The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-05-29
MINNESOTA WATCHES Wis.
Lieutenant Governor on visit in Ke-
nosha Shows Real Interest in Work
ing Out of Public Utilities Act and in
Income Tax.

The Hon. ]. A. A. Bernquist of St.
Paul, lieutenant governor of the state
of Minnesota, and one of the real
leaders in the political life of that
great state, is spending few days in
Kenosha Lieutenant Governor Bern
quist was sought out this morning and
he hurried to say that MS visit to Ke-
nosha was of no political interest and
that he came purely as social visitor
with friends and relatives in Kenosha.
The lieutenant governor spoke of the
great political changes now taking
place in Minnesota and declared that
Minnesota had many problems in COM
mon with her sister state of Wiscon-
sin. eve are looking to Wisconsin
with good deal of interest just at
present. said the lieutenant governor.
GA special session of the Minnesota
Legislature has been called to consider
the passage Of a public utilities act and
Wisconsin s experiment along these
lines is being used as an object lesson.
We have had the aid of experts of your
state in the preparation of bills to be
submitted to the legislature and any
thing connected with the working out
,of this legislation in Wisconsin is of
greatest moment 20 us just at this
time. This is regarded as one of the
big movements in Minnesota. We
have taken some steps which we be-
lieve to be in forward movement.
The enaction of law for the refer
endum and initiative has met with con-
siderable favor by the people of our
state Under this law two per cent of
the people may petition the legislature
for the enactment Of law. In case
the legislature declines to act favor
ably on the petition or so amend it as
to make it unsatisfactory to the peo-
pie it may be submitted to the refer
endum. Another law that meets with
favor just enacted in the state is the
law governing county elections. This
law provides for non-partisan rule in
counties and it leaves the state of
fcials as the only officers elected UNI
der partisan rule. OF course the law
has its Inconsistencies. / was elected
as republican and may be called
AZ do n I'D
in the legislature. However, we feel
that these little Inconsistencies will be
taken care Of with the law in opera
ton. Minnesota like Wisconsin, has
had its suffrage suggestions and the
lower house of the legislature have
voted in favor of the women, but the
bill was killed in the upper house by a
margin of three votes. We also are
watching the working out of the in
come tax law in Wisconsin. A similar
law drawn with the aid of members of
the Wisconsin Tax Commission has
been submitted to the Minnesota legis-
lature, but as yet it has not been en-
acted into law. People in Minnesota
are watching the working out of the
law in Wisconsin
The lieutenant governor showed his
real interest in the income tax PROPOSE
ton by questioning officials Of this
county as to the workings of the law.
The lieutenant governor let it be
understood that Minnesota has its
troubles along political lines and the
contest is between the progressives and
the so-called reactionaries, the same as
in other states in this section of the
nation.
The lieutenant governor and his
family will remain in Kenosha until
Sunday evening as the guest of Miss
Weeks of Deming street.