Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-01-23

people had gathered in the house
galleries expecting hot debate, but
the republicans gave no time for OBJ
lection by the democrats, and shot
the resolution through today as soon
as 1t came up. It is understood Gov.
Johnson welcomes the resolution and
Will give message strongly endors-
ing county option.
5. 0. Morse of Slayton introduced
resolution in the house today to al
low each member $3.50 for legislative
expenses. The resolution received
numerous seconds and it looked as
though it was going to quickly slide
through, but A. J. Rockne held it up
for twenty-four hours by giving no
tice of debate.
Z. E. Johnson of Lake Elizabeth
presented a memorial resolution pro-
testing against the action of the in
ternal revenue department. at Wash
lngton on the ruling which makes in
dustrial alcohol remain at a price
where it is out of reach for industrial
purposes. A bill was introduced in
the house by B. H. Timberlake and
in the senate by E. E. Smith, both
Minneapolis men, establishing a pen
sion for firemen over fifty years of
age and who have served 20 years, no
pension to exceed $40 a month. A
fund for this purpose is established
in cities by two per cent tax on fire
insurance premiums in such cities be-
ing diverted from the state to the
Firemen's Relief association.
The event of the senate session to-
day was the introduction of bill by
Senator Thorpe of Willmar, provid-
ing for county option on the liquor
license question. The bill was re-
ferred to the committee on temper
ance. Senator MCGOWAN CT Minnea-
polls fathered a measure to prohibit
corporations from contributing to
political parties, committees or can
didates, and another authorizing the
public examiner at his discretion to
make examinations of corporations
to see that the law was not being
violated.
Lieut.. Gov. Eberhart announced on
the part of the senate the appoint
ment of two investigating committees,
following the passage of two pending
resolutions. One committee con-
sisting of Senators Cook, Laybourn
and V. l.. johnson, is for the investi-
cation of mineral lands and taxes
the other, consisting of Senators
Thorpe, Pugh, Witherstine and Cal.
houn, is to investigate the grain bust.
ness at Minneapolis and Duluth.
St. Paul, Jan. Ian important
bill put in an appearance in the legis.
latllre today when Senator P. Fitz.
patrick, democrat, of Winona, intro.
duced Senate File 70. The bill esta.
blishes the initiative and referendum
relative to legislation. A petition Of
five per cent of the voters may pro.
pose any new law or constitutional:
amendment desired, to be accepted
or rejected at the polls the ensuing
general election. Or, ON a petition
of like number of voters, any legis.
lation enacted by the legislature will
have to be submitted to vote by the
people. The bill was referred to the
judiciary committee. Senators Ell
well and Swanson both today intro
duced bills to authorize the state
board of control to establish stone
crushers to be operated by convict
labor, the crushed stone to be given
to counties applying through Their
county commissioners, for the i'm.
provement of county roads. Senator
F. L. Clague, speaker of the house
two years ago, presented a measure
to create a new judicial district, the
Nineteenth, composed of Lincoln,
Lyon, Murray and Pipestone coun.
ties. Senator Thorpe introduced a
measure to abolish private banks in
state, a duplicate of bill he fathered
two years ago but which went down
in strenuous battle in the senate.
In the house today, Walter w. Case
of Cloquet, introduced bill, prompted
by the increasing number of railroad
accidents, to compel the installation
of safety devices on railroads. where.
ever the state railroad commission
may think such devices needed. Fred
V. Burdorf entered bill Importance
to Northern Minnesota, to permit
town supervisors to construct and
maintain drainage bitches. The bitches
are to be constructed on petition of
property owners of property to be
benefited. J. D. Mapleton of Wahpeton
with view to aiding voters to retain
their health, has introduced a bill to
prohibit political candidates from
distributing cigars or Intoxicating
liquors.
Up to today, there have been in
troduced 118 bills in the Legislature
"a in the senate, A in the house. Two
years ago on the samelegislature day,
the 9Th, there we're but 36 bills pres
ented. At the last session the total
| oumber of bills was 1,410. If the in.
creased ratio of the present session
compared with the last, continues
the number of bills this session will
reach i, 40.
VIM. H. Williams, state labor com
missioner, has been investigating the
employment of pages in the senate
He has found three boys under II
years of age employed, which is il
violation of the child labor law. The
senate is going to patch the matter
up by getting special excuse permits
for the three boys in question during
the three months of the session.
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