The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-05-08
LEGISLATIVE RECORD
Session Just Ended Passed Many
Important Measures.
RAILROAD BILLS IN THE LEAD
New Laws Include Two-Cent Passen-
ger Fare, Lower Commodity Rates
and Reciprocal Demurraae.

st. Paul. April 29.-The session of
the state legislature, just adjourned,
while it failed to enact some laws
seemingly demanded by the people,
! probably passed more measures of inn
portance than any previous body in
number of bills introduced was 2,126,
1,210 having originated in the house
and 916 in the senate. OF this number
only about one-third became laws and
nine-tenths of the measures passed
were of no general importance, being
local in nature or amendments to the
] 1905 revision of the code The really
important enactments number not
more than thirty. the measures affect
ing the operation of railroads undoubt-
eddy coming first in value to the peo-
nle of the state. BY the passage Of
the 2-cent fare bill and the freight
rate bill and the acceptance of these
acts by the railroads there is not only
saved to the people of the state ap-
proximately $4,000,G00 annually, but
the twenty suits which were pending
between the state and the railroad
companies were dismissed.
Reduction of Passenger Fare.
The question of 2-cent passenger
rate occupied much attention from the
first day of the session till almost the
last The railroads fought the enact
/ ment of the law to the last, but an at
] tempt at a compromise failed and the
bill finally went through with a rush.
/ The measure, as passed, was cleverly
! drawn making it, an offense for any
road to charge more than cents a
mile and not leaving any opening for
an injunction to tie it up 1t could be
enforced by criminal proceedings in
any county.
1 The bill reducing freight rates on
grain COAL lumber and live stock an
average of 10 per cent was also hur-
ried through when the proposed COM
/ promise failed, passing both Houses
by practically unanimous vote It
takes effect June /, but the 2-ceat fare
| bill goes into effect month earlier
In addition to the two measures re-
ferTed to the legislature passe 2 re-
/ ciprocal demurrage bill. 1t rsvides
for the payment of demurra~ charges
of 81 day by both railroads and
! patrons for all delays feHend a given
i time. The railroad pass for delay in
! furnishing cars, in moving them when
| loaded and in delivering them after
i their arrival at the point of destilla-
ton. The shipper pays for failure to
load or unload cars within the free
| time" limit, which runs from two to
three days. The railroads declare the
/ bill will not hold water, as it inter-
feres with interstate commerce.
Defect in the Anti-Pass Bill.
Another important bill in connection
/ with railroad legislation was the anti
pass bill. This measure hung fire un-
til the last minute and as finally
passed contains serious defect.
When the house passed the bill the
final section said this act shall take
effect and be in force from and after
Dec. 81, 1905" This was section by
itself. When the conference reported
it's amended bill the first section start
| ed from and after Jan. 1, 1908, it
shall be unlawful" but the section at
the end of the bill was never stricken
out, SO while the bill makes giving
/ passes unlawful after the first of the
year the bill itself does not go into
effect until the end of the year.
measure permitting municipal
ownership passed in the form of a law
similar to the Illinois Mueller" law,
which permits cities to acquire public
utilities by issuing certificates which
will be lien on the property acquired
instead of being a mortgage on the
whole city.
The leasing of state ore lands was
stopped by bill passed early in the
session. The intent of that bill was
that the leasing of ore lands should be
stopped only until bill with higher
rate could be drafted, but the bill
with higher rate was lost in the sem
ate on the last day.
Relating to Taxation.
Two measures of Importance in re-
lat1On to taxation reform were enact
ed. The first provides for a tax COM
mission of three members to be named
by the governor for two, four and six
years. They will receive $4,000 an
nually and are not to be all of the
same political faith They are given
wide powers, but in fixing valuations
the state board of equalization has the
power to review their acts and the
board of equalization is continued UNI
til Jan. 81, 1909. The tax commits
sioners are to report and recommend
new legislation to the next legislative
session. Governor Johnson appointed
as members of the commission former
Senator Samuel Lord of Kasson. Re-
publican, Professor Frank L. McVey,
state university, independent; o. NJ
Hall of Red Wing, Democrat. Mr.. Hall
is president of the Tax Reform league.