The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1909-02-18
STATE LEGISLATURE
Senator Hackney's Farmers Corre-
spondence School Scheme Fa-
vored by Jas. j. Hill.
Bill introduced to Compel Minor Polit.
ical Organizations to Publish
Annual Statements.

Unions Special Correspondence.
st. Paul, Feb. 1.-THE house has
decreed that April 6 shall be the date
OF adjournment, but so far the senate
has failed to fall ia line, which leads
me to believe that the legislative finish
will not be any earlier than usual.
John Saugstad of Climax, who aspires
to be the leader of the rural contingent
OF the house, forced the whole thing
with a resolution to make it March 81,
and the steering committee, in order to
satisfy him and his followers, added a
week more, but I am afraid that is all
the farther it will get. Nothing is i'm
possible in this world, but how both
house and senate can complete the
important work before them in the
time named is beyond the most ardent
advocate of short session. Plenty of
work has been done, but, to be candid
about it, little has been accomplished
that would rebound to the credit of
any one in particular. Most of the
important bills are still in committee
and until they are dragged out and
disposed of it can be hardly said that
the thirty sixth legislature has &C.,
complished what it should. To do
this will take some weeks, so all
around the whole thing looks far
fetched. Early adjournment or not
am anxious that this legislature
makes good, and if it takes the full
limit to do it no one will begrudge the
time. It is not question of the num-
Der OF laws. It is quality entirely.
i. +Ea.
The minor political organizations of
the state are aimed at in bill offered
by r. j. Wells of Breckenridge, who
would afford donors to the cause an
insight into the expenditure of the
same. Though not explained, the OBJ
ject, I infer, is little publicity re-
garding the doings of Supt. Palmer
and the anti saloon league OF which
he is the head in Minnesota. By a
pass-the-hat game it is claimed that
;shis- organization expended nearly
$50, 900 last campaign, or at least COL
lected that much, and while rather
expensive campaign organization was
maintained yet some of it went into
the channels of trade. Mr.. Wells is
c2e ct the republican floor leaders of
the house and if his bill fails it will
not be his fault. The bill provides
for the publication of receipts and ex-
penditures by the smaller political
organizations the same as the big
fellows. In fact annual statements
are demanded.
DR.. J. A. Gates, Third district
member of the house and prominent
in the councils of the house steering
committee, would curb the activities
of the book trust to the extent of Great
ing a permanent text book commits
sion, it to have authority to adopt
course of study and purchase all text
books covering the same. His bill
creating the commission was intro
duced Tuesday in the house. The
commission is to be composed of the
president of the university, the state
superintendent of instruction, the
secretary of state and the state auditor.
For supplying the schools with the
necessary text books bids are to be
asked, but if a combine is shown the
commission is authorized to contract
with the authors of books needed or
any one likely to underbid the
octopus.
Senator J.. M. Hackney's scheme of
an agricultural school of correspond
ence has no less a hacker than the
great empire builder, James j. Hill,
of the Great Northern Railway
company. He has just written
from the west commencing Mr.. Hack
ney's bill highly and offering needed
support in the way of encouraging
letters and talks. Mr.. Hackney IS idea
is to teach farming by mail, the
central educational institution to be
the state agricultural college located
at st. anthony Park. His idea is to
aid those whom lack of funds will
not permit personal attendance at the
state school. Teaching by mail has
grown to tremendous proportions in
the United States and Mr.. Hackney
sees no reason why Minnesota should
be behind in the movement.
:. +
The gossips are coupling up State
Auditor Iverson with the vacancy on
the state tax commission, but there is
nothing to substantiate it. Not that
Gov. johnson would not offer the place
to the Fillmore county man if he could
be assured that his acceptance would
be fOrthcnninp Int nnina that Sam