Warren sheaf., 1917-04-11
LETTER FROM THE,
STATE LEGISLATURE. .)i2 ],

SlAlE LEGISLATURE
st, Paul. -(SpeciaD-The members
Of'bOth houses OF the legislature have
carried out their intention OF giving
the most important measures a chance.
Not. all of them have been enacted
into law by any means, but they haye
all had their chance. A general drain,
age bill and food control bill, two
of the most important measures to
| the farming interests of the state,
have passed the house. Constitutional
prohibition has passed both house and
senate. Statutory prohibition was
killed in the house. A proposed con-
stltutiOnal amendment granting suf-
frage to women passed the house, but
probably will be defeated in the SEN
ate, which killed the statutory bill
granting partial suffrage The bill for
a tonnage tax on iron ore got through
the house by four votes, but was de-
feated in the senate. The presidential
primary law was repealed, but neither
senate nor house would consent to any
change in the state primary law affect
ing either legislative or executive Of
fees. The senate passed the bill for
nonpartisan state convention to
nominate justices of the supreme
court. A new road law under which
single commissioner takes the place
of the old highway commission of
three members already is in operation,
and it is predicted that there will be
more road building in Minnesota dur
ing the next two years than during
any similar period in the states his
tory.
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OF the bills prepared by the interim
efficiency and economy commission
both houses have passed those provid-
ing for reform in the handling of the
states investments; purchase of sup
plies for all state departments by the
board of control; placing the state
public school at Owatonna under the
jurisdiction of the board Of control,
and giving the same board control OF
the capitol grounds. The senate has
passed the bills reorganizing the
state board of health and creating a
state board of education to replace the
state normal board, the state high
school board and the state library
board, and their prospect for passing
the house is good.
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One of the best pieces of legislation
enacted at this session is the amend
ments to the good roads law secured
by Bob Dunn. This veteran in good
road legislation has given much of his
time and efforts at this session for the
improvement of what he has had en-
acted at previous sessions, and while
the ideal has not been reached the
goal is near. One of the clauses Of
the new, line of amendments is where
township board of supervisors is
negligent in performing it's work in
the 'upkeep of state, county and town
roads in their particular township. A
complaint by five or more residents,
filed with the county auditor, will
cause an investigation, and then the
county board may enter the township,
cause the road to be properly repaired,
charge the expense to the township,
and the auditor is directed to with
hold the amount from the next appor-
tionment of road and bridge funds
given to that township. This means
that town boards of supervisors must
attend to business or they will come
in for strong criticism by the people
of their township and of their county
Another feature is that all bridges
costing over $500 are to be under the
supervision of the state highway COM
missioner, so far as the construction,
maintenance and repair is concerned.
Hereafter there will be no game like
the allowing of each particular bidder
to submit his plans and prices for
bridges, but instead one plan will be
provided and bidders will file competi-
tive bids on that particular plan.
The uniform text book bill is hav.
ing hard shedding. 1t seeks system
of uniform text books for the schools
of the state and suggests maximum
prices for the same, along the line of
the laws in Kansas, Montana and In
diana, where books are furnished pu-
pills at from so to IS per cent less than
in states where outside concerns are
in controls The bill passed the house
two weeks ago, but is meeting con-
siderable opposition in the senate.
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Governor Burnquist sent back to
the legislature, without his approval,
| tho hill seeking To annr0nriata S1(O ;.