Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-06-03
PRESS RECOGNIZES
RINES' GREAT WORK
Newspapers Praise Him For His Leg
islative Record and His Stand
For Clean Politics.

ure during the short period of an ex-
ira session. With Hon. C. II. War
ner of Aitkin as joint author the bill
was introduced and by persistent ef-
fort was made a part of the House
program, although the senate had
gone on record against the passage
of any bills except those for which
the extra session was called. The
passage of the bill by the House en-
abled the lid" to be raised in the
senate and the measure was submit
ted to the voters at the 1912 election.
Mr.. Rines carried on an active cam
paign for the ratification of the law
at the 1912 election and it was large
ly due to his activity in urging upon
the voters the Importance of the law
that it was approved. Under this act
the state is now collecting nearly
million and quarter dollars addition
al taxes annually from the railroads.
That the increased rate was justified
and necessary to put railroad prop
erty on an equality with other prop
erty as tax producer is generally
conceded.
Session Of 1913.
In this session Mr.. Rines' capacity
and ability as a legislator was fitting
ly recognized by his selection as
speaker. In the contest for this po-
sition he had the support, not only
of the progressive element of the
House, but Of others as we'll who rec
ognized in Mr.. Rines a man who, by
temperament, character and expert
ence, had special fitness for this i'm
portant position.
In organizing the House, Mr.. Rines
adopted many reforms intended to af-
ford greater publicity in the work of
committees and facilitate the transac-
ton of business. Records Of commit
tee meetings were required and roll
calls recorded. Business methods
were adopted in purchasing of sup
plies and the number of House en-
ployees reduced one-third. AS a re.
suit of this policy of economy the
House expenses for the session were
reduced to $52,190.41, as compared
with $74,95S47 for the previous ses-
sion, saving of $4,000. A rear
rangement Of the committee were
made and the number reduced in the
interest of economy and efficiency.
The speakers plan of organizing the
House was commended by all ele-
ments and the committees proved so
representative of sentiment of the
main body that no committee report
was overturned during the whole ses-
sion, an unusual event in legislative
procedure.
The House Of 1913, with Henry
Rines as it's speaker, has a remark
able record. 1t was distinctively a
body responsive to the public will. It
passed many progressive and other
reform measures in the interest Of
popular government and for the good
of the common people, such as the
initiative and referendum, the recall,
presidential primaries, workman's
compensation, five-sixths jury bill,
act for suppression of vice (red light
bilD; fourth class city bill (giving
certain cities the right to vote on the
liquor question:; bill prohibiting
county boards from granting liquor
licenses defeated in the senate); the
Minnette telephone bill regulating
telephone rates and requiring compel
Ing lines to make connections (vetoed
by governor and passed by House over
his veto); Nolan bill giving cities pow
er to regulate rates of public service
corporations (vetoed by governor and
passed by House over his veto); and
many other important measures.
A committee was appointed in the
beginning of the session to investigate
state departments and work out a
plan for reducing the number of such
departments. This committee did ex-
cellent work. It's reports showed clear.
ly the necessity for change in the
plan of state government, which cul-
minated in a bill for committee to be
appointed out of the House and SEN
ate to work out a. reorganization plan
and report to the next session. The
bill passed the House after a hard
A5AI OAt "cAo uCACoICO III IA0 ScAdl0.
He took prominent part in the his
toric fight which passed the Minnette
telephone bill and the Nolan public
utilities bill over the governors veto.
Mr.. Rines' administration as speak
er was very successful. While taking
positive stand for those measures
which he believed to be right, he had
the good will of those who differed
with him as they recognized in him
man Of convictions and one who
was sincere in what he advocated.
Picked for Auditor.
The name Of Henry Rines has been
associated with the authorship for
several years. His friends and others
who have watched his legislative ca
reer recognized in him man who was
specially fitted by training and natural
ability to fill this important Office. His
unusual success as Speaker caused
this sentiment to grow until it became
statewide. In response to this senti