Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-03-22
Minnesota legislature
Proceedings At the Minnesota State Capitol for the
Past Week.

~ f6St
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
st. Paul. March 13.-1nitiative and
referendum on an ultra-conservativ<
basis, the Democratic idea as set forth
In the bill introduced by Albert Pfaen
der Of New Ulm, passed the lower
house of the Minnesota legislature by
vote Of So to so. It grants to thu
people the right to vote on legislation
by popular ballot but contains restric
tons which purport to safeguard the
interests Of the state against the
apathy Of the voters on questions Of
law.
It received the vote Of II Of the "a
Democratic members of the house and
those opposing it explained that they
did so at the request Of the people OF
their own districts. It received the
vote Of all the conservative Republic
cans and enough of the radicals to per
NIT Its passage. Many of those who
voted the radical Campbell bill ex
planned that although they did not "a
vor the Pfaender measure they be
lfeved it to be better than nothing
Others pronounced it worthless. G. w
Brown, in opposing the bill, said II
was a disgrace to the state of Mime,
sofa and that he did not propose to be
held responsible for it's passage. J. N.
johnson, P. N. Converse. r. L. Palmer
and Rufus P. Morton, in opposing the
measure, said it was not worth the
paper it was written on and that ii
had been SO complicated by amend
ments that they were not sure of it's
contents.
The Campbell bill, which was de-
feated Thursday, only provided petit
lions signed by 10 and Z per cent OF
the voters to bring about the initiative
and referendum. It required only a
majority Of the votes cast on any
measure to carry it and it allowed the
people to initiate a vote on constitu.
tfonal amendments.
Brewery interests were said to
favor a bill introduced in the senate
by Senator Klein, who Indignantly
denied the charge and stated his rea.
sons for thinking his bill good one
Senator Putnam, county optionist
was the man who brought the charge
It was bill to give 100 people a
right to incorporate as village. The
present law requires at least ZOO
Senator Putnam charged the bill waa
framed to permit small bodies of men
to incorporate and establish saloon
against the wishes of majority OF
those in contiguous territory. It de-
veloped, on the spur of moment, one
of the hottest fights of the session,
The bill was voted on and lost, 81
to 20. .-...
An institution to reform 'stramps
Migrants and wholesalers by humane
and scientific course of teaching and
instruction." was provided for in q
bill introduced by Senator Boyle OF
Duluth. The cost of the institution is
to be 100000.
A companion bill provides that any
one who deserts his wife in need
and necessitous circumstances, or his
children, shall be liable to workhouse
sentence" The second bill provides
for methods of teaching them to love
their own wives and to return to them
and to live happily ever after.
Good Roads Bills Passed.
R. c. Dunn's good roads bills as
amended by the senate passed the
house by a unanimous vote. They
need only the signature of Governor
Eberhart to become laws. The bills
contemplate state aid and supervision
for the building of<good roads through
Minnesota. One bill authorizes vote
to be taken on a constitutional amend
ment which would levy an annual tai
Of one mill for the building of good
roads. The other bill appropriates
$3.50, 900 a year for the maintenance OF
the state highway commission. This
bill contemplates the placing of large
force of competent road engineers in
the county districts to superintend all
road building.
st. Paul, March 14.-George A
Ralph, state drainage engineer, who
10 AAFCoIA6dIAOA ny Lu0 SJdLS
legislature, was on the witness stand
before the house committee. He was
called by G. H. Warner of Aitkin to
explain his conduct relative to bitches
Nos. 66 and Sc in Aitkin county. -r
Mr. Warner asked the witness to ex
plain particularly the charges that
there were Irregularities in the loca
ton Of the bitches, the letting of the
contracts and the payment of the state
money before any work had been com
pleted.
Representative Pfaender, chairman
of the committee of public accounts
and expenditures verbally recommend
ed the passage of bill compelling
the secretary Of state to submit bids
for automobile tags. Mr.. Pfaender re
ferred to the subcommittee white
wash report which exonerated the sec
rotary for paying IS cents for tags on
the grounds that there was no evi
dence submitted that the tags could
be obtained more cheaply.
Congressman w. S. Hammond of the
Second District was guest of the
house recommended the creation Of
HARVARD PAPER SUPPRESSED