New Ulm review., 1913-01-29

In deposinx senator Carl Wallace
from the tax committee and placing
him at the head of the committee
ON corporations, Lieutenant Governor
]. A. A. Burnqnist owes the pro-
gressive republicans an explanation.
If Senator Wallace exerted an I'M
proper influence over tax leg1sia'
ton, and that he did, there secins
to be little occasion to question,
why was he placed at the head OF
the committee which at this session
at least will be as important, II not
more 80, than the tax committee!
Mr.. Burnquist knew that one OF
the most important measures would
be public utilities commission.
Senator Wallace as chairman OF
the committee on corporations, IN
troduced a measure providing for
such a commission and it Will be
his measure over which most of the
discussion will take place. 1t Is not
the intention of the writer to present
an argument for or against a public
utilities commission. but the iniqui-
ty OF Senator Wallace's measure
should be shown up In no uncertain
terms. Progressive democrats III
the senate have an excellent oppor-
tunity when this bill is up for dis
cusslon to show their mettle.
That Senator Wallace did not
write the bill goes without saying.
It was penned by a skilled hand.
There is serious conviction that
it was drawn in the legal depart
ment of = big public service cor.
poration. At any rate it Is a Dill
which could be endorsed by all the
legal departments of all the public
service corporations in the state.
The responsibility for this measure
is partly Mr.. Burnquist's fault for
placing a man at the head of the
corporation committee whose conv1c-
tons are such that he leans toward
the corporation side of every ques-
tion.
A few, features Of the WALLACE
bin are sufficient tO convince any
one of it's source. The law provides
that the members 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 provi'
sion of the bill provides that If
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 voting at
an election is a safe margin for
the public service corporation. Al:
ter the voters, decide they want TO
operate the utility, they must then
90 into court and submit the neces-
sity 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
hest interests of municipalities. The
wonder of it all is, however, why dld
Mr.. Burnquist, usually recognized as
a progressive, appoint Senator wal
lace chairman of the corporation
committee? Will any progressive re-
publican, or just plain progressive,
step forward with an explanation?
It might be we'll to say in this con-
nection that the public utilities are
backing the Wallace bill. The demo
cratic side of both houses Is IN
full possession of facts. 1t is hard
" likely that they will stand be-
hind the forces agitating this meas.
ure. The measure may be clothed
in progressive attire but it is
bill and the democrats
should be on their guard. Several
prominent members of the demo-
cratic delegation are just itching TO
get at the Wallace bill.
Senator Works of Mankato. prob
ably will receive the solid backing
Of the democrats for his measure
to abolish the board of visitors.
This board has been used by Gov.
ernor Eberhart to harass the board
Of control because that board is
controlled by the democratic mem !
bers. AS long as the board was
in harmony with the chief executive
he board OF visitors was a quies-
cent body. No sooner was it known
hat p. NJ. Ringdal might oppose |
Governor Eberhart than the board
became very active. Its secretary,
James Matchitt, is son.in-law OF
5ilas w. Leavitt, former member
If the board, who would like to !
ill Ringdaps shoes. Another men,
Der is J. T.. Schain, Browns Valley.
He is an applicant for Mr.. Ringdars
position. With these facts known,
low much credit should an intelli- ;
gent public give the recent lurid
'eports Of that board?
Is the uist.Clague-Wallace-
1aycraft machines in the senate af-
er Senator Moonan's recall bill? At
present it looks as though the ma
.frine in the senate was out to rob
Tim of the credit his measure de-
erves, and also to render impossible
lis bill. Such a procedure was in
'peration when the senate was dom
mated by s. Y. Gordon. Unless a
ill originated from his side Of the
enate it was promptly and effectu.
lily riddled.