The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-02-08
MAY PICK SENATORS
HOUSE BILL WOULD LET THE
PEOPLE CHOOSE THE UNITED
STATES SENATORS.
NOVEL METHOD OF EVADlNG THE
PROVISIONS OF THE FED
ERAL CONSTITUTION.

st. Paul, Feb. THE nomination Of
United States senators by a direct
party primary is the plan which John
Saugstad of Climax proposes as
means of getting around the pro-
visions Of the Federal Constitution
that they shall be elected by the legis-
lature. Should the bill which Mr..
Saugstad introduced in the house pass,
the legislature would still have the
power and duty Of electing the sena-
tors and probably would have the
power to disregard the nominations
made by the people, but for practical
purposes the result would be pretty
much the same as if the senators
were elected by the people, for there
Is not much probability that the pre-
vailing party in the house would dis
regard the voice of its own party as
expressed in the party nomination OF
a candidate for the position.
The bill makes other sweeping
changes in the present election law. 1t
fixes the date of the party primaries
at the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in June, at which time nomi'
nations are to be made for United
States senator and for all elective Of
fees, except such local and city Off
GERS as are now exempt from the pr1-
mary law, but including state, con-
gressional legislative and county off,
GERS.
A bill making application to con-
gress for a convention to propose an
amendment to the Federal COnst1tu-
ton by which United States senators
shall be elected by direct vote was in
troduced in the house by G. w. Hig-
gins of Minneapolis.
Clerks and Attorneys Made Elective.
Under bill introduced in the house
by Swan Nelson of Minneapolis, the
city clerks, corporation or city attor-
neys, city assessors and the clerks of
the municipal courts In cities Of So
900 or over are to be made elective.
The bill provides salary Of $4,000
for the city clerk, $4,000 for the city
attorney, $4,000 for the city assessor
and $4,000 for the clerk of the munich
pal court.
A county weighmaster is provided
for in a bill introduced in the house
by J. F. Spencer of Rochester. The
county commissioners may appoint
such O person If they deem it neces-
sary for the protection of trade in the
county and must make the appoint
ment upon the application of twenty
five property owners.
It is made the duty Of the county
weighmaster to inspect scales and
measures used in weighing commodi-
ties offered for sale or exchange in
the county and he must visit and in
spect places where grain,> hay, hogs,
cattle, fruit. groceries and other COM
modities are bought from producers.
A resolution urging haste in the
plans for the new state prison was in
troduced in the house by G. E. John
son of Lake Elizabeth. The resolu-
troll to take Immediate steps looking
to the building Of a new prison.
A resolution providing for the ap-
pointment of joint committee of the
senate and the house to reapportion
the judicial districts of the state was
presented by Senator George P. Will
son Of Minneapolis and adopted by the
senate. The appointment Of COM
mission Is asked to consist Of three
members Of the senate and five Of the
house to prepare and present a bill
reapportioning the districts, and If
necessary fixing the terms Of court In
the districts.
County Boards Of Education.
A bill providing for the establish
ment of county boards Of education
was presented by Senator s. A. Mel
son of Lanesboro. This measure was
recommended by J. w. Olson, state su-
perintendent Of public instruction, in
his annual report, as we'll as by the
Minnesota Educational association at
its recent annual meeting. The bill
provides for the establishment Of five
districts in each county, from each OF
which one member of the board is to
be elected for term of four years
The board shall exercise all of the
powers heretofore exercised by the
county boards relating to education
schools and school districts.
The senate in committee of the
whole, decided to recommend the pas
sage of S. F. 202, providing for in
creased salaries for the judges of the
supreme and district courts Of the
state The vote stood SO ayes and q
nays.
Before the bill was passed, however
Senator Laybourn secured unanimous
consent to an amendment which
makes provision for an additional
$1,000 for the judges Of the district
court, to be paid by the counties, in
clude st. Louis county. The bill in
Creases the salaries Of the supreme
court judges from $4,000 to $1,000, ant
the district court judges from $4,000 tt
$4,000 to be paid by the state.
Senator Manley L. Fosseen of Min
neapolis introduced his bill providins
for municipal ownership of publ,
utilities. Senator J. T. MCGOWAN O
Minneapolis also introduced the sam,
bill.
James D. Denegre has withdraw,
his contest against J. D. O'Brien a.
representative Of the Fourth ward o
st. Paul in the present legislature.