Morris tribune., 1913-02-07

trouble with county option IL that 1t |
IL not on the square. In it's painy |
days ft furnished q meal ticket for a |
hungry horde who besieged the legis-
Iature from all sides and made life
a burden for the opposition. Money
poured into the Golfers of those back
ing the bill and there were fat sal
aries for everybody. This slush fund
is absent now The bill is up on it's
merits only and for that reason it
will fail. Still there are many who
honestly believe in county option and
It will receive good vote when 1t
comes up for consideration. The
house tearerance committee has re-
ported the bin ont to pass.
The one uncertain thing this season
is tonnage tax. Whether or not 1t
will pass the house is a question. II
it does those interested are confident
that it will get by the senate. The
agitation for a tonnage tax on iron
ore began in 1905. Those behind the
bill forced it through both houses
IL. II
ever, failed to agree with the majority
and he vetoed the measure. The propo-
sition is up again, with Repre- aenta-
tive Thomas Franks0n OF Spring Val
ley and H. B. Bjorge OF Lake Park as
It's sponsors. Under ordinary eircum-
stances it should fail because of the
| little demand for it, but it has a
chance and if it does pass no one will
be surprised This time tonnage tax,
instead of being a real issue, has TAX
en- on retali&toFy features. When the
| house and senate was organized the
upstate members were the first TO
climb aboard the Rinss and Burnquist
handwagOns. This gave the two men
! toned leaders an undoubted lead and
| ever since those members, who were
nosed out have been threatening ven-
| geancS. Tonnage tax. 1t ts said, is
the weapon the minority has decided
/ upon. Some say the liquor crowd is
secretly backing the tonnage tax bill
for purposes of retaliation. Whether
| this is true or not | cannot say, but
the fact remains that members OF both
houses against the tax two years ago
and known to be friendly with the
brewers are talking tonnage tag now.
%.I \
The initiative and referendum bill
reported out by the house committee
on elections will probably be made a
special order and advocates Of the
measure are locking forward to q
spirited fight. The bill which will be
considered is redrsft of i've bills
covering the subject and introduced
/ by as many members For the initla-
tive a per cent petition is provided
and for the referendum q per cent
petition. For amendments to the con-
stitution 10 per cent petition is re-
quired. Two years ago the bill met
defeat ON the question OF percentage
and it will again figure this time. It
is hardly probable that either house
will stand for the low percentage pro-
vided for in the present BILL
!. !. !.
The house Is now engaged in a probe
of the state grain inspection service
and the whole thing promises to be
of more than ordinary interest. The
inquiry began last Friday with an Or
tonville shipper on the stand and it
has to be said that his testimony was
anything but cOmmendatory as far
as state inspection is concerned. Two
/ nf 5h hi n
had been passed upon by two state in
spectors and each gave the lot a diff
fereut grade. The state warehouse
commission, which is in charge OF the
state inspection of grain, says that
its grades are always in favor of the
shipper when there is any doubt, but
it's claims are not shared in by a ma
jority of the house At any rate they
propose finding out if there lis any
thing to the charges of discrimina,
ton and the probe now on is for the
purpose of getting the desired informa
ton.
\. + \
Representative F. L. Klemer oil
Faribault has introduced two bills in
the house directed against the brewery
owned saloons and the chances are
good for their approval by the temper
ance committee. One prohibits owner
: ship of a saloon by any brewery OF
I wholesale liquor dealer and the other
c0mpels all applicants for saloor
license to make affidavit that they are
not the agent or owner of a brewery
or wholesale liquor house or in any
way interested In such Whether tht
.bilIaWill pass or not is question ane
if it does it will not be because tht
brewing interests are not on the job
1t is one bit of legislation they havt
o1Hse for. 81. ar
4 1856 aa +Y.t 60 ~,
. Governor Eberhart has announces
! the reappeintment of o. M Hall as
member of the state tax commission
and his prompt action removes from