Willmar tribune., 1911-02-01
Minnesota legislature
Proceedings at the Minnesota State Capitol for the
Past Week.
Past Week,

st. Paul, Jan. 25.-The county op-
ton fight is on. Following long SER
les OF conferences, with long debates as
70 whom should introduce the meas
ure' whether it should first appear in
the house or senate, the measure fin
any was introduced in the house to-
uay oy representative Henry Rines. Of
mora. 1t was Immediately referred
10 the temperance committee.
Thls committee is pledged to report
1t out promptly to the house SO its
discussion will commence at once. In
the senate the same measure will be
introduced by Senator Victor L. john
son, of Chisago. county.
The new measure is the result of the
work of Rev. C. Charles W. Stark and
OF P. J. Youngdahl, superintendent of
the Anti-Saloon league.
Mr.. Stark says that as to its intent
it is practically the same as the bill
introduced two years ago, although
some OF the provisions are different.
1t provides for the submission of a
county option measure at special cleo
tlons to be held On other than general
or primary election days.
A petition of Is per cent of the vot-
ers OF the county will be sufficient to
cause such an election. After an cleo
ton is to be held under the provisions
OF the bill, another election is not to
be held for three years subsequent to
that time.
II the county votes dry" then,
after lapse of sixty days, the saloon
men must dispose of their property
and the county lid goes on.
Elections on county option are to be
held on days other than primary and
general election days.
Judges of election shall represent
different sides Of the question.
Sixty days advance notice Of the
election is to be given.
A simple majority of the votes will
determine the result of the election.
Penalty for violation of the county
option law if passed will be a fine of
from $50 to $100 or imprisonment of
from 80 to 80 days.
Seed For Fire District.
Representative G. H. Mattson's bill
setting aside $25,OOO for purchasing
| timothy, clover, red-top and other
grass seed for the homesteaders in the
northern Minnesota forest fire district
for reseeding their lands, passed the
house. ~-..H
A bill introduced by Representative
Cal e. Stone sets apart $25,0OO for a
| statue of Alexander Ramsey, first ter
ritorial governor of Minnesota. The
| statue is to be erected on the capitol
grounds.
Andrew Anderson of Lakeville pro-
poses separate state prison and re-
formatory for women. In bill he
provides authority to the board Of con-
troll to expend $4,000 for acquiring
not less than 100 acres for such insti-
| tuition.
Senator w. S. Dwinnell's bill per-
hitting the city of Minneapolis to in.
crease the rate of interest on its per-
manent improvement bond issue from
to AZ per cent was passed.
A loan board to invest state funds
in first mortgages on farms is proposed
in a bill by Representative S. N Lee,
of Rollag. This measure authorizes
the creation of board, consisting of
the governor, attorney general and
state auditor, who shall have the pow.
er to loan the state and school funds
which may be available to the farmers
of Minnesota. Only 80 per cent of the
value of farm may be loaned, and In
no case shall the amount exceed ST.
900.
The rate Of interest is placed at
per cent.
A resolution calling for legislative
| investigation of the state drainage
commission was submitted to the house
| committee of the Minnesota legisla-
ture. The committee consists of Rep.
| resentatives Thomas Kneeland, Al.
bert Pfaender and c. H. Warner.
This action was taken after the
legislature had heard certain charges
preferred by c.. H.. Warner of Aitkin
county and w. Brown of Koochiching
county, which they considered of such
serious nature that an investigation
should follow.
l. Representative Warner, who is be-
hind the movement, explained what
he termed the lax and incompetent
work of the commission, with the
use of maps of northern Minnesota
counties, He outlined the drainage
work which has been carried on, it's
alleged impracticability as we'll as
the comparative cost of digging the
state bitches.
Specific charges were that the con-
tracts for ditch No. 68 in Aitkin coun-
ty had not been let until after the
work had been completed Another
charge was that Engineer Ralph of the
state drainage commission had writ
ten the board of county commission
ers of Aitkin county that one ditch
contract had been let at 71s centa
a cubic yard and when the bill came
in it was rated at II cents cubic
yard.
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