The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-14
Pless Bill Is Passed;
Restores the Moose

o. raul, warren IN Dill
which provides that the state
game and fish commission shall
be abolished and that the work
| ing force of the commission be
incorporated into a state con-
stabulary of not more than one
hundred members, was intro
duced in the house today by
Miles Porter of Mankato.
The bill provides that a state
police commissioner shall direct
the constabuary in enforcing
game and fish laws, forest and
labor laws. The office would be
appointive, and the salary $4,000
year. A salary of $40 year,
with clothes and living expenses
is provided for the enlisted men,
who would serve four-year terms.
st. Paul, March Tn session as
committee of the whole, the house
yesterday by an Overwhelming vote
recommended to pass the Pless bill,
which restores capital punishment
for murder in the first degree. The
senate the day before passed a bill
which permits hanging for convic-
tons of felonious assault by persons
serving life terms i'm the state prison
or upon their escape.
The test vote taken on the Pless
bill, indicating the attitude of the
house, was on a motion for indefinite
postponement, urged by Charles n.
Orr of ST. Paul The vote was GO
to 80. The vote on the motion to
recommend for passage was unani-
nous.
warm debate preceded the vote
and was opened by Ernest G.. Pless
of Gibbon, author of the bill. He de-
clared the death penalty should be
enforced because its abolition two
years ago has caused the number of
murders to increase.
William A. Campbell declared the
attempt on Colonel Roosevelt's life
was made in Wisconsin so the as
sassin could escape a possible death
penalty.
w. T. Stone, the principal oppo-
nent of the bill, declared the state
has no more right to murder than
an individual
Wife Must Testify.
Persons who commit crime in Min
nesOta shall not be permitted to es-
cape punishment by marrying the
witness, proposes Senator G.. II. Sui
Ivan. In q bill introduced today he
provides that husband or wife may
be compelled to testify against each
other when accused of a crime COM
mitted before the marriage took
place.
Will Tender eastman a Banquet
Senator Thomas eastman will be
rendered banquet by the people of
Owatonna in that city tonight. The
Owatonna, and will be under the aus
pieces of the Owatonna Business
Mems club. The banquet is given to
Senator eastman on account of the
fight he has made for the distance
tariff bill
St Paul, March THE legislature
of Minnesota will be asked to pass
judgment on the turkey trot, bunny
hug, the tango, the grizzly bear and
other so-called modern dances, if ].
Marien of ST. Paul can find some
legislator willing to introduce a bill
for their prohibition.
Mr.. Marien is former dance hall
keeper. He has kept a dance hall at
Highwood, in the outskirts of ST.
Paul, for the past ten or twelve
years. Up to the last two years he
enjoyed opening his hall to the
young people of the neighborhoOd
He liked to see them dance the old
fashioned dances.
With fhn Of thu I'm
he began to look with suspicion on
the dancers. 1t did not look like real
dancing to him. He was used to the
old quadrille, the lancers and the
minuet. Instead of the usual smile,
there appeared a frown. AS the
months went on the tango and bunny
hug were introduced, the frown on
his face grew more severe.
Had Forbid Turkey Trot.
Finally he told the young people
that he had to forbid the turkey
trot He considered his request rea-
sonable. The next time he opened
the hall for dance he saw the same
sort of performance.
Didn't tell You that you couldn't
dance that way" he asked
ooh, but this is another dance
the Argentine tango" was the reply.
He found that he couldn't prohibit
any special kind of rag" dancing be-
cause a dance of new name but
with the same steps appeared every
week
Finally matters became so bad,
according to Mr.. Marien. that he
closed mp his dance hall. Rather
than have the rag dancing in his
place, he said that he would close
it for good.
at will stay closed until some
means is found to prohibit these aw-
full Dances" he said.
Wants Women's Clubs to Help.
Mr.. Marien would like to reopen
his dance hall again, but he declares
that it is out of the question for him
to open it and permit the rag steps.
He is now looking for some legisla-
tor to helD him abolish the evil, as
he terms it. He wants some senator
or representative who will draw a
bill that will be drastic in its scope.
He wants the aid of the Woman's
Welfare league and kindred organi.
cation. He says that there ought to
be statewide movement to curb the
modern dances. In fact he has TAX
en- steps to hold conferences with
representatives of the various well
fare organizations
Must Cover Every Rag Dance.
eff the legislature passes bill it