The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-23
The Minnesota Legislature
WEEK FULL OFWORK PUSHED It ALONG
A Labor Bill Is Debated in the SEN
ate and Advanced to General
Orders.
Bill Proposing Gross Earnings Tax
on Investments of Fraternal In
surance Companies.

senators Morgan ana GJertSen diSCuSSed
in the senate this morning the latter's
bill providing that no costs shall be i'm
posed upon the plaintiff In actions brought
to recover the value Of labor performed. 4
The bill came from the judiciary commit.
tee with the recommendation that it pass.
Senator Morgan protested. contending that
there was no demand for such law nor
any Justice in it. Senator Gjertsen ar
gued that it was for the interests Of the
laboring people who were practically pro-
hibited from bringing actions to recover
small amounts by the fact that costs would
often reduce the amount so as to make re-
course to law undesirable. The report
was adopted by a large majority and it
was advanced to general orders under sus-
sion of the rules.
Twelve bills were introduced. A meas
ure proposed by Senator Laybourn pro-
vides for a per cent gross earnings tax
OH the investments of fraternal, co-opera-
tive or assessment life insurance COM
panies, also on any income derived from
personal property. Under the bill all
such organizations would be required to
keep accurate account Of all such
earnings and to furnish an abstract to the
insurance commissioner by Feb. / of each
year. Failure to make such report would
give authority to the insurance commits
sioner to levy an arbitrary assessment.
BIZ for Salary Advance.
Senator Jepson displayed some solicit
tude for the railroad and warehouse COM
missioners, as he presented bill to in
crease their salaries from $4,000 to $4,000.
No such consideration is given to the chief
clerk.
For Redistricting Counties
Upon the petition of 500 residents and
taxpayers Of any county, the commits
sioners of that county may redistrict the
county with regard to commissioners dis
tricts. The new districts are however to
be composed Of contiguous territory to be
| of as nearly equal population as possible
and the boundaries are to follow township
| or ward lines. These provisions are found
in a bill sent up by Senator Eberhart.
| Schools to Saloons.
In order to settle a much debated ques-
ton as to the proper method of determin-
| ing the distance between institutions of
learning and saloons or places where liquor
| is sold, a bill was introduced by Senator
Comstock "by request 1t provides that
| the distance shall be computed by measur-
ing the shortest established and recog-
nized route Of public travel but does not
permit a saloon to exist in the same block
as schoolhouse. >. ....Er
For a Tax Refinement.
Senator Horton introduced bill to pro-
vide for the refundment of taxes paid by
railroad lines under the Anderson law,
which has been declared unconstitutional.
The bill relates only to such taxes as were
paid under protest. .
Road Repair Bill.
A bill by Senator Collier of Shakopee
would allow municipal corporations to is
sue bonds for constructing and repairing
roads and bridges within two miles of
their corporate limits. 1t is often very
difficult to keep the main highways lead
ing to the larger cities in good repair.
The cities are unable under their charters
to appropriate money for the Improvement
and the village boards naturally have no
interests in such roads.
| $4,000 for Horses and Cattle.
"A bill by Senator Schaller would ap-
propriate $4,000 to reimburse the owners
of glandered horses or cattle affected by
tuberculosis, which have been condemned
by the health authorities. Several
changes are made in the present law, the
most important one being provision re-
curing the state to pay Onehalf the as
| sessed value Of any animal condemned
by the health authorities instead Of one
! third. The towns are relieved Of all ex-
pense, and thus one-half the loss falls
| upon the owner, instead Of one third, as
| under the present law.
Appropriation Bills.
The senate finance committee will meet
at $3.50 Wednesday to give hearing or
several appropriation bills, including the
bill for a women's reformatory and the
one for state sanatorium for consump
tives. The bills for state aid to the Hor
ticultural society will also be given {
hearing.
The st. Louis Exhibit.
The St. Paul city council sent resolu
tion to the senate to-day requesting tina:
provision be made for transferring thu
Minnesota exhibit at the st. Louis Loui
siana Purchase Exposition to the Lewis
and Clark Centennial Exposition at Port
land, Ore, in 1905. .....