New Ulm review., 1917-04-25
LEGISLATURE ENDS
ACoSTLY SESSION
Continued from 1st page)


of furnishing much amusement and some
little data, their value was nil.
Dry Bill Foregone Conclusion
It was foregone conclusion that
the Legislature would pass constitu-
tional amendment for statewide prohi-
bition. The temperance committee of
the House, made up OF nine drys and
six vets, took early action on the Larson
bill and reported it for passage.
As first sent out by the committee
the bill provided for an amendment that
would have permitted the importation
of liquor from outside of the state. The
Minnesota Anti-Saloon league, had gone
on record, through some of its officers,
for such an amendment. The Prohi-
hibitionists insisted on a ''bone dry
amendment. The transportation pro-
bitory clause was inserted on the floor
of the House and the bill was passed by
large majority.
Efficiency Program Killed
The efficiency and economy program,
or the most important parts Of it, fell
by the wayside in the closing hours:
The four main bills, prepared by the
interim commission, appointed in 1915,
were all defeated.
When the Senate refused for the sec
ond time to make the public domain
bill special order of business, one of
the bitterest political scraps in the his
tory of the state came to an end. Gov
ernor Burnquist had injected himself
into the battle as had J.. A. 0. Preus,
state suditor. The Governor sent two
messages to the Legislature on the pub
lie domain bill. The measure was first
defeated in the Senate. Then it was
amended in the House and sent back to
the upper body, where it failed twice
to become special order.
The Senate passed the bills reorganiz-
ing the state health board and the edu-
cational department. The House amend
ed the former all out of shape and kill
ed the latter. The Senate refused to
concur in the amendments to the health
bill, 50 it followed the other efficiency
and economy bills into the scrap heap.
The fourth big measure, placing the
grain inspection department under the
governor, was killed in the Senate ear
ly in the game. .
Shy at Primary Law Changes
Before the Legislature convened there
were signs that a determined effort
would be madeto make eimportantc changes
in the primary election laws. Through
out the entire state there had been de-
mands for notifications that would
eliminate the candidate who had no
backing save the possession OF the neces-
sary filing fee, his own unlimited nerve
and the ability to trim.
A number of bills providing for modi-
fcation in the primary laws made their
appearance in both, branches. In the
Senate, Senator Edward Rustad in
troduced bill providing for a conven-
vention made up of elected Debates, to
make definite recommendation. It left
the primary intact. The bill was de-
feated by a large majority.
Presidential Primary Repealed
The passage of the bill repeating the
presid entail preference primary act was
the only balm the supporters Ct
changes in the election laws received.
The repeal bill, introduced in the House
by Representative Leo J. Gleason Of
Minneapolis and in the Senate by Sena
tors Griggs of Virginia and Callahan of
Minneapolis, was passed with very
little opposition. 1t wipes off the statute
books the act for which Ernest Lundeen,
Minneapolis congressman, has taken such
credit.
Women Suffrage Defeated
Woman suffrage, an issue in the Min
nesota legislature for many sessions,
was scheduled for defeat early in the
game. Division in the ranks of the
women themselves throughout the state
presaged the defeat Of two bills relating
to the subject, one providing for the
submission of an equal suffrage amend
n1ent to the constitution, and the other
for statutory suffrage, the granting of
the right to women to vote for presiden-
tial electors. S.sI
Tonnage Tax Es& -4esssH~
A tonnage tax, or ''super taxi bill
was introduced and passed in the House
by a majority of three votes. When
the bill reached the Senate, there were
40 votes against it. In the lower body
the farming element united to place the
super tax on the products of the iron
mines. The bill differed from the ordi-
nary tonnage tax measures of former
years in that it provided for tax in
addition to all taxes.