The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-09-12
THE HERALD AND AN EXTRA SESSION.

Az COuSlutidUlc tApcuSc, "OIh
and worry, the Dulut; Evening Her.
aid obtained an expression from
every member of the Minnesota legis-
lature as to the ACCESSIBILITY of con-
vening the legislature in extraordin-
airy session to enact railroad legis-
lation. In the first place it must be
conceded that the Herald is enter
prising. 1t is no small task to OBJ
tain expressions from, nearly two
hundred persons, especially when
those persons are in public life
Ever since the court ruled that the
Minnesota railroad legislation, which
provided for the two cent fare and
cheaper freight rates was not worth
a hill of beans, the Herald has been
in for an extra session to increase the
gross earning tax in order to make
up what it figured will be a two
million dollar decrease in the taxes
of the state. 1t has been contended
that it would be folly TO call an extra
session, and the governor has given
as his excuse, until the higher court
have passed on the pending PROPOSE
ton. However, the Herald poll is
interesting because 1t shows that a
majority of the members of the legis-
lature are themselves in favor of re-
converting at St. Paul this winter to
pass, not only railroad legislation,
but some of the other reeded reforms.
Prominent among these reforms is
our old friend, Reapportionment.
While the Pioneer does not be-
lieve that the Herald is sound in it's
deduction as to the wisdom of con-
| vening the law, makers to pass rail-
road legislation at this time, this
paper long has commended that an
extra session might pass a reappor-
tionment bill and, if this is true, the
cost Of converting the legislature
would amply repay. Therefore, we
confess to some selfish interest in the
Herald's investigation as to the feel
ing of members of the legislature in
regard to gathering again in the
near future,
And it would seem that Governor
Eberhart must take some notice of
the expressions of the Legislators as
given to the Herald and that he
possibly will reconsider his determ-
ination not to convene the legisla-
ture. 1t is likely that if the COVER
nor is convinced that there is an
honest and popular demand for adj
ded legislation the coming winter,
that he will yield to this demand and
convene the law makers. So far as
reapportionment is concerned there
is some reason to believe that a bill
might be gotten through. AS we
have often said, a real reapportion-
ment bill never was before the SEN
ate. It is pretty freely admitted that
if certain southern senators, who are
leaders in the senate, had been ap-
preached and their ala solicited in
putting through the bill, so that they
might claim some of the glory, the
bill would have gone through in some
shape and would at least have given
the North some degree of relief. AS
the matter stands now. according to
many legal lights, it will be i'm
possible for the state to reapportion
until after the next census, which
means that the North must continue
to permit the over represented
districts of the South to tell ma
jority what legislation should and
what legislation should not be passed.
| We congratulate the Evening Her
aid on it's ENTERPRISE and hope that