The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-12-26

Is in force. Oregon hasa ballot that
comes near being four sheet poster
4 In sizes How any one can vote it In
3I.telligently is puzzle to those who
Lhave examined it, Half of the ballot
is given over to measures to be voted
upon under the initiative and refer
endum act and the type is so small
that intelligent voting is almost inn
possible. South Dakota is another
state with a freak ballot 1t is nearly
six feet long. The voting booths as
used in the cities would be useless if
such ballots were the case in Mime
| sofa. There would not be space;
enough. AS it is it is a task to prop
erly mark the present state ballot.
| !. !.
| Speaking CT the ballot and possible
efforts to change it so as to accom-.
| modate the initiative and referendum
the work of a number of the members
in both houses will be directed at
shortening it. They say it is reform
that must come some time and now is
as good a time as any How this will
be done is a puzzle, as each session
only adds to the list of Offices made.
| elective and the questions to be voted
upon. Some members have suggested
that way out of the difficulty would,
be to have special election in the
case of amendments and the refer
endum and leave the election of the
constitutional Offices as they now are. !
IAN important matter due to come up
at the coming session OF the legisla-
ture will be either an amendment to-.
the constitution or the passage of
law making the lieutenant governor
the acting executive during the abb
sence of the governor from the state
Representative Pfaender of New Ulm,,
l am told, will probably back the pro.
posed law. 1t is more than likely
that he will receive little encourage
ment from the present administration.
which, it is, said, will veto the meas
ure should it get by. That section of
the constitution relating to the Office
OF lieutenant governor and his right
to act as; executive during the alb.
sence of the governor has long been
in dispute. 1t has never been tested
in the courts. Those interested in
the matter say~now is the time to corr
rect this uncertain feature and the bill.
as proposed will have their endorse.
ment. L.,
.' 81 $500. 'ys~ @::f g
/ R. c. Dunn of Princeton did NOT
give much reimbursement to the bue;iinr
started for him for speaker and the
movement has ~beeaallropped. Bob 1t,
is said down here, only wants one.
thing, and that is the head of the
committee on taxes and tax laws. He.
; is opposed by sRepFeseutative: Frank
son, First district member,awho,
wants the job himself, hut his geo.
graphical location is against him. This.
is one OF the most important commits
tees on the list and fairness to the,
entire state acOmpels selection that.
will be;Gwithout sectional bias. It is
hardly likely that the Northern dis,
,tricts would stand for First district
man as the chairman Of this commit I
tee and vice versa. 80. ft<e- -te..fe.
: \ < = =, = 9~.;,.sf;>s.si
If members of the two branches. of
the legislature are agreeable a num-
Der of reforms will be made in the
rules for the guidance Of the mem-
bers. These rrefornls,-it is said, have.
been BORROWED from the California
legislative manual and have to do.
with debate during the taking of q
vote on any measure zand the matter
OF junkets. EsDebate is now forbidden
during the taking of vote, but it is
generally evaded by the member ask
ing permission to explain his vote BY
this method a very effective speech
is often made which frequently in
f1uences the result. The proposed
rule even forbids this explanation. In
the case Of junkets the plan in the.
past has been for committees to 90 in
a body whenever an institution was.
to be Inspected or investigated The
new rule will limit the number of Wis
iting members to three and permits
sion to make the trip to come from
the committee on rules. r. ..
j. :. :. H
The rumor is persistent to the eff
feet that Ralph w. Wheelock, private
secretary to Governor Eberhart, will
sever his connection with the office
shortly after the first of the year, but
both Mr.. Wheelock and Governor
Eberhart refused to confirm the story.
Wheelock, it is said, has been picked
to succeed P. NJ. Ringdal of the board
of CONTROL whose term of Office will
expire next April. 1t is not worth as
much as his present job, but there is
a six-year term attached which counts
for something L.
+ i
James A. Larson, assistant secretary
of state, is talked of as possible can
didate for congress in the event of
the passage Of a bill redistricting the
state. Jim's county, which is Red