of county records in the
office of the register of deeds.
! Give Powers to Health Beard Chair
man.
| i recommend that the powers of the
| state board of health be vested in its
! chairman while the board is not in
! session, and also urge that the same
| rule be applied to all local boards of
| health, or that such local boards be
! abolished, and their powers hereto
! fore existing be conferred upon a
| health officer to be designated or pro-
| vided for by law.
THE existing plan is cumbersome,
! and in very large number of in
| stances in the past the action of the
| health officer or chairman of such
boards has been illegal, for the reason
! that board meeting has not been call
| ed to authorize it.
Confusion has arisen as to the
| proper construction to be given chap
| ter 1872 Of the Laws of 1899, amending
! section 664 of the General Statutes of
1894. This act provides for the fur
| n1Shlng of postage to certain county Of
| ficers to be used in the discharge of
| their duties. l suggest that the legis-
I lature clearly designate the officers or
| class of officers to whom postage shall
be furnished by the respective counties
| and also the amount thereof. 1t seems
to me the true line of demarcation is
this, that postage could be furnished
to salaried officers and denied to those
whose compensation is fixed on the fee
! basis.
Chapter 100, Laws 1897, an act pro-
viding for the taxation of so-called
freight line and equipment companies
has been held to be invalid by the SUI
preme court in the case of The State
| Of Minnesota VS.. Canada Cattle Car
| Company, IS Mimi, 457.
The act required that a fat rate OF
per cent should be levied upon the
estimated valuation Of the company s
capital deemed to be invested in Min
nesota. This was held to be in vio-
lation of section 1, article X. of the
| state constitution.
II therefore recommend that chapter
$50, Laws 1897, as amended by chap
ter 1875, Laws 1899, be re-enacted with
the notifications suggested by the SUI
preme courts opinion in the case men,
| toned. Instead of aate rate per cent