The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-03-31
legislative DOINCS.
BILL FIXING PAY OF INsUR-
ANcE COMMISSIONERS IS
CONSIDERED.
SENATE BUSY WITH CODE.
The End in Sight-Time for the In
PRODUCTION of Bills to Cease
Now Reached.

st. Paul. March 23-An indication that
the session is in its last stages is to be
found in the fact that no bills can be in
troduced after next Saturday, the con-
stitution prescribing that none shall be
introduced during the latter twenty days.
After that day it will require a written
request from the governor to entitle new
bills to any consideration whatever.
ba While the senate els is passing the time
shall have concluded consideration of the
revised code, an event fixed by Chairman
Somery1lie for some day this week the
lower house is grinding away with great
rap1dity and as a result of two sessions
daily it has already passed and sent up
to the senate almost score of very i'm
portant measures. 1t is no exaggeration
TO say that the present house of repre-
SentativeS does business faster than any
years past. This is not due to the SUI
periority of the individual members over
those of the past so much as it is to the
absence of laxative opposition when i'm
portant bills come up for final action.
An example of this was furnished yes
terday when, by almost unanimous vote,
that body passed the Peterson bill, i'm
posing franchise tax and creating the
Office of state tax commissioner. Only
two years ago the same measure took up
many days of time. 1t was then known
as the Haugland bill 1t is an important
measure, providing that the governor APP
point a tax commissioner at an annual
supervision of the levying of taxes in the
state. This official is to report to each
legislature the result of his observations
and make such legislative recommends
lions as he may deem necessary. The
franchise tax is to be paid by all public
service corporations and the amount to
be paid is to be arrived at by ascertaining
the market value of stocks and bonds and
deducting therefrom the value of real
estate and other property as listed for
taxation. This measure is almost certain
ate, where it met death two years ago.
Road and Bridge Tax.
The passage by the house of the bill Of
the road and bridge committee creating
a state highway commission and increas,,
ing the tax from 1-20th to 4 tn of mill
was another evidence of business-ltke
Still another important measure adopt
ed was that introduced by S. d. Peterson,
prohibiting telegraph companies from
charging more than 25 cents for each ten
words between points in Minnesota
More important than any of these per-
haps was the Smith BILL providing for
the holding of a convention for the pur-
pose of revising the constitution of the
state All these measures went through
with little or no opposition at yesterdays
The Lund bill, wiping out state banks,
was passed by a narrow majority. AS the
bill related to banking, it required two
thirds vote, and for time it looked as
though, it might fall by the wayside.
which was passed with the others was
that introduced by Representative w. l.
Nolan. providing the whipping post cure
made the claim that it was introduced
and urged as being in line with senti-
ments expressed by President Roosevelt.
Railway Rates.
The Gandrud bill prohibiting railway
consent of the railroad and warehouse
commission was passed. and the now ia
nous Horton bill. placing control of the
new state capitol building in the hands
next two years. came under the wire a
winner: Last, but not least, the w. A:
Nolan bill, requiring theaterS and halls of
amusement in Minnesota to provide a
fire-proof curtain in front of the stage,
was given approval
1t will be- understood by anyone that
the passage of the above bills in one day
comes very nearly breaking the legisla-
tive record in Minnesota.
Representative Ware is again to the
front with a bill to regulate railways.
This time he is joint author with Repre-
sentative Anderegg of a bill which is, as
nearly, as possible, a copy of the measure
as the LaFollette bill. The measure is
one of the most sweeping character and
very voluminous. 1t proposes an entire
change in the railway commission law.
The bill gives the commission power to
investigate and adjust freight and pas
senger rates on all railroads and gives it
panies. 1t requires complete annual state
mentS. and oftener if desired, from rail-
road companies of those to whom passes
are issued and for what reason. Power
to investigate alleged determinations of
whatever nature are conferred on the
commission and to make regulations to
suppress the evils The commission is
rage charges and the movements of
freights. The bill is made effective Aug.
1. 1905. While the Wisconsin bill Gre
no change in the present Minnesota meth
cd of electing its commissioners is con-
templated by the Ware Anderegg bill.
The senate passed the Ward anti-buck-
etshop bill.
Governors Secretary.
In committee on the whole the senate
recommended favorably the Cole bill plac-
ing the governors private secretary upon
that all fees be covered into the state
treasury. The senate killed the Schain
bill providing for the appointment of
county assessors in all counties having
more than 10000 inhabitants.
bill offered by Senator Barker. does
away with old time caucuses and pri-
marieS and provides that all delegates to
county conventions shall be nominated at
a primary election to be held the third
Tuesday in June. The county convention
is to be held the following Tuesday to
elected delegates to the state convention
The primary elections to choose dele
gates to the county conventions TO
nominate county OIncerS SnaH De nelQ
at the same time and place and con-
Quoted by the same officers as already
provided for the other primaries. Dele
gates cannot give proxies vacancies be-
ing filled by the other delegates.
Senator Laybourn is the author Of bill
which would attempt to carry out rec
concentrations made by Gov. Johnson in
his inaugural message. 1t prohibits the
consolidation or merger Of insurance com
panies organized under the laws of Min
nesota until after a commission consist
ing of the governor. the insurance com.
missioner and the attorney general shall
have decided that the interests Of policy
holders are fully looked after.
The Special committee of the house,
which has been investigating fire insur-
ance rates, has at last agreed upon the
form of a bill which. when introduced.
will cover points to be made Sea in T., its re-
cIusion that an anti-compact law would
be valueless and therefore provides in its
bill that the office of state fire marshal
be created? That officer and his deputies
shall Investigate suspicious or incendiary
fires. as we'll as all complaints of dis
MINNESOTA HAPPENINGS.