The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-02-02
ELECTRIC RAILROADS
HOUSE MEASURE WOULD FAclLl.-.
TATE THEIR CONSTRUCTION
IN THE COUNTRY. :
BILL IN SENATE TO AMEND CON-.
sTITUTioN TD GRANT Wo-
MAN SUFFRAGE.


intended to facilitate the building OF
electric railways in the country and
making general regulations for street
railways going outside city or village
limits, was introduced in the house
by N. F. Hugo Of Duluth. The rights
Of trolley lines to build through coun-
try districts have hitherto been some
what in doubt.
The bill provides that any railway
now or hereafter organized under the
laws of the state is empowered to
construct, operate and maintain rail-
way in the territory outside the corpo-
rate limits of cities or villages and
over, on and along any road, highway
or private property, and have power to
carry passengers and freight for COM
pensation, and, with the consent OF
the city or village authorities, to es-
tablish and connect its lines with a
central station in the city or village
for the receipts Of freight and for pas
Eengers.
Before tracks are laid on public
highway outside the corporate limits,
permission must be obtained from the
county commissioners and right of
way through private property must be
obtained with the consent of the own
ers or if this cannot be secured then
through condemnation proceedings.
No track shall be laid on highway
already occupied by the tracks OF an
other street railway or railroad, ex-
cept under the laws now provided for
intersections of railroads.
Would Extend Probation.
The extension of the probation sys-
tenn for juvenile delinquents to all
| counties of the state is the aim of a
bill introduced in the house by w. l..
Case of Cloquet. The bill provides
for probation officers in counties of
less than $4,000 and with the excep-
tion Of the salary provisions is prac-
tfcally the same as the present law
establishing such systems in counties
of more than $4,000.
A state normal school at Bemidji Is
established by bill introduced in the
house by J. ]. Opsahl of that place.
The Establishment of the school is
condition on the gift of suitable
tract of not less than five acres by the
city within twelve months. The bill
does not provide any appropriation
but leaves this to the general appro-
priation bill
The house committee on express,
telegraph and electric railways re-
ported recommending the adoption of
the resolution introduced by Donald
Robertson of Argyle calling for a COM
mittee to investigate express rates.
The report was adopted and the reso-
luton now goes to the senate.
The resolution Of S. O.. Morse of
Slayton for the payment of $3.50 to
legislative members for incidental ex-
penses was withdrawn by the author
with the consent Of the house. The
committee had referred the resolu.
ton to the attorney general, but the
author asked that it be recalled and
referred to him, which the house con.
sented to.
Senator S. A. Nelson of Lanesboro
introduced a bill raising the retail
liquor license fee to $1,000 all over the
state.
To Establish Commodity Rates.
Senator Albert Schaller Of Hastings
wants the legislature to take a hand
In the matter of the establishment Of
the commodity rates which are the
subject of Injunction proceedings in
the federal courts, and to this end he
introduced bill In the senate which
makes the rates attempted to be es-
tablished by the railroad and ware
house commission on Jan. .25, effective
by legislative enactment thirty days
after the passage of the bill. The
rates were made effective on Jan. %
by the commission, but the railroads
secured federal injunction restrain
ing the commission from enforcing
the rates on the ground that they are
confiscatory and take away the prop
erty of the railroads without due pro-
cess of law. The injunction proceed.
ings are pending in the courts, and
Senator Schaller's bill aims to make
the rates effective Notwithstanding the
court proceedings.
Senator Virgil B. Seward of Mar
shall introduced bill for constitu-
tional amendment providing for wo-
man suffrage. The amendment re-
lates to that section of the constitu-
ton which designates the quaHficar
ton of electors and simply drops the
word male at the. beginning Of the
section so that 1t reads, Every person
Of the age Of twenty-one years." etc.
The amendment is to be submitted to
the voters at the next general election
in 1908.
Senator Sageng Of Dalton introduced
a resolution requesting the Minnesota
senators and representatives In con-
gress to use all honorable means to
defeat the ship subsidy bill. Senator
Laybourn gave notice Of debate and
the resolution was laid over.
Decision in the election contest Of
j. Dinegre against j. D. O'Brien will
be deferred another week at least and
may take the entire session. The
committee on elections reopened the
whole matter by moving to reconsider
the report decided upon last week, by
which O'Brien was seated by one vote.