Willmar tribune., 1915-03-17
.kILL|NG,PREC|oUS time
ON SMALL MATTERS
Legislative Session IS Drawing
Towards the Close With
Much Work undone,
&C. ]. Buell. for Willmar Tribune.)

Tho Legislature Making Little Pro-
0ress.
Things are moving very slowly in
the legislature, especially in the
House. Much time is wasted over
matters of little consequence, and
work Of Importance is allowed to drag.
Well, if the legislature should
waste so much time that few laws
could be passed, there would be one
consolation. There would probably
probably be fewer bad laws passed.
But the danger is that as the session
draws toward it's end, there will be a
rush and a jam, and much poorly con-
sidered legislation will be the result.
A prominent citizen the other day
made the wise remark that all laws
not in harmony with correct scien-
tiflc principles are bad laws; where
upon another observed "Then our
statute books are full of laws that can
only be described by the legal term
'malum in se'-vicious in themselves
And that is only too true. Many of
our laws would be more honored in
the breach then in the observance.
Laws, if they are to be respected,
must be worthy Of respect. They
must square up with the principle of
equal rights. They must not grant
privileges.
| The EIweIl Road Law Again.
The opposition to the Elwell law
centered around three points:
First. Six petitioners and three
County Commissioners are able tc
bond the County for large sums, and
the State for twice as much.
Second. This throws upon posterity
a burden that ought to be met and
paid for now.
Third. Those who get the benefit
Of the roads do not pay the bills
Others who get no direct benefit mus
pay three -fourths Of the cost.
Any good road, economically bull
where it is really needed, will cause
an increase in the value of land in it
immediate vicinity of at least fiv,
dollars an acre.
Under this law, the owners of thi
land, many of them spectators, ge
; all of this benefit Immediately. The.
can sell their land for that much NOR
and get the cash. They pay only one
quarter of the cost. All the peopl'
, Of the County, many of whom get n,
direct benefit, must pay one quarter
and the people of the state at large
must pay half. This is plainly unjust
The EIweIl Law In The House.
The House had set the bill to re
peal the Elwell Law as special orde
for Thursday morning, Mar. II, bu
they spent over an hour debating
whether to "do it now" or put it owe
a week. It was finally put over to a.
low some amendments to be propose
which the friends of the law sal.
would take the bad features out of il
Statutory Prohibition.
The Lobeck bill to make the stat
dry by statute was debated all the al
ternoon, Thursday, March 18th. MI
Lobeck made a very forceful plea, bu
: could muster only seventeen votes.
Il 1t was noticeable that the Count,
Option men voted for or against tn
bill according to whether their dis
tricts are very dry or only moderated.
, so.
This, however, does not apply t,
DR.. Andrews of Mankato whose dis
trict is rather doubtful. He made al
impassioned plea for the bill, as ;
matter Of principle, regardless of tn,
views of his constituents.
The Prohibition Amendment.
It seems to be conceded that tn
State Wide Prohibition Amendment t.
the constitution will pass both house
and be submitted to the people at tn
next election.
In the meantime, the County Optio1
law will be getting in it's work an
making much Of the State dry.
The enforcement Of the India>
Treaty will make much more dry.
Between the two, it looks as if tn
people would have a chance to tes
the merits Of water for drinking pur
, poses.
= can assure you that it is good an
, wholesome. l have used it all my life
and want nothing better.
Indeed l have long had a suspicio,
5 that the good God had something o
, this sort in mind when he made pee
pie so well fitted to use water for thi
purpose.
To Abolish the immigration Depart
ment.
Representative Sawyer has bill t
abolish the State Department Of I'm
migration. Well, why not? So far tn
land spectators have got about al
the benefit, and the State has paid tn
: advertising bills. Sawyer himself /
a real estate dealer and ought t
know.
Hammond Urges the Efficiency am
Economy Bill.
Thursday. Governor Hammond sen
; to House and Senate special mes
: sage urging the passage Of the Econ
omy and Efficiency Bill. It is spec
I ial order in the House for Monday
) March 18th. It's fate at this writing
seems very uncertain.
) Tax Reform.
Z Wednesday. Mr.. Spooner introduc
! ed into the House three bills, one O
which at least seems to be YER
! worthy of support. This bill propose