The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-02-09
Minnesota Legislature

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The legislatures session is dragging
along at a rather slow pace on &C
count of so much work in "revising
the code. The subcommittee which
have the work in hand are making as
good progress as can be expected un-
der the circumstances, and the legis-
lature hopes to erase chaos and write
over the same order and law in due
course of time. In the meantime the
lay members are becoming impatient.
The legislative rate investigation
that has been started in the house is
grinding away at lively rate and
the committee has let down the bars
and advertised broad cast over the
State the fact that the committee is in
daily session and ready to hear all
grievances from shippers and business
men who may have just cause for MAX
ing complaints against the common
carriers of the State. The investiga-
ton is showing up many cases of I'M
just and very unreasonable rates that
have been in force in different parts
OF the State, and when the hearings
are finished the committee will have a
mass of testimony that will show that
reasonable and equitable freight rates
are misnomer in many places. just
what good will result from the investi-
cation is problematic at the present
time.
Local members of the legislature
have introduced good many bills.
Representative Craig's bill to author
ize towns to issue bonds for town halls
and bridges in certain cases has been
favorably reported and seems to be
meeting with favor. Senator Barker
has introduced a bill extending the
law prohibiting persons temporarily
employed in lumber camp, or in the
construction of a railroad, canal or
any public works, from acquiring
residence for voting purposes, to in
clude all occupations. Representa-
tive Mark will introduce a bill ap-
propriating the sum of $500 for build
ing bridge in Princeton to connect
with the judicial road in Mile Laos
and Sherburne counties. Mr.. Mark
has also introduced some game and
fish commission bills "by request. "
The bill which Mr.. Mark introduced
last week allowing $4,000 for A. J.
Poole, the old soldier at Book, who
was injured last fall at the State fair
grounds, has passed both branches of
the legislature and awaits the gov
ernor's signature to make it law.
The anti-pass bill of Representative
Ware of Mortified was SO loosely
drawn that it was referred to it's
author for necessary amendments and
after reaching the committee it was all
picked to pieces. It even barred news
papers from making any contracts
with railroads for transportation on
an advertising basis, a provision silly
and unreasonable on it's face. The
bill was faulty in many respects and
will probably not be recognized by it's
author when it is reported to the
house.
A bill by Representative Hammer
gren of St. Paul authorizes the in
crease of the tax on telephone CON-
panies from the present rate of three
per cent of gross earnings to five per
cent.
Representative r. H. Jefferson of
Bingham Lake has introduced a bill
providing for the construction of
State highways. To comply with the
State constitution a nominal board
of highway commissioners composed
Of the State auditor, secretary of
State and attorney general is provided
for. The governor is to appoint a
State highway engineer who must be
an experienced road builder and he
shall have the supervision of the con-
structlon of all State highways. He
is to appoint deputy engineer in each
county who must be an experienced
engineer and road builder. The bill
does not provide for any direct aid to
counties Or townships for road build
ing.
Representative Dorsey has intro
duced bill providing for an appro-
priation of $4,000 to aid school dis
tricts in acquiring libraries.
The country against the cities was
the feature of the fight against a bill
in the senate to reimburse towns and
cities for permanent improvements on
exempt property from the gross earn
ings taxes paid by railroads. Sena-
tor Somerville gave the warning to
the country members of the nature of
the bill and that settled the fate of the
same. An effort was made to get the
bill on general orders. h,,t t. fai1od