Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-02-13

JuSAASA"A purposes.
Two municipal ownership bills, one
by w. l. Nolan in the house, and the
other by Senator Manly Fasseen in
the senate, put in an appearance to-
day. They are duplicates and copies
OF the famous Mueller law of Illinois to
permit cities to issue bonds for pur-
chase of public utilities.
The house held no session this
morning and only brief one this
afternoon. Representative Spencer
presented a bill to create the Office of
county weighmaster in each county,
as general official weigher and acting
under the county commissioners. A
bill by G. R. Miller would increase
the railroad gross earnings tax to S
per cent and make roads liable to
special assessments for local improve
ments. Senator Nelson introduced
bill to make elective the Offices of the
clerk of the municipal court, city
clerk, city attorney, and city assessor
in municipalities throughout the
state.
st. Paul, MIMI, Feb. by vote
OF 80 to 80, the house today declined
to increase the salary of each men,
Der $50 for expenses. The allowance
was proposed for legal service, tele-
graphing, telephoning, etc. J. w.
Stokes, author of the resolution to
appropriate the money, spoke strong
~ in favor of it's passage. A. J.
Rockne moved for indefinite postpon-
ment. He claimed the resolution un-
constitutional. Stokes in reply &C
cused Rockne of trying to "be the
whole thing in the house," and also
asserted it was necessary to hire law
yers to draft measures because there
was not single lawyer in the house.
This sally brought out considerable
mirth but failed to carry the day.
The house committee on elections
today reported in favor of seating
James D. O'Brien of St. Paul in the
house, in that he had a clear majority
of votes over James Denegre. The
house did not ask for any details but
settled the contest which has been
pending for some time, by accepting
the committee report without debate.
The contestants were of the Goth leg
islative district, St. Paul.
Ambrose Tighe of St. Paul broke
the individual record in the house to-
day by introducing at one time ele-
ven bills. Two relate to bribery of
public officials, and take from wit
ness the right to refuse to answer
questions about bribery which may be
self-incriminating. Another bill con-
tains like provision with reference
to Investigations of bribery among
legislators. Another bill calls for
annual reports of foreign corporations
operating in Minnesota to be filed
with the secretary of state and de-
mands fees therefore. In Ohio a
similar law yields the state $3.50, 900
income year.
w. L. Case introduced bill to give
counties one half the Inheritance
taxes of estates within their respec-
tive limits, and one half to the state.
G. E. johnson presented resolu-
ton calling upon the board of control
to at once proceed with the erection
Of new state prison on the new site
recently purchased for this purpose.
J. G. Lennon held the resolution over
for the day by giving notice of debate.
The session of the senate today was
brief. There was much time lost in
debates on measures which were final
ly not acted on at all. Several bills
of Importance put in an appearance.
One by Senator eastman of Ovation
ma proposed to put the Iowa distance
tariff in effect in Minnesota, the only
changes being that in cases where
the Minnesota rates are lower, they
are substituted in the Iowa schedule,
The tariff is proposed for the Western
classification of freight now in use in
this state.
A bill by Senator A. L. Hanson
proposes an appropriation of $75, OOC
for relief of farmers who were
"drowQed out'' in 1905 and 1906, to
aid them in purchasing seed grain.
Farmers desiring to borrow from this
fund may do so through applications
filed with the county auditor. He in
turn refers the matter to the county
commissioners; they to the state au.
ditor, and the state auditor to make
the loans March IL next. The loans
are to bear per cent interest and all
be payable Nov. Is next, after the
new crop has been marketed.
The Sundberg committee of the
senate, appointed to investigate rail.
roads, examined two witnesses late
today w. H. Chadbourn, CHIEF
engineer of the Great Western, was
called to tell of the cost of the
original construction of the roads in
Minnesota. He stated he had searched
his Office high and low but had been
unable to find a single record OF
original cost of construction.
Charles w. Gardner, auditor of the
500 road, Minneapolis, was also ex.
amined. As to cost of buying rights OF
ways, he was sure the roads had to
pay considerably more for land than
if the property was simply purchased
for farming. He lamented the present
agitation against railroads in this
country, and said that as result
railroad bonds have to be f1oated in
other countries and the interest be
sent away instead of remaining at
home.