The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-13
TO INVESTIGATE
/ INSURANCE RATES
CONDITIONS IN MINNESOTA WILL
BE LOOKED INTO.
House Committee Composed Of A. K.
Ware, w. w. Bardwel, A. ]. Rockne,
M. S. Carl and John T. Rosenthal,
to Make Observation-Disclosures
Tax and County Option Bills Bob Up.

An investigation of fre-insurance
rates was ordered by the house of rep
resentatives this morning. A. K. Ware,
". w. Bardwell, A. J. Rockne,s M. s..
Carl and John T. Rosenthal are. the
investigators: The action was taken
on motion of A. K. Ware, who called
up his resolution Of last Friday direct
ing attention to complaints Of exorbi-
tant rates from all parts of the state.
He said his suspicious that fire-insur-
ance rates were unnecessarily high had
been. confirmed by an interview with
the insurance commissioner.
A. l.. Cole declared that the insur-
ance companies We're actually robbing
the merchants and small manufacturers
by excessive rates. -
O. p. Hogue called attention to the
fact that insurance rates were fixed
by board of underwriters, which he
stamped as the biggest trust in the
whole country. No one came to the
defense of the companies and the reso-
luton was adopted in short order.
mas slgn1tied his intention of co-operat-
ing with the committee. He put one
OF MS clerks at work today preparing
statement: of comparative rates and
expenses, which will be furnished to
the committee within a few days.
Inheritance-Tax Bill.
Several legislative relics appeared
this morning, among them an Inherit
ance-tax bill and a county option bill.
The former was offered by Ward Stone
OF Morris. It provides that a tax shall
be paid to the state on all legacies in
excess Of $4,000.
The rate is graded from one-half of
L per cent to- per cent; on legacies
to wife or minor child, one-half of /
per cent; on legacies to parents, chill
dren of legal age, brothers, sisters,
grandchildren, l per cent; in all other
cases per cent. The counties, thru
the probate court and other officers,
are entrusted with the work of collect
ing the tax, which must be turned over
to the state without even commits
sion tor making the collection. Pro
vision IS made 50 that the officers can
take legal steps in the event that there
Is atetmpt to evade the payment.
County Option Favored.
Niels Jacobson Of Hills offered the
county option bill. It authorizes coun-
ties. not having city of 10000 in.
habltants, to vote annually on the
proposition to license the sale Of LIQUOR
The question can be brought up on a
petition of one-tenth of the voters pre-
sented not less than sixty days before
the spring elections, the second Tuesday
IN March. The sale Of liquor in def
ance or the action of the voters is pun
lshable by fine up to 500 and impriso
ment up to ninety days. For third of
tense a Workhouse sentence Of from
~ to 80 days is mandatory.
.. For Rural Telephones. l.. ii
O. n. Thundale sent in bill authoriz z
Ing the organization Of cooperative
rural telephone companies. The present
system of Incorporation of telephone
companies is too cumbersome for some
Of the. systems established by farmers
Tor their own convenience.
A Ditch Law Definition.
W. P. Roberts offered an amendment
to the drainage laws giving jurisdic-
ton to county boards over ditch work
ares of cities or villages. This meas
ure has no relation to the Bassett Is
creek plan, but simply settles dis
puted question.
Care for Consumptives.
George E. Perley followed up the
action Of the legislature Of two years
ago in establishing a sanatorium for
consumptives by a bill outlining its
management by an advisory board of
five physicians, one of them to be a
homeopath: The board is to name a
superintendent, who appoints the neces-
sary help, only such conservatives as
have resided in the state for one year
immediately preceding application for
admission may be taken.
Eulogy of Lincoln.
In recognition of Lincoln g birthday
the house INDUCED in a little show Of
sentiment and patriotism. Joseph T.