The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-02-03
Staid State. SoIons Seek Deli
milton of Saloon.
House Committee Up Against
Some Things in Code.
Consult Noah Webster's "Dic
and Other Authorities.
Don't Know What An Opiician
or Optometrist Is.

or Optometrist Is.
st. Paul, Jan. 2S.--A saloon is a
unique institution, according to the dis
cussion of the house judiciary committee
Yesterday, while considering reports OF
subcommittee on changes made i'll the
law by the report of the statute revision
commission. 1t was desired to include
saloons under a provision mentioning
places of refreshment, accommodation or
entertainment"
Then one of the members called atten-
ton to the fact that the Minnesota court
held that saloon is not place of
refreshment. and that an Illinois court
has held that soda water fountain
could not be included under that term.
The committee finally decided saloon
is certainly a place of Accommodation
and entertainment" il the one word
''refreshment" is not to include it, and
let the language stand.
The changes made in the existing law
were not many in the chapters examined
though the wording had been greatly re-
duced.
The word optician, it is said, was
used in place of "Optometrist," but the
latter word could not be found in the
dictionary, and the matter was referred
to Representative Selb of ST. Paul for
Investigations 1t was asserted that the
optometrist is the person who examines
eyes, and writes prescriptions for spc-
tacles, and that the optician simply fills
his order.
A provision that the general law abol
ishing private seals on instruments shall
not apply to corporate seals was allowed
TO stand.
Chairman W. B. Anderson reported on
the chapters he had examined. through
most of the subcommittee, especially
those considering the more complicated
subjects, said they were not ready to
make report.
Believing that an even temperature is
maintained in the senate chamber by the
employees in charge of the new capitol
and that these employees do not need
any assistance, Senator E. B. Wood OF
Long Prairie introduced a bill in the SEN
ate yesterday abolishing the time honor.
ed office of the fireman.
The measure provides that the elective
officers of the senate shall be secretary
assistant secretary, enrolling clerk, en-
crossing clerk, and sergeantat-arms.
The office of fireman, who draws So
day, is omitted. The act is to 90 into
effect July l. 1905.
Il am not opposed to the expenditure
of money that will result in facilitating
the work of the senate or removing the
character of legislation" said Senator
Wood in explanation of the measure
'But L do object to spending money just
for the pleasure of seeing it disappear.
If this is pleasure, it is one that the
state should not indulge in.
1T may be that forty years ago there
was work for senate fireman. If the
senate chamber in the new capitol were
heated by stoves, there would probably
be work for a fireman now. But since
the new structure is kept warm by
steam heat and the employees in charge
of the building see that the temperature
is kept just right, 1 fail to see the need
of a fireman.
1T has been suggested that we should
have a fireman to stand in the corridors
on the lookout for fires, with instruc-
lions to report any blaze to the senators
so they might have an opportunity to
escape, before they were enveloped with
flames. Such FUNCTION might properly
come under the head of fireman., but
/ doubt the wisdom of employing a per-
son for this purpose. | understand that
st. Paul has a pretty good fire depart
ment, and | think we can safely trust
: the new building to the department
Neither do | think it wise to srend
So a day to preserve an institution of
this nature. The sum of $500 spent for
monument in commemoration of the
work of lifesavers on the shore of the
Great Lakes would do more good than
the same sum expended for fireman.
whose only duty is to look pleasant and
keep out of the way of the senator's"
!. !. !.
Minnesota municipalities, including
townships, are empowered to construct.
own and operate telephone eystems, in
bill introduced yesterday by Senator
+. III. Peterson of Moorhead. The meas
ure is the same as one Senator Peterson
introduced two years ago, with the ex-
ception that his bill this year does not
require private telephone systems to