The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-01-09
TONNAGE [ j IN. TAX
BILL APPEARS
introduced in House by Bjorge
/ Of Lake Park.
PRESENTS FIRST MEASURE

TnEOLNIO Cln0I MLA0UnE-
;Nlmocks of Minneapolis Has the Dis.
tinction of Introducing House File
No. I. a Bill Permitting Street Rail-
ways to Carry City Employees Free.
| Four Senate Measures Relate to
Railways and Their Regulation.
st. Paul, Jan. ga tonnage tax bill
was among the first in the bunch of
nineteen bills that appeared at the
session of the house. H. O. Bjorge of
Lake Park, who, with R. H. Jefferson
of Bingham Lake, was the author of
the tonnage tax bills in the last house,
introduced the bill. The present bill
divides the iron ore lands into two
classes, those where the ore content
Is 40 per cent or over and those where
1t Is less than 40 per cent. The lat
ter class is taxed on an ad valorem
basis as at present, both for state and
local purposes. The ore from the
lands in class No. 1 is taxed 5 cents
per ton and this tax is given entirely
to the state. Besides this tax these
lands may be taxed on an ad valorem
basis for local purposes. But if the
high quality mines are not worked,
they would pay less taxes than the
low grade ores, so Mr. Bjorge has
put in his bill that whenever a mine
is worked less than ninety days dur
ing any season, it may be taxed on
the ad valorem basis.
Frank Nimocks of Minneapolis had
the distinction of having House File
No. 1, which is a bill permitting street
railway companies to carry city en-
ployes free. The bill names specifical-
ly members of the fire department,
police department., salvage corps,
health department and United States
mail carriers in uniform.
Two bills for the increase of the
railroad gross earnings tax were Of
fered in the house. L. c. Spconer of
Morris wants to raise 1t from to 6
per cent and Donald Robertson of Ar
gyle is content to raise it to 5. Rob-
ertson's bill provides for semi-an-
nual payment of these taxes.
Relate to New State Prison.
Three bills relating to the new state
prison at Saltwater were introduced.
The two Washington county mem
bers, John Zelch and Andrew Ander-
son, Joined in presenting a bill fixing
the cost of the new prison at $4,000
600 and raising this fund by a tax
levy of 100000 year for ten years.
The bill introduced by L. G. spooner
Of Morris limits the cost of the new
prison to 100000. Another bill by
Mr.. Anderson permits the manufacture
Of hay leaders and manure spreaders
at the prison in addition to the ma
chimes which are now being made
there
A bill making the state the owner
Of all iron ore and other minerals be-
meath the beds of meandered lakes
was offered by G. M. Bendixen of Nor
gan.
D. A. Stuart of Window had bill
requiring corporations to make annual
reports to the secretary of state.
The abolition of the direct primary
Is the substance of bill introduced
by A. X. Ware of Northfeld. It pro-
vides for the nomination of county,
congressional and judicial candidates
by conventions and providing pri-
mary election on the second Tuesday
In September to select delegates to
these conventions. The county con-
ventions are to be held two weeks
after the primaries. The candidates
for state offices will be nominated in
the old way.
A bill regulating automobiles and
all other motor vehicles was intro
duced by John Zelch of Cottage Grove.
It requires registration with the sec
rotary of state instead Of with the
city clerks as at present
Deficiency Appropriation Bill.
A deficiency appropriation for the
state high schools, graded schools and
other schools receiving state aid was
introduced by w. A. Nolan of Grand
Meadow
With four bills relating to railways
and their regulation, the real work of
the senate this winter can be said to
have begun. Three were introduced
by Senator T. p. eastman of Owa.
tonna, and it is probable that at least
one, the commodity rate bill, s. F. 80,
will pass, although it Is bound to
arouse considerable debate. Mr.. Cash.
man is Democrat, and the bill is one
suggested by Governor Johnson in his
message upon the recommendation of
Attorney General Young.
Another bill by the same senator
compels railroads to haul freight cars
over two or more different lines with
out transfer of the goods.
The third bill enlarges the scope of
the present law relating to railroads
which prohibits charging more for
passenger or freight hauled a short
distance than for long distance in
proportion.
Frank Clague Of Lamberton wants
TO protect the lives of passengers and
others by compelling full crew of
five men on every freight and passen-
ger train sent out of any yard.
Other senate bills propose to limit
saloons in towns of 5il 200 neonle or