Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-01-31

there seems to be little occasion to ques-
ton. why was he placed at the head Of
1 the committee which at this session at
least will be as important If not more
so, if than the tax committee?
Mr.. Burnquist knew that one of the
most important measures would be a
public utilities commission. Senator
Wallace as chairman Of the committee
on corporations, introduced measure
providing for such commission and it
will be his measure over which most of
the discussion will take place. It is not
the intention of the writer to present an
| argument here for or against a public
utilities commission, but the iniquity Of
Senator Wallace's measure should be
shown up in no uncertain terms. Pro-
| gressive democrats in the senate have
| an excellent opportunity when this bill
| is up for discussion to show their
mettle
| That Senator Wallace did not write
the bill goes without saying It was
penned by a skilled hand. There is a
serious conviction that it was drawn in
the legal department of big public
service corporation. At any rate it is a.
! bill which could be Endorsed by all the
| legal departments Of all the public c,r-
porations in the state. The respon-
sibility for this measure is partly Mr.
Burnquist's fault for placing a man at
the head Of the corporation committee
whose convictions are such that he leans
| towards the corporation side of every
! question.
| A few features of the Wallace bill are
| sufficient to convince anyone Of it's
source. The law provides that the men,
bers Of the proposed commission should
be appointed. Make them elective and
Mr.. Wallace and those backing the bill
know that it will be lost. Another pro-
vision of the bill provides that if a
municipality desires to acquire one Of
the public service corporations, it will
take three-fifths of those voting at the
election to start the action. Three
fifths of all corporations. After the
voters decide they want to operate the
utility, they must then go into court
and submit the necessity Of the taking
of the property to a jury. This is only
a portion Of Senator. Wallace's bill.
There are other features equally hostile
to the best interests of municipalities.
The wonder of it all is, however, why
did Mr.. Burnquist, usually recognized as
progressive, appoint Senator Wallace
chairman of the corporation committee?
Will any progressive republican. or
just plain progressive, step forward with
an explanation?
1t might be well to say in this con-
nection that the public utilities are
backing the Wallace bill. The democratic
| side of both houses in full possession Of
the facts. It is hardly likely that they
| will stand behind the forces agitating
this measure. The measure may be
clothed in progressive attire but It is q
rectionary bill and the democrats should
be on their guard. Several prominent
members Of the democratic delegation
are just itching to get at the Wallace
BILL
Senator Works Of Mankato will receive
the solid backing of the democrats for
| this measure to abolish the board OF
| visitors. This board has been used by
Governor Eberhart to harass the board
! Of control because that board is con-
trolled by the democratic members. As
long as the board was in harmony with
the chief executive the board Of visitors
was quiescent body. No sooner was it
known that P. M. Ringdal might oppose
Governor Eberhart than the board be-
| came very active It's Secretary James
| Matchftt, IS a son-in-law Of Silas w.
Leavit, former member of the board,
who would like to fill Ringdars shoes.
Another member is J. T. Schain, Browns
Valley He is an applicant for Mr..
| Ringdal's position. With these facts
| known, how much credit should an in
| telligent public give the recent reports
of that board?
! Is the Burnquist- Clague-Wa llace-Hay-
| craft machine in the senate after Sena-
| tox Moonan's recall bill? At present it
| looks as though the machine in the
| senate was out to rob him Of the credit
| his measure deserves, and also to render
| impossible his bill. Such procedure was
| in operation when the senate was DOM
! mated by s. Y. Gordon. Unless originated
| from his side Of the senate 1t was
| promptly and effectually riddled.
! Now the elections committee, Of which
| Senator Haycraft is chairman, and the
| elite of Burnquist's machine are u.s.
sociate members, proposes an amend
| ment to the Moonan bill which doubt
less will kill it and clear the decks for
| new bill under the championship OF
the senatorial clique. The amendment
proposes to recall appointive officers.
As everyone knows this would not be
feasible or right. The elective officer
| and not his subordinate should be the
one and the only one recalled. Through
| him, the public can reach the offending
! subordinate and fix responsibility at the
same time Senator Moonan by show
| ing his ability in fathering clean cut
progressive legislation has offended the
Burnquist machine. The senate or
| ganization has proceeded far enough
now to indicate clearly that BurnqIist
is going to give the democratic minority