The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-02-08
LEGISLATIVE GRIND
indications Are That the Bone DRY
Prohibition Amendment Will
Pass the State Senate.
Board of Control Stands High in the
Estimation of Legislators and
the People Generally.
st. Paul, February 6, 1917.

st. Paul, February 6, 1917.
Since the bone-dry constitutional
amendment passed the house by such
a large majority last week Prohibi-
tionists of the extreme type have been
feeling their oats. There is talk now
OF a statutory prohibition measure
that would make the state dry next
January. AS yet no action has been
taken in the senate on the bill that
passed the house last Wednesday. In
my judgement, however, the bill will
pass the senate just as it came from
the house, except for an amendment
that will give years further time for
the saloon men and brewers to get out
of business. Under the bill as it went
through the house, if the people adopt
the constitutional amendment at the
general election in 1918, the state will
go dry on Jan. LIST, 1920, the proposed
senate amendment would extend the
time until Jan. LIST, 1921.
x * *
&. 1t is conceded by "wets" and "drys"
lie that, no matter how the people
\ ! on the constitutional amendment
! 1913 the saloon in Minnesota is
( tomed. A prominent "wet," men,
q err of the senate, said to me the other
day: "We expect to defeat the bone
dry constitutional amendment at the
polls by from $4,000 to $4,000. Then
we will favor the adoption Of con-
stitutional amendment permitting the
sale Of light wines and beer direct to
the consumer, but the saloon in Min
question of three or four years when
there will not be licensed drinking
place within the confines of the state"
'.a' Y * x
Of all the boards in the state not
one Of them stands higher in the esti-
nations of legislators and the public
generally than the State Board of Con-
troll From the first that board has
made good. 1t has saved the state
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars and
at the same time the helpless wards
of the state have been we'll cared for
Minnesota's charitable and correction
al institutions are regarded as models
for other states to pattern after. Of
late years there has been a tendency
to impose too many additional duties
on the Board Of Control, and there is
IF T1o
members of the board-Chas. E. Vas
sally, C. J. Swendsen and R. w. Wheel
ock,-are hard workers and untiring,
)ut there is a limit to their capacity,
:. and at this time no additional duties
should be imposed upon them. The
writer was the author of the board of
control law, and it was only after a
strenuous fight in the session of 1901
that the same was placed upon the
statute books Of our state
* * *
Amendment No. 1, it will be remem-
bered, carried at the election last fall.
It provided revolving fund of $780,
900 for the purpose of developing
state lands in northern Minnesota.
For some time the senate finance COM
mittee has been wrestling with bill
to put the proposition into effect. The
bill provided for the expenditure of
the entire $250,000 this year, and also
contained $12, 800 appropriation from
the general revenue fund for the ex-
pense of administration. On Tuesday
afternoon the committee amended the
< bill by cutting out the $12, 500 appro-
,priation and providing that only $780,
900 could be expended in clearing land
for settlers during the next two
years. If the experiment is successful
the $150,000 balance will be forth
coming later. The senate finance COM
mittee can be depended on to exercise
watchful care over state expendi-
lures.
x X *
Col. A. F. Pratt, Of Anoka, is MAX
ing an excellent record as chairman
Of the house judiciary committee.
Speaker Parker made no mistake in
appointing Mr.. Pratt to the chairman
ship of that important committee.
Mr.. Pratt is lawyer Of ability, an
affable gentleman and popular with
his colleagues. He is young man
yet and will be heard from in the
future.
y: * *
Frank B. Kellogg made short talks
to the house and senate Tuesday, in
which he urged men Of all parties to
stand by the president in the gravest