The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-03-18

IcouSSu, Operating SApChSSS haNS III
creased SO per cent" said Senator
Westlake, land the taxes about the
same. Cost of equipment shows an
increase of about 100 per cent"
One has but to refer to records of
the Minnesota tax commission to
learn how much the railroad earnings
have decreased in the last year. The
figures for 1913 were $114,674, 1862,
and for 1914, 500 ,SO5,959.
The Senate committe on public SER
vice corporations took two punches
out of the Minette telephone bill last
week.
The referendum clause was elm
mated. The physical connection Sec
ton was changed so that the company
resisting an application would not be
compelled to prove that the desired
connection is not a public necessity.
The action of the Senate committee
spells trouble for the bill in the opin-
ion of observers at the Capitol. In
that the House passed the bill unan-
imously it is not expected that the
members of the lower branch will
take kindly to the amendments.
The result will probably be that a
conference committee of both houses
will be named to adjust differences.
In the meantime opponents of the bill
can be working quietly garnering
votes against it.
Representative L. C. Spooner
brought down the House about his
ears last week when he moved
adoption of the appropriations COM
mittee's report that the Minimum
Wage commission bill with an appro-
priation of $4,000 be indefinitely
postponed.
The report was adopted.
Then Representative John Sanborn
suddenly awoke, as did others of the
House. He moved for reconsideration.
The motion went through without a
roll call. The bill was placed on gen.
eral orders.
One week more in which to gather
votes was won by opponents of the
Efficiency and Economy bill, when
they succeeded in having considera-
tion of this important measure made
q special order for next Monday.
That the friends of the bill will
strike hard shedding was evident by
the vote which adopted the postpon-
ment motion. Representative Gunnar
BjOrnson, supporter of the measure,
moved Monday morning to have the
bill considered today Thursday.
Representative Charles Warner am
ended this motion to have the bill con-
sidered next Monday. The amended
motion was adopted by vote of 81
to 7. Mr.. Warner is ON the Sam Y.
Gordon fighting column. 60
The move for postponment of the
Efficiency and Economy measure I'M
til next week will allow the Gordon
bills on the same subject to be con-
sidered as a special order Tomorrow
(Friday). If the Gordon bills fail of
passage, the opponents of Mr. Spooner
will still have three days in which to
garner votes against his measure.
An addition to the high cost of au-
toing was tackled on by the Legisla-
ture in the passage Of Dunn amend
ment to the automobile laws.
After January 1, 1918 the posses
sor of an automobile will pay SIS for
his three-year license to chug about
the country instead of $1.50 under the
old law.
One feature of the law that should
be received with qualification by auto
owners is. that which will allow the
private owner to carry passengers for
hire without taking out chauffeur's
license.
Proceeds from automobile licenses
will be turned into the road and
bridge fund instead of general reven-
ue fund as under the amended law.
"Guess the farmer members of the
can get what they want
when they go after it."
They demonstrated this when the
House adopted a minority report of
the committee on grain and ware
house recommending that Represen-
tative A. F. Teigen's bill prohibiting
dealing in grain futures be passed.
The vote was 81 to 49,.
Discussion of the report brought
out a heated discussion.
Mr.. Teigen accused Representative
L. A. Lyiard, chairman of the COM
mittee of "bossism." In reply Mr.. Ly-
lard said the Montevideo solon was a
"big bag of wind"
The debate was an echo of the old
fight of certain farmer members
against the Minneapolis Chamber of
Commerce. Representative Knud
Wefald commented that the commit
tee was the committee of the Cham
Der of Commerce"
Cyrus Stone.