The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-02-17
Legislative DO|NGS.
MEMBERS GETTING DOWN TO
THE CONSIDERATION OF
BUSINESS IN HAND.
NEW CODE HAS SURPRISES
Railway Legislation will Occupy a
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, it is safe
to predict that the code, If 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
it would be the height of indiscretion for
them to adopt the code as reported back
by the commission without first amending
it 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. if adopt
ed as it stands, would repeal general
laws CONCIll6 SlllCS opCSldL SIloL
tiers. Mr.. Anderson declares that it would
affect his home city, Winona, seriously,
in that it would nullify taxation acts I'M
der which Winona gains much of its 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 it would re-
peal the law compelling hotels to furnish
fire escapes, thus operating to the finan-
cial benefit of the hotelkeeper, while, on
the other hand, it repeats the law which
permits the arrest of a man who jumps
a board bill.
These defects are all of minor char
acter, however, and leaders of both
houses are still firmly expressing the be-
lief that the revised code, properly
amended, will be adopted at this ses-
sion.
Eailroad Discrimination.
The Eberhardt committee, which is
charged with the duty of investigating
alleged discrimination in railway freight
rates, has had a mass of testimony placed
before it, but many of the instances re-
late to interstate commerce, and are
therefore, of little benefit. The Chicago
Milwaukee & st. Paul Railway is still
bearing the brunt of the attack and Of
ficials of that line have been in attend
ance at every meeting of the committee.
Thus far the allegations made have been
vigorously combatted by the railway men.
The house had an interesting battle
over the resolution by L. H. Johnson,
that the speaker appoint a special COM
mittee to visit the Wisconsin agricul-
tural school at Menomonie. The author
of the resolution urged that Minnesota's
agricultural college could be benefited
greatly by the adoption of a few Wiscon-
sin ideas. The opposition claimed that
such junket would be a useless expense.
The resolution was adopted by comfort
able majority, however.
Senator Wilson, of MINNEAPOLIS, who
assisted Attorney General Douglas in the
prosecution OF the Famous Merger lItf-
cation, has introduced two bills, which
are recommended by Mr.. Douglas as cal
culated to greatly strengthen the anti
merger laws of the state. One provides
that all foreign corporations shall be
obliged to appoint a resident agent upon
whom summons may be served. The
other relates to domestic corporations,
and requires them to hold all directors
meetings within the state of Minnesota.
A number of public spirited citizens Of
St. Paul wish to aid in the establishment
of state hospital for INDECENT, deformed
and crippled children and have expressed
a willingness to contribute the funds for
the purchase of a site in st. Paul. At
their instance Senator Dunn has intro
duced a bill appointing a commission to
investigate the matter and report at the
next legislative session.
Timber Trespass.
One result Of the furious campaign
waged in Minnesota last year is the
unanimous passage by the senate of the
bill providing that the governor, auditor
and secretary of state shall constitute a