The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-03-25
REPEAL WELLLAW
House by Votes of7o to AZ Repeats
the ElWell Road LaW..=EffOrts
to Save the Bill Fail.
News of the Activities OF the State
Legislature Since the Last
Issue of the Union.

A bill has been introduced in the
house providing for amendments to
the election law, by Representative
Gunnar B. Bjornson of Minneota,
chairman of the house committee on
elections. The bill would abolish the
second choice feature of the primary
election system. The second choice
provision may be good thing theo-
retically, but it has not worked out
as expected in practice. Compara-
lively few voters availed themselves
Of the privilege. There is no dis
outing the fact that our primary law
can stand considerable amending.
The new bill also provides for the
amending Of the laws governing con-
tests for state Offices. Under the
present system it is necessary to re-
count the ballots in every county
separately, and this tends to make a
contest difficult and expensive. The
new bill provides that the recount
ing of the ballots would all be done
at one time at the state capitol.
Similar provision is made for con-
tests involving several counties, as
where district judgeship is at
stake. The bill also provides for the
rotation on the ballot of the names
Of candidates for nom partisan Offices.
The house advanced two labor bills
TO the calendar last Thursday. One
Of them provides that workmen shall
be paid full wages for the time spent
waiting for their pay after it is due,
and the bill met with considerable
opposition from the rural members,
as they declared it would work an
injustice to farmers. They might
hire an irresponsible farm hand they
said. and if there was a row over the
amount due the farm hand might
collect for the time spent in waiting
for the dispute to be settled.
The bill by Representative Indre-
nus requiring railroads to keep de-
pot platforms lighted half an hour
before and after train time has also
been advanced to the calendar.
Speaker Flowers has appointed a
committee to pick out local bills,
one for each member, to be con-
sidered as special order on the af-
6ernoon of March 81 and the even
ing of April 5.
The house last Thursday passed
the bill repeating the Elwell road
law by vote of 70 to AZ. The SEN
ate passed the repeal bill some time
ago. Four amendments we're offered
to the Elwell law in an effort to
save it, but to no avail. Representa-
tive Warner introduced an amend
ment to the repeal bill which was
adopted. 1t provides that petitions
already granted and contracts pend
ing shall not he affected by the re-
peal. The chief opposition to the
Elwell law came from the southern
counties, where much dissatisfaction
has prevailed relative to the measure
ever since it was placed upon the
statute books of Minnesota.
The seven Gordon bills consolidate
ing state departments, which were to
Oe considered last Friday, were post
poned to yesterday. Representative
Gordon made the motion to postpone
action.
A bill has been introduced in the
house prohibiting the state tax COM
mission from making an increase in
the total assessed valuation of any
county without public hearing in
such county.
Representative Thompson has in
PRODUCED a measure providing that
all real estate dealers must take out
county licenses and file bonds of
$4,000 to protect clients.
The Moeller bill allowing regulated
boxing in this state has been ad-
anced to the calendar, subject to
amendment.
The house under suspension of the
rules passed the Corning bill, requir-
ing political publications to news
papers to be signed. -.
Senators Denegre and Wallace pro-
pose to encourage savings, and have
introduced bill allowing banks to
receive deposits in schools, libraries
and other public places 81
Representative WEIGH has intro
duced a bill amending the county
option law so as to allow breweries
IN dry counties to sell beer in. five
gallon lots within such counties for
private use only. He is, evidently,
not related to the WEIGH of grape
juice fame. a..
The house last Friday morning
adopted minority report on the G.
e.. Warner bill, increasing the gross
EARNINGS fax on the LARGO to1ophoro