The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-01-21
LOCAL OPTION
FOR TOWNS
Provided for in Measure Intro
duced in Senate.
VILLAGES ENJOY PRIVILEGE

With Not More Than Ten Thousand
People Would Be Glad Of Like
opportunity-House Bill Would Do
Away With Capital Punishment and
Make Life imprisonment the Ex'
IRENE Penalty for Murder.
st. Paul, Jan. 20.-Local option TOT
cities containing not more than TO-
900 people is provided for in bill !
given its first reading in the senate.
The bill is credited to Senator Ole O.
Sageng of Dalton, who introduced a
similar measure of broader import
two years ago. The new bill does not !
imply county option nor state wide
option. It gives permission to the
host of small towns Of the state to as
certain If the majority Of voters want
saloons.
The villages of the state now enjoy
that privilege and Mr.. Sageng believes
that large number Of small cities
will be glad of like opportunity. A
similar bill is now before commit
tee of the house.
Another bill relating to the liquor
traffic introduced in the senate was
fathered by Frank Clague of Lamber-
ton and extends the present law re-
lating to the treatment OF minors,
drunkards and persons under guard
70
cerned. The bill makes it a criminal
offense for a saloonkeeper to permit
such a person in his place of bust
ness after notice by the parent or
guardian.
Senator sageng introduced the con-
stitutional amendment, which, ii
passed, will throw open the ballot to
all women over twenty-one years OF
age. This promises to be one of the
Interesting bills of the present session.
Saseng Protested in Vain.
Mr.. Sageng protested in vain and
alone against the adoption of the re-
port of the committee on rules In
definitely postponing the considera-
ton of his rule requiring report on
all bills at least twenty days after
reference to the committee. He was
opposed by Senator V. B. Seward OF
Marshall, chairman of the committee
on rules.
The report received as to in ia
vor Of the stand of Mr.. Segeng.
Senator B. E. Sundberg of Kennedy
would have the state offer a bounty
of $1,000 to the first twenty rural
school districts which consolidate,
and $1,000 year to those which con-
tinue the plan. It is required that the
principal teacher be competent to
teach agriculture.
Senator D. s. Hall of Buffalo Lake
would have the legislature give per-
mission to the cities to pay car fare
of employees so that appropriations
can be made to reimburse policemen
and health officers.
A statue of Alexander Ramsey, the
war governor of Minnesota, is pro
yided for in a bill by Senator Wilson
Of Minneapolis introduced. A com
mission composed of Governor J. A
johnson, S. r. Van SAINT, John Lind
Il F. Hubbard and General J. w
Bishop is provided. The bill carries
an appropriation Of $4,000. The statu
Is to be placed in the national stat
uary hall at Washington, D. G.
The abolition of capital punishment
Is the aim Of a bill introduced In tn
house by G. M. Bendixen of Morgan
which provides life imprisonment TO
murder in the first degree. To pre-
vent such murderers turned loose up
on the community, Mr.. Bendixen az
companies his bill with another pre-
viding that a person sentenced TO
murder in the first degree cannot b
pardoned.
Gross Earnings Tax Measure.
"A bill providing gross earning
tax of per cent for interurban an
suburban electric lines was introduce
by the two Washington county men
bers, John Zelch and Adam Andersen
A good roads bill was introduced b
Ole Peterson of Nicollet county
provides for the payment of all roa
taxes in money and for town Il
spector of roads, to be elected by til
town board, instead of the prese1
town road overseers.
Kerry Conley of Rochester offere
bill for educational work for tt
prevention and treatment of tuberc
losis. It appropriates $4,000 to
used in the present fiscal year an
5000 for each of the next two year
G. H. Mattson of Roseau introduce
a bill changing the opening of tt
season for ducks and kindred fow
from Sept. to Sept. Is.
The book trust was put on the gri
In a resolution by Elmer Adams
Fergus Falls, calling for comm
tee of five to Investigate the ramific
lions of the trust. The house adopt
the resolution without debate. It !
cites that it is generally believed tn
reports that undue influence Is u.s.
by certain publishers of school book
not only in placing their books in t
public schools of the state, but in t
selection of superintendent al
teachers favorable to the use of t
books published by them, thus great
Increasing the cost of education a
injuring the standing and morale
our public schools"
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