The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-03-16

Minnesota Legislature


The house last week passed the code.
Most of the daily sessions were taken
up with the consideration of the bulky
mass of revised laws, and they were
finally disposed of with but few
changes made by the house judiciary
committee. The code was sent to the
senate judiciary committee, and it is
said that the committee will act with
expedition.
The event of the week in the house
was the manner in which that body
turned down the report of the railroad
committee on the reciprocal demurrage
bill. The committee rejected the regu-
lar bill which is endorsed by every
commercial body in the State and the
vote was eleven against the bill and
eight for the bill. Friends of the bill
were up in arms over this course of
the committee and when the committee
report was made to the house, the
storm broke and the report was re-
jected by a vote of eighty-seven to
twenty-six. Every member of the dele
cation from this district stood by the
bill. The committee had substitute
bill which it proposed to introduce.
This substitute was most thin and
gauzy article and was not what the
people want. The bill is to prove a
"tester'' in this session. It is rea-
sonable bill, at least it cannot work
any hardship on the railroads and will
serve to correct many glaring abuses
of corporate power. It was a special
order in the house yesterday after
noon.
A resolution has been passed
directing the board of control to in
quire into the feasibility of establish
ing plant at the State prison for the
manufacture of binders and mowers.
On motion of Representative J. T.
Mannix, the house ordered conveyed
to President Roosevelt it's congratula-
tions and we'll wishes on his Inaugural
ton and the senate concurred readily.
The resolution was one of Mr.. Man.
nix's best, and it's introduction was
prefaced with eulogy by Mr.. Man.
nix.
Senator Woods bill to abolish
the senate ''fireman" has been favor
ably recommended. The job has been
a sinecure for many superanuated
politicians.
Senator Ward has submitted a bill,
the purpose of which is to prohibit
bucket shops for the purchase Or sale
of stocks or grain, "without any in
tent of receiving and paying for the
property bought or sold.' The CON-
mon council, of any city, may, by
ordinance, prohibit the keeping of
such bucket shops. The penalty for
transgressing the law is 800 fine or
ninety days Imprisonment. Any ten
or more electors may present to the
common council a petition containing
a proposed ordinance and it shall be
the duty to submit said ordinance at
the first general or special election.
Senator A. D. Stephens of Crook
ston has introduced bill proposing
an amendment to the State constitu-
tion exempting property of the Grand
Army of the Republic and personal
property Of veterans Of the Civil war
to the extent of $1,000 each from tax
alton. The amendment is proposed
as a result of the decision of the
senate judiciary committee that Sen
ator Stephens bill exempting the G..
A. r. from taxation is uncOnstitu-
tional. The senate committee decided
that the G.. A. r. is not purely
charitable institution and that before
the legislature can exempt it's property
from taxation an amendment to the
constitution must be passed.
Senator Sundberg has introduced
an amended hail insurance bill. The
bill is a substitute for one which he
introduced few weeks ago. 1t pro-
vides that the legislature may levy
tax on acreage of crops at the option
of the owners for the payment of
damages caused by hail, cyclone and
tornadoes. Legislation can only be
secured by an amendment to the State
constitution
The house committee on taxes and
tax laws has recommended for passage
the Peterson bill providing for a tax
commissioner and for tax on fran
chises. The bill is a practical dupli-
cate of the Haughland bill which
passed the house two years ago, but
which was defeated in the senate. The
committee reported also the Fan
ming bill, increasing the tax on the
earnings of sleeping car companies
from three to four per cent, without
recommendation. The Tanning bill