Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-02-28
State House Of Representatives
Making Record This Year.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE ENDORSED
Tonnage Tax on Iron Orc Also 0ets
Through by Narrow Margin Of
Eight Votes.

ord that the present house Of repre-.
sentatives Is after those composing
that body are fast nearing the goal
Already the house has given its ap-
prevail to prohibition-this with the
consent of the senate-tonnage tax
and woman suffrage. and the chances
are excellent that it will give the fin
fishing touch to bills providing for the
regulation of telephone rates and the
better grading and weighing Of grain
INSTRUMENTATION laws covering a
number of lines of activity and prod
ucts are also due to get by. How far
the senate will go In making the rec
ord complete Is not known, but so far
1t has seen fit to stand by and make
all the big propositions sent to it
unanimous. Last week saw the
passage by the house Of an iron ore
tonnage tax bill and constitutional
amendment extending the elective
franchise to women. The first got by
with only few votes to spare-69 to
81, think, was the vote-but suffrage
prevailed overwhelmingly. The num-
Der registered against it was not worth
mentioning. Drys and vets Joined
hands in support Of suffrage and the
whole contest was so devoid of the
usual spectacular that it really consti-
tuted q disappointment. Ten years
ago the passage of suffrage measure
would have seen the burning of bon
fires, the ringing of bells and general
! rejoicing by those interested. Time
sure does work wonders.
i. j. j.
To a majority of people In Mime
sofa the tonnage tax bill which re-
ceived the approval OF the house is
no different from those that have en-
crossed the attention of previous leg
islatures. Perhaps had they known
different the bill would never have
prevailed, for in its passage a new
taxation idea has been sanctioned that
may prove a future source of much
worry and irritation. AS its authors,
Charles Warner of Aitkin ahd H. o.
Bjorge of Lake Park, explain It, the
scheme Is supertax, or license, and
while in the present case it only COW
ers iron ore it is applicable to any line
| of activity or production that the leg
islature may desire to extend it. In
stead Of being in lieu Of other taxes
it is an addition, and is just as appli-
cable to the we'll known potteries Of
Goodhue county, the granite and sand
stone deposits Of half dozen other
counties and the brick and tile indus
! tries which are scattered over the
southern part of the state, as to the
iron ore, which at the present time is
the principal wealth Of the upstate
country. For wonder the possibili-
ties of the tax and the fact that iron
ore was not the only thing involved
never figured in the discussion Of the
bill, but it is certain that those inter-
ested will not be permitted to lose
sight of the fact from now on. The
range country fought the Warner
Bjorge bill to standstill, but was un.
able to overcome the majority, even
though number of Central and South
ern Minnesota members voted with
them. The bill is now up to the SEN
ate, with its future very much in
doubt.
]. /. ].
The introduction of bill two years
ago providing for a closed season for
frogs and regulating their slaughter
was regarded as joke. Local papers
included it in the fool things offered
in legislative way and later CON-
mented upon it's humorous reception
by the press at large. Well, the bill.
which originated with Pascal H. Frye
Of Willmar and which still bears his
name, is very much alive and its pass
age this time is among the possibili-
ties. Once regarded as a joke many
have found that there is merit in the
measure and they are giving it serious
consideration.
So. j.
Women lobbyists have been a con.
spicuous feature of the legislative
halls this winter. Never were their
numbers so large. The suffrage and
prohibition measures Is responsible
for the most of them, but there are
also other measures which have their
attention. Female solicitors and sales.
men, too, are heavily In evidence.
Noting their presence and the com.
plete absence OF the male lobbyists
the question, What has become OF
the others?" naturally prompts itself
It is easily explained. The latter are
| tn ho f0und NJ tho hoto1o aud o,,<o3do