The Princeton union., 1905-03-30

a vote Of fourteen to three. Senators
A. B. Cole of Fergus Falls, r. E.
Thompson of Preston and Lowell E.
Jepson of Minneapolis submitted a
minority report, recommending that
the bill be printed and placed on gen
eral orders, but making no recon-
mendation as to whether the bill
should pass.
The Lennon bill, for State inspec-
tion of hotels and lodging houses has
been recommended for passage in the
house after it had been loaded down
with amendments. The most import
ant amendment was to reduce the CON-
pensation of the inspector to $1,000 a
year. The bill will require fire es-
capes on hotels of more than two
stories in height. Ropes must be
kept in the rooms of hotels of less
height. Much opposition developed
to the hotel bill from country men,
bers. 1t is said to have the backing
OF the commercial travellers and stands
a poor show of being enacted into a
law.
The senate refused to pass Senator
j. F. Schain's bill providing for the
election by county commissioners of
county assessors in counties of less
than 100000 inhabitants. A bill by
Senator Julius Collier of Shakopee,
providing that the assessors be ap-
pointed by the governor was killed on
general orders.
The general tax bill by Representa-
tive S. D. Peterson of New Ulm has
passed the house by vote of seventy
eight to one, almost without discus
sion and with no opposition. The
measure creates a State tax commits
sioner to supervise the assessment of
taxable property, who may swear wit
nesses and require the production of
books and papers to secure evidence
for the information of the State board
OF equalization. The measure also
provides for the taxation of franchises
of public service corporations, the
basis of valuation, to be the difference
between the sum of the market value
of stocks and bonds and the value of
real estate and other property as listed
for taxation.
The State highway commission bill,
and the constitutional amendment re-
lating to the State roads and bridges
fund, drafted by the house and senate
committee on roads and bridges in
joint session, have been passed by the
house without opposition. The con-
stitutlonal amendment increases from
l-20 to Il of mill the State tax that
may be levied for the road and bridge
fund. The State highway commission
bill provides for commission to ap-
portion the fund and supervise the
construction of permanent roads aided
by the State.
The report of the special house COM
mittee appointed to investigate eleva-
tors and warehouses precipitated a
scene between Representative Lund
and Hanaford. Both attempted to
submit reports, the statement of facts
not coinciding. Both reports we're
sent to the committee on grains and
warehouses. Mr.. Hanaford, as chair
man of the committee, protested
against the receipt Or adoption of the
report submitted by Mr.. Lund. Hama
ford claimed that the fact that his re-
port was not only signed by the chair
man, but by a majority of the commit
tee, entitled it to the preference. Mr..
Lund argued that his report had been
originally adopted by the committee.
There promised to be still further war
of words, but the reference put an end
to the scene. The Hanaford report
recommends that the elevators be
compelled to put in track scales, while
the Lund report favors the present
method.
Representative Ware has introduced
a bill to protect country milk dealers.
A wholesaler is described as one who
buys and sells milk in quantities of
five gallons or more, and he is re-
quired to take out license and file
$5, 900 bond with the secretary of State.
Ninety days. continued failure to pay
the producer is cause for suit to re-
cover on his bond.
The Wisconsin railroad rate regula-
tion bill, measure drafted by Gov.
LaFollette, has been introduced in the
house. It proposes an entire change
in the railway commission law. The
bill gives the commission power to in
vestigate and adjust freight and pas
senger rates on all railroads and gives
it control over the charges of express
companies. It requires complete an
nual statements, and oftener if de-
sired, from railroad companies of