Morris tribune., 1911-03-31

saturday was the last day for the
Introduction of bills in the house and
senate. The day brought forth a large
number of belated measures, most of
which will have little or no chance
introduced in the house was House
File No. 1923. The mystic number of
"23" caused considerable comment OF
a facettOus nature. 1t was the num-
ber of the new county option bill intro
duced by Representative Lundeen.
i. \ :.
The county option bill of Mr. Lun-
deem, man who has been severely
criticised because of his previous atti-
tude on the question, provides that a
county option. or wet or dry" cleo
ton, will be precipitated by petition
bearing the names of 25 per cent of the
voters. Its chief provision is to the
effect that if the county votes dry"
it shall be entirely dry" and if it
votes wet" it shall be wholly wet"
In other words, 1t eliminates the prin-
ciple of local option, which was a pro-
vision of the last county option bill
Criticism was directed against the
anti-saloon measure on the ground
that it was not fair because if Il county
voted wet" the principle of local op-
ton still prevailed. Mr.. Lundeen's
bill is not expected to create much of
stir. The anti-optionists will oppose
md hro CT will hDr h.,
clined to accept the new provision.
= .i- y
Reapportionment is expected to be
revived in the senate shortly During
the past week the veiIed threat of the
governor that he will call an extra
session unless the senate makes sin
cere effort to pass a reapportionment
measure has created considerable ex-
citement. At first the senators thought
the governor was merely bluffing, but
it is becoming noised abroad that the
executive means just what he says and
insists that the party pledge be car
excuse that the Democrats were in
strumental in defeating the hill. He
insists that the Republicans. As the
majority party, will be held responsi
BILE and that it is absolutely necessary
that something be done and If it is not
done he will see that the responsible
ity is placed where it really belongs.
= !. !.
During the past week the reappor-
tionists have been making a new move.
They have been canvassing the situa-
tion to see whether or not a comhina-
tion between Northern Minnesota Re-
publicans who favor reapportionment |
and the Democrats Of the Third dis !!
trict could not he made. The basis of !
this proposed agreement is that the |
administration Republicans do not feel |
they are under obligations to consider |
the necessities and interests OF the !
Southern Minnesota Republicans who |
absented themselves from the confer
ence which Governor Eberhart called
to determine whether or not some sort |
of harmonious agreement could not be
reached relative to the Congdon bill.
\ !. !.
The possibility of such combina-
ton has considerably worried the
anti-reapportionment senators. In the
meantime a new bill is preparing and
is expected to make its appearance
IN the senate some time this week
It will have the names of some twelve
Or fifteen Republican senators as joint
authors. Senators Rockne and Clague
are said to be behind the measure. 1t
will provide for 126 house members
and will leave the senate membership
as it is, but will be so arranged that
Hennepin and the Northern Minnesota
counties will have six additional men,
oers at the expense of the southern
oE