The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-01-25
BUDGET A FAILURE
Tonnage Tax Measure Will be Pushed
Session Laws and Amend
ments in Pamphlet Form.
Bill to Permit Bible-Reading in Public
Schools Introduced in Senate,
But it Won't Get Far.
st. Paul, Jan. "a, 1917.

Two years ago editorial after editorial
appeared in all the big city dailies ex-
tolling the benefits that would ac-
crue to the state from the enact
ment Of budget law. Well, budget
law was enacted, and only $13,000,OO0
more is asked for in that budget for
the ensuing two years, commencing on
the first of August, than was appro
\ priated for the two years ending on
N that date. If the legislature were to
Inappropriate all that was asked for in
sthe budget it would mean an increase
Fin the state tax levy Of about four
Z mills. But the legislature will not
grant the appropriations requested. I
do not know what the house appro-
priations committee will dot didn't
do much two years ago-but l do
know the senate finance committee,
/. under the courageous leadership Of
Chairman Rockne, will WELD the fnan-
cial pruning hook vigorously, and the
appropriations will be kept within
reasonable bounds. There may be a
slight increase over the totals Of two
years ago, and that is to be expected,
but, take my word for it, there will be
no great increase.
The city papers last Saturday
learned that an important tonnage
tax measure was in course of prepar-
alton and would be introduced in the
house Monday. The Union told of
this bill and it's import three days be-
fore The authors Of the bill-Messrs.
Bjorge, Warner, Davis and Bendixen,
are going to push the bill, and they
will push it hard. They are not going
to permit it to slumber in committee,
nor will they stand for many public
hearings.
.aa-t sy=css.-g5~ 4, j. ~; So
IS OF course, the friends Of the ton
mage tax bill know that the measure
has rocky road to travel before it
reaches the governor 1t is expected
that the house organization will fight
f. it, and even if it should pass the house
it will meet with determined opposi-
ton in the senate; it is also limited
, that the bulk of the "drys" in both
branches will combine forces with the
steel trust crowd to defeat it. Never.
theless I am of the opinion that the
bill will become law at this session.
+ + j.
50 Representative George w. Dealano
of Worthington will shortly introduce
a bill to provide for the publication OF
the session laws and constitutional
amendments in pamphlet form, anc
the booklet will also contain the at,
torney generals explanation of the
amendments together with the copy
of the constitutional amendment bal
lot. Mr.. Zealand claims that a great
saving can be accomplished, and thai
the laws and constitutional amend
ments in pamphlet form will be pre-
served and read by the voters. HI
asserts, with a good deal of reason
too, that very few people preserve tn
newspaper supplements containing tn
laws Under Mr.. Dealand's scheme
the laws would be distributed through
" the county auditors.
i i. j.
While Mr. Dealand's proposed bill i
certain to meet with opposition from
many of the newspapers, and may no
pass, yet it must be confessed tina
there is much that can be said in it.
favor. Aside from the saving to tn
state, which would not be less thai
$4,000 every two years, the presen
method of getting the laws and amend
,ments before the people is far from
satisfactory. Undoubtedly if the law
and amendments were distributed il
pamphlet form, they would be pre-
served, read and studied more care
fully. It is very evident that that i
mot done at present.
i + 1.
A bill to provide for the reading Q
the bible in public schools has bee
introduced in the senate. I hardl
think the measure will get very fa1
Certainly it ought not. The divorc
between church and state should b
complete and eternal. If bible-readin
is made compulsory, what version wi
be used? King James or Douay?
such bill should become law, whic
to me is unthinkable, for it would
contrary to the spirit and letter c
,41+
tions, the next thing in order woul
( be to start movement for the divisio
of the public school funds among tn
several religious denominations
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