The Mankato free press., 1913-03-07

es experienced in Minnesota dur
ing a period of twenty-seven years
have been compiled by the author.
From 1886 to 1912, inclusive, the
state paid in fire insurance. pre-
mums total of $51S,044.s1. This
amount, after total in return prem
iums of $19,673.4S is deducted for
the same period, leaves aggregate
payments to insurance companies of
$49S,371.33. Fire losses since 1886
have totaled $2S4,767.97 of which
$27S,704 have been experienced since
1900.
Has Paid a Fortune.
1t follows from these statistics that
the cost to the state over and above
losses during the twenty-seven years
for the protection carried on public
properly was $213,603 80. The ratio
of losses incurred to premiums re-
ceived by the companies is 81 per
cent.
The bill, which has not yet been
reported in by the house committee
provides that for the years 1914,
1915 and 1916, the state treasurer
set aside an amount equaling the
sum total of premiums which the
state would have paid the insur-
ance companies during these years,
and that the fund stand in the GUS
tody of the state as a permanent
protection against fire loss. After
1916 it is proposed that the fund
be increased annually by amounts
equaling rs per cent of the pre-.
miDnS Whinl, would noid
for each respective twelve months.
The saving to the state, it is de-
clared would be 25 per cent of each
years premiums after 1916.
Would Cut Membership.
TWO bills for constitutional amend
ments proposing radical changes in
the makeup of the Legislature were
introduced in the house today. One
is by G. w. Brown of Glencoe, and
proposes that the Senate shall be
limited to fifty members and the
house to 100. At present there are
sixty-three senators and 120 house
members.
The other bill, by j. T. Johnson
rof Fergus Falls, provides four-year
terms for house members as we'll
as senators, and provides that half
of them shall be elected every two
years, so that at least half the
members OF each body will have
served the previous session. In case
a reapportionment is made, the terms
of all members are to expire, and al
| the next election half the members
are to be elected for two years and
half for four years.
May Cut Out Polling Places.
The time will come when polling
places are a thing of the past and
all voting will be done by letter
This prediction was made by Rep
resentative S. r. Child of Mime
apolis before the house committee
ON elections Saturday.
The committee was considering
Representative f. L. Palmer's bill
permitting travelling men to vote
away from home. He explained that
the 1911 law was unconstitutional
because it required the ballot to be
stitution requires men to vote where
they live.
Mr.. Child said there is nothing in
the constitution to prohibit this mail
ing of the ballots and that the leg.
islature can do anything which is
not expressly prohibited in the CON
stitution.
81 believe the time will come
though it may be long way Off
when all our voting will be done by
letter, when man may sit down
in the quiet of his home, deliberate
on his choice and vote without going
to polling place. The deciding OF
property and many other of our most
sacred transactions are done that
way, and why not voting?"