Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-06-18
pull was theirs!
.:..

0nAO tA0 pAOnAOI040 AOp0 " T0allZ0 II
tidy sum. The building will prob
ably be located OH the block east OF
the capitol which was formerly the
site of the old Governor Merriam
home, which is beautifully located,
still real estate sharks are busy and
it was stated last week that they had
worked so industriously that the final
determination as to the location will
not be without a contest. The Mer-
Ram site, which is block in ex-
tent, can be had for $4,000, while
quarter block some distance south is
offered for $47,8O0. The hoped for
sale of this latter site it is said in a
measure influenced the passage of the
bill authorizing the new building and
this is responsible for some Of the
shady gossip now being INDUCED in.
The Merriam block is favored by
members of the board Of control and
the justices of the supreme court, but
the historical society is divided on
the proposition. -.
\ i. +
Governor Eberhart has been quoted
as saying that the recent rate ,deci-
sion handed down at Washington is
a victory for statewide control of pub
lie utilities, which he is advocating.
As the decision savors more Of home
rule than centralized control hardly
think his excellency was correctly
quoted, yet there are those about the
capitol who argue that the decision
Is favorable to the new movement!
Governor Eberhart received the news
OF the decision with considerable
pleasure and said it was victory to.
be proud of, though it is of memory
that he was little chary about COM
menting on the outcome when the
case was pending. He refused to
join movement started by a number
of governors to force the issue, de-
clarlng that it was matter wholly
for the courts. Between you and I,
fellows, his excellency had some cold
feet while that battle was on, but
that does not prevent him in joining
in the general jollifcation now.
!.
Until the special session of the leg
islature which Governor Eberhart has
promised is called the house commit
tee, headed by w. l. Nolan of Mime
apolis, appointed to look into the
question of statewide control, will
busy itself in finding out what public
men, taxpayers and the municipali-
ties think of the new idea Letters
with list Of questions will be d.
rected to each. The committee, you
probably learned, put in several days
at Madison, Wis, studying the utili-
ties law of that state. Nolan says
Wisconsin has an admirable law for
Wisconsin. but he doubts whether it
! would work in this state AS he en-
plains it Wisconsin, which is uni
versity controlled to large degree,
has been centralizing control On all
| lines of government at Madison,
| while Minnesota has long preached
| the doctrine of home rule and it's
towns are jealous of any encroach-
| ment. This, he says, is where the
shoe may pinch and make the pas
sage of the law as demanded by the
governor difficult.
+ !. i .,,
It might be we'll for the kingmak-
ers to keep their eye on Judge John
son of Goodhue county, who caused
quite a few to sit up and take no.
tice in demand on the grand jury
of his county that it investigate VIC
lations of the 2-cent fare passenger
law in the district and bring indict-
ments. The jury failed to take heed
and he gave the members scoring.
Then followed the findings of the su-
preme court at Washington. That one
official In the state did have the
nerve to start something brought him
considerable attention and Judge
Johnson was flooded with letters Of
congratulation. What high office
Judge Johnson has his eye on is not
known, but it might be well to keep
track of his future movements. His
honor is going to make trouble for
| some one yet.
!. !. 4 ..s =.
The insurgent end of the Modern
| Woodmen of America, which sue
ceeded in forcing the legislature to
recognize their claims to the extent
of passing law allowing them to
organize, have learned one thing and
that is the hand is sometimes quicker
than the eye. To permit the filing
of the necessary articles of incorpora-
ton the draft of the bill called for
fifteen signers. Some one slipped in
three ciphers and then added that
every one Of this number would have
to have his name acknowledged by
notary. Then to make matters
worse the bill was amended so as to
compel every insurgent to sever his
connection with the old organization
before signing the permit for the
new. THE COUNTY CHAIR NAN. f