The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-04-15
TEACHERS PENSIONS
Bill Providing for Teachers Retire.
ment Fund Passes Both the
House and Senate.
Other Activities of the State LegiS.
Iature Since the Last Issue
of the Union.

A measure Of vital interest to all
school teachers has now passed both
branches of the legislature. 1t
establishes state teachers insur-
ance and retirement fund, and it
passed the house first The bill pro-
vides for teachers pensions after
twenty years of service, graded as
follows: For twenty years, $3.50 a
year; for twenty-one years, $3.50; for
twenty two years, $40; for twenty
three years, $40: for twenty-four
years, $40: for twenty-five years,
$500. The measure passed the senate
last Tuesday, but it was returned to
the house owing to technical
amendment.
Representative @. M. Bendixen has
introduced in the house joint reso-
luton providing for the appointment
of commission composed of three
representatives and two senators to
Investigate the present system of
taxing ore lands, mines and mineral
property. The range towns of the
northern part of the state, have
come in for considerable publicity
this session owing to the charges of
extravaganza in municipal affairs
which have been made against
them. The senate in committee of
the whole last Friday advanced to
the calendar by unanimous vote
the bill limiting the annual tax
levies for municipal purposes in all
cities and villages of the third and
fourth classes to s25 per capita. The
measure was voted upon in the
senate last Monday and was passed
by large vote-only seven senators
voting against it.
The house last Thursday unani-
mously passed the bill by Represen-
tative W. j. North which makes it
grand larceny for building con-
tractor to settle with house builder
and then fail to pay, for his, labor
and material, leaving the owner SUBJ
.ject to liens and double payments.
Speaker Flowers has appointed a
committee to Investigate the school
book question, under a resolution
providing for such an investigation.
The senate last Thursday passed
the initiative and referendum consti-
tutional amendment, although sew
eral amendments were adopted. The
principal amendment adopted pro-
vides that under the workings of the
law amendments can be adopted only
10y a majority of all those voting at
the election. AS the measure passed
the house amendments might be
ratified by four-sevenths of those
voting, providing this number
eQualed three-sevenths of those vot-
ing at the election. Initiative and
referendum failed of passage at the
last election.
The bill by Representative Pratt
of Anoka authorizing village councils
to license and regulate or to prevent
dance halls has passed the house.
Representative Nordgren's bill to
allow old people to be kept in poor
houses at the expense Of their rela-
tives has also passed the house.
The senate last Friday rejected the
proposal to throw down the bars of
the anti-pass law so as to allow
passes for land and colonization
agents. Friends of the measure ar
gued that it would aid in the SETTLE
ment of idle lands and the develop
ment of the state, while those who
we're opposed to it feared it was an
entering wedge for the destruction
of the anti-pass law.
The house last Friday morning
passed the two bills proposed by the
C. Fl. Warner committee to investi-
gate the alleged bridge combine. One
bill authorizes the state highway
commission to buy bridge supplies
for counties and municipalities so
as to get the benefit of buying in
large quantities, and the other re-
qulres that notices of all proposals
Tor bridge contracts be filed with the
highway commission in order to at
tract a wider field of bidding. Num-
erous of those who are familiar
with conditions are of the opinion
that bridge combine exists, and
that it has fattened at the expense
OF the taxpayers for years. There is
mo doubt but what the bills will
remedy conditions.
The house also passed bill .revis.
ing the schedule of state aid to- pub
lie schools as follows:
Rural schools holding eight months,
$3.50 for each teacher with a first
grade certificate.
Rural schools holding seven
months, 500 for each teacher with a
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