The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-02-17
LEGISLATIVE DQINGS.
MEMBERS GO ON RECORD RE-
DING DRAWBACK ON CA
MADAM WHEAT.
DESIRE ToTAx FRANCHISES

Se0sNe ~ m VSNN~s'O
Railway Legislation will Occupy .
Considerable Part Of the Time
not Given to the Code.
st. Paul, Feb. 9.-There can no longer
be any doubt but that legislation relating
to railway regulation will take up nearly
all the time of the legislature not ex-
hausted by consideration Of the revised
code. And while it Is still early, 1t Is safe
to predict that the code, II acted upon at
all at this session, will practically sum
up the net accomplishment Of the ninety
days work. AS for railway legislation
there are few who believe that any one
Of the important bills Of that character
will be enacted into law, though all agree
that the agitation now under way will be
productive of results in the long run.
New Discoveries in Code.
New discoveries are constantly being
made which cause members to feel that
1t would be the height of indiscretion for
them to adopt the code as reported back
by the commission without first amending
1t literally.
An interesting point in this connection
Is the assertion made by the chairman Of
the house judiciary committee Mr.. w. B.
Anderson, that the revised code, il adopt
ed as 1t stands. would repeal general
laws covering cities under special char
tiers. Mr.. Anderson declares that it would
affect his home city, Winona, seriously,
t. 1&o n.
der which Winona gains much Of it's rev.
enue, while it would also cause much
vexation in other ways. Nor would WI
mona be the only sufferer, according to
the views expressed by the same gentle
man.
Other members of the judiciary COM
mittees Of both houses, while admitting
the correctness Of Mr.. Anderson's posi-
ton. express the belief that the whole
matter can be Strengthened out by a few
judiciOus amendments.
Another interesting discovery is that
the code Is so WOrded that 1t would re-
peal the law compelling hotels to furnish
fire escapes thus operating to the imam
the other hand, it repeats the law which
permits the arrest Of n man who jumps
These defects are al! Of a minor char
houses are still firmly expressing the be-
lief that the revised code, properly
amended, will be adopted at this SEES
sion.
Railroad Discrimination.
The Ebcrhardt committee. which. If
charged with the duty Of investigating
alleged discrimination in d railway freight GIT
before 1t, but many of the instances re-
late to interstate commerce, and are
therefore, Of little benefit: The Chicago
bearing the brunt Of the attack and Of
f1cials OF that line have been in attend
ance at every meeting Of the committee
vie %s us, co eombat ted BY the AWAY men
The house had an interesting battle
over the resolution by L. H. Johnson
that the speaker appointt .aa special s com
tural school at Menomonie. The author
Of the resolution urged that Minnesota.
agricultural college could be benefited
Sin IDEAS. The opposition claimed tina,
The resolution was adopted by comfort.
able sn ma5ority;; l h%we1er mnneano,, who
assisted Attorney General Douglas in the
prosecution Of the famous Merger" liti.
cation, has introduced two bills, which
merger laws Of the state. One provides
that all foreign corporations shall be
obliged to appoint a resident agent upo:
whom summons may be served. The
other relates to domestic corporations
and requires them to hold all directors
meetings within the state. Of Minnesota
st. Paul wish to aid in the establishment
Of q state hospital for INDECENT. deformed
and crippled children and have expressed
willingness to contribute the funds fol
the purchase of q site in st. Paul. Al
their instance Senator Dunn has intro
duced q bill appointing commission tc
Investigate the matter and report at the
next legislative session.
Timber Trespass.
One result, of the furious campaign
tnaslinaous pasHkge.hy the senate of The
bill providing that the governor. auditor
and secretary Of state shall constitute a
settle all timber trespass cases, thus re-
Responsibility.
A number OF the best lighters IN the
to a yote. Of the people constitutional
amendmS9t providing for I. what s is KNOWN
passed the house at the last session. but
was killed in the senate. In view OF the
generally conceded need Of better tax
moters. that the time for decisive action
has at last arrived. The adoption of such
an amendment would give the Legislature
unlimited scope In which to work and
would make It possible for counties and
municipalities to secure home rule in tax
matters.
The Drawback Question.
st. Paul, Feb. IA.
BY overwhelming majorities both
houses Of the Minnesota legislature have
gone on record as opposed to the grant
ing OF the so-called drawback" privilege
in connection with the duty on Canadian
adopted and sent on to washington.
where it will be presented to congress
and to the president and secretary Of the
treasury. In the course OF the debate
orial those in favor Of the drawback
claimed that It was essentially a part Of
the American system Of protection. while