The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-17

the senate and the house it was final
ly agreed to, with changes only in the
language of the bill. 1t was promptly
approved by the governor when it
reached the chief executive.
OF secondary Importance is the
Stone Inheritance tax bill as revenue
producing measure. Ward Stone of
Morris was author of a house inheri-
lance tax bill. and George w. Somer-
vile of Sleepy Eye of a measure in
the senate. There was a difference be-
tween the bills in the amount exempt
from taxation and also in the rate of
taxation to be applied to inheritances.
The Stone bill passed the house with
out substantial amendment, but the
senate substituted the body of the Som
erville bill for the Stone bill when it
reached that body. The house grace
fully acceded to the Senate's position
and enacted the Stone bill as amend
ed. The bill as sent to the governor
Tor his signature eXempts inheritanceS
of less than $4,000 from taxation, but
on sums over $4,000 makes the fol-
lowing schedule: One-half per cent
on all requests and inheritances of
from $4,000 to $4,000; of per cent
on sums inherited from $4,000 to
100000, and per cent on all sums
over 100000. In the amended bill no
attention is paid to consequently of
bAlC DIS lIONlutu TIE OItSlndl
BILL II the bill survives test in the
courts it is expected to yield a sub
stantial revenue to the state.
Educational Matters
Educational matters were naturally
in the forefront in a state widely known
for its educational advantages. Be
sides the defeat of a free text book
bill, county agricultural school prob
lens were discussed at length The
T1I, ~
riculture passed the house, but failed
in the senate. The Mannix bill for
state aid to consolidated rural schools
which shall teach the elements of agri-
culture met a similar fate. An appro-
priation of SIS, 900 was made to carry
out the provisions of the Bennett bill
creating a branch of the state agri-
cultural college at Crookston. The
Bjorge bill, designed to require edu-
cational qualifications in county SUI
perintendents, was defeated in the
house by the friends of the present
plan of making any elector eligible to
the Office of county superintendent.
Several minor bills relating to the
state university were passed. One
creates chair of pedagogy in the big
institution.
Development of State
Problems of the development of the
states resources occupied much of the
legislatures time. Several measures
were passed which are aimed to inn
prove the state. One is the Cole bin
for comprehensive system of state
drainage. Another is the immigration
bill which authorizes the state auditor
to compile and circulate statistics of
the states resources that settlement
may be induced for northern Mime
sofa counties. Still another is a gen
eral drainage bill, designed to permit
owners of property to drain low and
marshy lands at their own expense,
but under county and judicial jurisdic-
ton. Bills for the sale of state lands,
for state highway commission and
for constitutional amendment chang
ing the plan of taxation by which
money is to be raised for the improve
ment of public highways, all ran the
gauntlet successfully in the legisla-
ture.